seems we have ePassports so should be able to apply on line for an ESTA using the Visa Waiver program.
anyone done this?
Yep. That'll work.
how else does one do it ?
one caveat is if you have certain mis demeanors on your record .... basically drink drugs sex or violence then you cant do an esta.
Use the proper government site, otherwise you'll get fleeced for more cash than necessary.
Cool. Thanks.
Never been anywhere that needed a visa before so this is all new to me.
Yeah it's all plain sailing usually. Esta warns it may take a while but has always been v fast IME.
It costs $14 if you are being charged more you are on the wrong site and being ripped off
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html
thanks jimdubleyou & RB.
As above, really!
I've heard some suggestions of taking a printed copy with you, but I've never been asked for one.
I've been to the states twice on an esta. Some of the questions are great "are you coming to America to commit acts of terrorism"😂
Worked for me.
Bring back transit lounges is all I can say.
3 hours at LAX, 2 of which were spent going through immigration controls.
Its only a pain arriving on an ESTA the first time. In most US airports the second time you can use the facial recognition machines second time around and they are pretty painless. Much better than the huge queues at Heathrow at the moment for US travels arriving here. If you want to travel regularly then you can get a global trusted traveller pass for US entry.
As above, boringly easy. If you're travelling with kids you can't use the automatic lines though.
This is a one off trip. Can't see us doing it again in a hurry.
I’ve heard some suggestions of taking a printed copy with you, but I’ve never been asked for one.
Never been asked by us immigration for a hard copy have been asked by an airline at check in who refused to accept anything on a computer/phone etc. Could be there was a reason but more likely that they either were tards or had a “deal” with the print shop...
As always don’t forget to take a pen just in case there are any additional declarations to fill in on the plane. I can’t remember from my last trips but they were on s visa so different..
where do you fit on the chart?
Immigration declaration on the plane, take a pen and remember that the date is done in the wrong order
Similar experience - never been asked for a hard copy, been for 10+ years in a row with work. And yes, have a pen, your passport and your hotel address handy whilst you're at your seat on the plane, will save a bit of hassle filling out the customs/landing card. Make sure you're not fleeced by an agent when applying (this was also mentioned in an earlier post). The last time I applied (Feb) I was asked for details of social media accounts (not sure what will happen if you don't have any - I only have a LinkedIn account and didn't have any probs).
The last time I applied (Feb) I was asked for details of social media accounts (not sure what will happen if you don’t have any – I only have a LinkedIn account and didn’t have any probs).
That is/was optional, don't give any of that stuff up to the bastards
Did one last week, really easy, approved in seconds, didn't put my social media down!
The immigration people in America are legendary for their sense of humour.
Make sure you lighten the mood with a few quips and NEVER wait on the line ,they hate that.
Yeah the bit where in a secure terminal where everyone is searched on the way in they are so shit scared of asking questions they have to get tooled up, if you bugger up your first fingerprint scan (I had some cracked fingers from bike fettling)your done for the life of your passport
Take a pen. Although you might not need it - when I flew into Oakland the customs forms had been computerised.
Ignore Zippy.
I’ve heard some suggestions of taking a printed copy with you, but I’ve never been asked for one.
Had Virgin not so much ask for a print copy but demand one despite being able to point recent entry stamps in passport - I presume they don't pay for the technology to check the passport
– I presume they don’t pay for the technology to check the passport
I heard it was a $30k fine per person without proper visa and they made the check in (often third party) nervous
do you not still have to go through the secondary control into the specific USA only gates? Considering when you fly from the USA you can’t check in online fully because people need to not look at your passport in person when you check bags the entire system is a joke
The reason immigration officials are armed is all about pay. Public officials carrying weapons are on a higher pay grade and the extremely powerful unions insist on it.
That makes me feel sooooo much more secure. Carrying a weapon because you get more money is the _best_ reason to be armed... Nothing more safe than poorly trained people with guns. True story...
Ah good still no decent reason that the power crazed people need them then.Oh and be prepared for a 40ft picture of el presidente at some point in the airport
Take a pen? Don't you get in one in your amenity kit?
😉
As to the sense of humor (sic) piece, it's been getting better at many airports. Border staff at MIA, ALT and DFW have even managed a cheery smile at me recently. ORD, however, remains a shining example of how not to do it. And I've got flights booked to there later in the year. Urgh.
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Make sure you lighten the mood with a few quips and NEVER wait on the line ,they hate that.</span>
Yeah - they've got the "hostile environment" thing down to a fine art. But if you feel stressed, just smoke a cigarette and you'll be fine.
Isn't a pen considered to be a "pointy weapon"? Can you even get one onto a plane?
I found texting in immigration was also particularly well received.
What has always impressed me at US immigration is how the are just as hostile to US citizens, some of those citizens just don't like it. First time i witnessed it I regretted my stiffled chortle, but thats another story.
Give yourself plenty time, ie a good 3 hours, between connecting flights, customs on way into US can be a bloody drag....
Also, you need to go and ID you're luggage at times too..
Also, they'll probably take your finger prints on arrival too, so if you're a part-time cat burglar without fingerprints you'll be in trouble
Never been anywhere that needed a visa before so this is all new to me.
It's visa waiver so you don't actually need an actual visa, it's just it's electronic now. Before you just filled in the form on the plane that said "I am not a terrorist" and stuff like that. The annoyance now is they charge for the ESTA and must be renewed every few years.
Immigration security take their job seriously (or are just always pissed off with their job) and don't like any smiles or jokes, or if you don't obey their instructions to the letter. British passport guys are usually having a laugh, though probably at all the fools queued up at the e-passport machines most of which are broken.
Anyway, will you give up your online social media accounts on the ESTA questions? 😉 . Not sure if it's mandatory yet. Wasn't when I last did it but my friends answered them and got an instant acceptance and I didn't and it took several days.
Just got back from the US.
I submitted my ESTA application for myself, the wife and kids without any social media user names and it was approved instantly.
I also don't remember filling in a customs form.
ORD, however, remains a shining example of how not to do it. And I’ve got flights booked to there later in the year.
And when the Cubs bar is better than the lounge too CFH...
Been to the States twice in the last 6 months, both times with Virgin.
When we flew to JFK, we had to do the customs form on the plane.
When we flew to Atlanta we didn't.
EDIT: Spekkie - you can take a pen on a plane
As to the sense of humor (sic) piece, it’s been getting better at many airports. Border staff at MIA, ALT and DFW have even managed a cheery smile at me recently. ORD, however, remains a shining example of how not to do it. And I’ve got flights booked to there later in the year. Urgh.
I can imagine it. "Morning Captain F, your usual is it? By the way, nice shoes." Gotta love people who list airport codes.
😁
Force of habit, sadly!
The pen thing is interesting. One of these in the neck would be nasty,
I applied for ESTA but was refused because I travel to Sudan. So I had to go to the new US embassy in that London, which was superb, for a visa interview and fingerprinting and the experience was very good indeed. Even nearly breaking my ankle outside the hotel the evening before didn't spoil my day.
Arriving at JFK my fingerprints couldn't be captured by the reader machine so I got bypassed to an immigration officer, who also couldn't get them (I have very smooth fingertips) so she passed me to the Special Case room where I found myself sitting amongst all the Russian prostitutes, unshaven middle-eastern types and other dodgy no-hopers, facing a row of humourless and very lazy immigration officers. After 10 minutes I was seen and the bloke couldn't have been nicer, I was out in a minute and found my worried wife and son standing in the empty baggage hall.
I've heard that Air Fungus pre-clear you at Dublin, dunno if that's true but it may be worth investigating.
After 10 minutes I was seen and the bloke couldn’t have been nicer, I was out in a minute and found my worried wife and son standing in the empty baggage hall.
you must have the right sounding name and sun tan then 😉
That was back in the more recent proper racist immigration instructions though
It would make you very Cross, CFH.
I thank you. 🙇♂️
(Well it’s a blurry photo, but it looks like a Cross)
I'm in the US on an ESTA right now. Hi.
As others have said, piece of cake. Fill it in online, use all the computerised passport scanning things, you can fill in the customs declaration electronically too. Take your shoes off going through security. Do as you're told and follow the signs and you'll be fine.
Went to Guam a couple of years ago, just a week after my Esta ran out, they just made me fill another against the front window of the passport window!
*Applauds IGM!*
Take your shoes off going through security.
Found this varies on the airport. Some require it, some don't.
Also I usually stick my passport in the tray, but I've gone through the scanner in one and then got told off as they wanted to see my passport, and then another where I was about to take passport in my hand and got told to stick it in the tray.
Been told off for not taking laptop out of the bag and also for taking it out of the bag!
Each airport I have to check the rules.
Found this varies on the airport. Some require it, some don’t.
Yep. Varies by airport, and even the type of shoes you're wearing. I should know...
Some of the questions are great “are you coming to America to commit acts of terrorism
my friend, Dr Asif, who is of ****stani decent but UK born was taken aside when he went to the states about 10 years ago for a conference. First question they asked him was "are you a terrorist". They of course questioned why he was going to the states. Khuram was working on synthetic photosynthesis at the time and they wouldn't believe him as and I quote "we already knew what photosynthesis is" lol.
Immigration security take their job seriously (or are just always pissed off with their job) and don’t like any smiles or jokes, or if you don’t obey their instructions to the letter.
Won a trip to LA back in ‘93, and took my best mate with me. Since he’d had his passport photo taken, his hair had grown down past his shoulders, and he’d grown a pretty impressive beard, the bloke on the passport control desk took a look at him, then at his passport, back at him, then looked at me, and said, “D’you think we ought to let him in?” “Well,” I said, we’ve come a long way, it would be a shame not to”. “Yeah, guess you’re right, go on through”, all completely dead-pan. Still makes me smile thinking about it. He was a late middle-aged Black guy, not some snarky young bloke looking for an excuse to throw his weight around, though, and things are probably a lot different now.
$14,
I was just about to hit pay, it said $85!
I only didn't because I was unsure of the destination phone number.
Just gone back and checked. I'd gone to visa-express shitesters.
Thanks Stw.