How valid is APIS?

[honey lamb]

I've just entered my APIS for my forthcoming trip to the US. It's an open-jaw flight flying into SFO and leaving from Vancouver and I shall be in Vancouver for one night before the flight home. The rest of the time I shall be in the US. So on the Manage my Booking form I selected staying in the US, filling in the address of the first night - as you do, only to have it rejected. So I went back and selected In Transit to a non-US city and it has been accepted.

I can't help thinking I have cheated the authorities and while I won't be clapped in irons, I just wonder about the value/validity/reason for APIS especially as on many occasions I have stayed in private homes on arrival but none of them have been contacted to confirm my potential arrival there. It really seems a pointless exercise

It just always feels like yet another hoop to jump through to me, especially considering when you're in the US the first night too, so have also done and ESTA to reflect this.....

HL,

Admin for admin sake I feel. I remember a few years ago when I had to go to JFK at short notice so had no idea where I was staying in NY, so I left it blank on the waiver form and told him the reason why, only to be rejected and sent back to the end of the queue. Made up a false hotel address at the airport and was processed ok by the same border guard. No logic whatsoever apart from having the form filled in correctly.

From the ESTA site

"If a traveler’s destination address in the United States is unknown when he or she completes the application in ESTA for the travel authorization, the traveler should enter the name of the hotel or approximate location he or she intends to visit. Travelers may update this information when their plans are finalized, but they will not be required to update their destination addresses or itineraries should they change after their travel authorization has been approved."

So basically bung any old tosh in....

long before APIS, ESTA and 9/11 etc a friend arrived at a US airport with his green visa waiver completed but with no address for 1st night so the agent just wrote the address of the YMCA on for him.