ESTA again

Hi,

Now that there's a charge to do an ESTA, do you get it via the link we used to use? If so,does anyone have the link to hand please? Sorry, I can't find my link and the youngest of the clan has just booked a flight stateside....

Hmmm Google ESTA and see the first link? The old firms that paid to come above the official site and charge you extra seem to have been moved down now.

Careful Slinky!
The first link (an ad.) that comes up when I Google it, is one of the extra charge sites! !

The official one is https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

It is the .gov that is the key!

[Darren Wheeler]

On firefox, when I type in esta in the address bar, it takes me to the official site automatically.

I always go via the US Embassy website after searching for 'US Embassy'.

I advise friends to do that then less risk of a scam site appearing in the list.

Thanks....

My daughter has now done her application, but it hasn't pinged back immediately as they usually do. And no, there's no reason it shouldn't have done! Anyone else found it now takes longer???

[Neil]

Yes, it quite often doesn't approve instantly since the charge. I usually check back 5mins later and it is approved.

Obviously shes a trouble maker and not the good girl you think she is!

Seriously could be any number of reasons from simple demand on the system or they are waiting for credit card authorisation to come through - which is the newest part of the system that most of us have not had to do (as we all renewed before the charge was imposed!)

[mitchja]

The first time I applied to ESTA (when it was free), it took about 24 hours to show as been approved.

Slightly OT but I applied for Australian authorisiation the other week and that now takes upto 48 hours to come back to you (they email you back with the decision), although it's now free. Last time I did this online, it was instant.

On firefox, when I type in esta in the address bar, it takes me to the official site automatically.

Ooops, it's good in Chrome too!

Oh. Just found out that I don't have to pay for my ESTA!

Planning a trip in April and finally after much trawling through the CBP and the US Embassy site, have found out that my passport (due to be renewed in May after we get back) will still be valid as the US doesn't require a UK passport to be valid for six months after the date of travel! And seeing as I got my ESTA back in April this year then it will still be valid!

The other three of the party will have to pay for their ESTAs but we don't have the bother (and expense) of renewing them until we get back!

Oh. Just found out that I don't have to pay for my ESTA!

Planning a trip in April and finally after much trawling through the CBP and the US Embassy site, have found out that my passport (due to be renewed in May after we get back) will still be valid as the US doesn't require a UK passport to be valid for six months after the date of travel! And seeing as I got my ESTA back in April this year then it will still be valid!

The other three of the party will have to pay for their ESTAs but we don't have the bother (and expense) of renewing them until we get back!

Thanks....

My daughter has now done her application, but it hasn't pinged back immediately as they usually do. And no, there's no reason it shouldn't have done! Anyone else found it now takes longer???

Last time I did my application, it was approved after about 2 seconds. The present Mrs Treelo was another matter though and her 'Approved' ping did not arrive for some hours. I've always had my doubts......

[buns]

Hopefully this does not worry you, but I did my "renewal" (i.e new application after the original had expired) last night and it came back almost immediately asking for the dosh.

So went to the next screen, handed over my $14 and hey presto

buns

Mmm buns, I'll check with her today to see if she's had it back now. I don't know what to do if it hasn't - those sites are not usually easy to chase or check in any way, shape or form. And she travels next Saturday.... better cross my fingers....

I would imagine that a first application will always take longer than a repeat.

Didn't used to be the case Bill, but hey, things have changed. All is well though, she's had her approva - I just hope her passport is current

I got mine though instantly too, and I did them the day after the charge came in (how silly were we!)

Was instant for me, but I did do it around 11pm with a Visa Debit card.
On a slight side note; I do not believe it is fair of Virgin to have a link on the manage my booking page to a company that charges £20 extra to "apply for your ESTA".

kev.