Do US passport holders have to complete ESTA?
Because it is an authority to travel, does it still need to be done?
Because it is an authority to travel, does it still need to be done?
I wouldn't have thought so as it replaces the I94-W.
Thanks
Darren
Darren
#465346 by Guest
20 Jan 2009, 17:39
20 Jan 2009, 17:39
Not sure - I have an A1 Visa passport and do not need an ESTA as I can use eith the USA or diplomatic channels.
And remember that if you are a US citizen, you must entry the US with the US Passport.
Now is there a rule that says all US citizens must apply for passports? Nope. So what is one to do if they are a dual national and only have a passport of the non-US country?
Now is there a rule that says all US citizens must apply for passports? Nope. So what is one to do if they are a dual national and only have a passport of the non-US country?
The simple rule is that if you have to fill in the green visa waiver form normally, then you will need to complete ESTA before travelling.
People travelling with visas or green cards do not need to complete ESTA.
As a side note for those who have completed ESTA, until further notice US immigration still want the green visa waiver forms completed as well.
People travelling with visas or green cards do not need to complete ESTA.
As a side note for those who have completed ESTA, until further notice US immigration still want the green visa waiver forms completed as well.
quote:Originally posted by VAFFPAX
mcmbenjamin, you will be required to apply for a US passport.
S.
Cool. Do you mind providing a reference? Not questioning you but interested.
mcmbenjamin, you will be required to apply for a US passport.
S.
Cool. Do you mind providing a reference? Not questioning you but interested.
The US Immigration and Nationality Act Section 215B stipulates that anyone born in the US is deemed a US citizen and if they attempt to travel on documents other than a US passport (to the US), they must carry with them a 'loss of nationality letter'.
The US Embassy have advised that in the past passengers may have been waived by the Embassy and that the INS have not previously been strict in this area. However, they have confirmed that the policy has changed and that unless there is a dire emergency, passengers will not be waived and they must be sent to the US Embassy to either have their passport renewed or to obtain a 'loss of nationality letter'.
I recommend you get in touch with the US Embassy on Grosvenor Square and get that straightened out... If you've managed to get into the US without any hassle before, that may not always be the case in the future. With the border control being tightened up, either renounce your citizenship, or do what the US law says, which is 'Get a passport, but Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean are ok for you to go to without one.'
Even that will change on June 1, when the relevant department requires either a passport, or a drivers license AND birth/naturalization certificate for those travelling into those areas by boat or by car. Air travel is unchanged and requires a passport.
S.
The US Embassy have advised that in the past passengers may have been waived by the Embassy and that the INS have not previously been strict in this area. However, they have confirmed that the policy has changed and that unless there is a dire emergency, passengers will not be waived and they must be sent to the US Embassy to either have their passport renewed or to obtain a 'loss of nationality letter'.
I recommend you get in touch with the US Embassy on Grosvenor Square and get that straightened out... If you've managed to get into the US without any hassle before, that may not always be the case in the future. With the border control being tightened up, either renounce your citizenship, or do what the US law says, which is 'Get a passport, but Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean are ok for you to go to without one.'
Even that will change on June 1, when the relevant department requires either a passport, or a drivers license AND birth/naturalization certificate for those travelling into those areas by boat or by car. Air travel is unchanged and requires a passport.
S.
quote:Originally posted by VAFFPAX
The US Immigration and Nationality Act Section 215B stipulates that anyone born in the US is deemed a US citizen and if they attempt to travel on documents other than a US passport (to the US), they must carry with them a 'loss of nationality letter'.Yea... Demonstrations of this law happen in Texas frequently along with Mommy and Daddy plus the whole family joining little junior in his/her new country...
And would it be difference if the birth occurred outside the US but this child's parent (at least one was) was a citizen, making the child a citizen?
quote:I recommend you get in touch with the US Embassy on Grosvenor Square and get that straightened out... If you've managed to get into the US without any hassle before, that may not always be the case in the future. With the border control being tightened up, either renounce your citizenship, or do what the US law says, which is 'Get a passport, but Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean are ok for you to go to without one.'Thanks but I am not bi (national), just a blue passport holder (and that Republic of Key West passport). I did get my passport card. Which made me think; Why can't there just be one darn system. I carry a Clear card, passport card, passport, Nexus card, Global Entry Card and am enrolled in IRIS. Would be nice to have just one card for the lot.
The US Immigration and Nationality Act Section 215B stipulates that anyone born in the US is deemed a US citizen and if they attempt to travel on documents other than a US passport (to the US), they must carry with them a 'loss of nationality letter'.Yea... Demonstrations of this law happen in Texas frequently along with Mommy and Daddy plus the whole family joining little junior in his/her new country...
And would it be difference if the birth occurred outside the US but this child's parent (at least one was) was a citizen, making the child a citizen?
quote:I recommend you get in touch with the US Embassy on Grosvenor Square and get that straightened out... If you've managed to get into the US without any hassle before, that may not always be the case in the future. With the border control being tightened up, either renounce your citizenship, or do what the US law says, which is 'Get a passport, but Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean are ok for you to go to without one.'Thanks but I am not bi (national), just a blue passport holder (and that Republic of Key West passport). I did get my passport card. Which made me think; Why can't there just be one darn system. I carry a Clear card, passport card, passport, Nexus card, Global Entry Card and am enrolled in IRIS. Would be nice to have just one card for the lot.
A child only automatically becomes a US citizen (unless specifically renounced citizenship - i.e. 'I don't want it') if they are born on US soil, or are born to TWO US citizens (of which one has lived in the US prior to their child's birth). If born abroad, their birth has to be registered with the US consulate or embassy of the country of birth.
And yes, there is a very big difference between two US parents, and one US parent, although after 1986 that was relaxed. I presume that you were born before 1986, at which time the law was changed to state that if one of your parents was a US citizen, they lived in the US for at least 5 years before your birth, and at least 2 of those years were AFTER your US parent's 14th birthday, you would be accepted as a US citizen.
Before 1986, the law was even more strict in the case where only one parent was a US citizen (a minimum of 10 years of residence/permanent presence in the US, of which a minimum of 5 years was after their 14th birthday).
As for your question why there can't just be one system... let's see... IRIS is UK, Clear is a similar system to IRIS in the US. Passport card is not valid on flights, only on land/sea entry into the US (so you don't have to carry a passport, but rather just a card to slip into your wallet). Nexus is a Canada/US hybrid of a passport card and Clear/IRIS, and finally Global Entry is similar to Nexus and Clear, but for international travellers.
The only UNIVERSAL system that is accepted everywhere is... surprise... your passport. It works everywhere and anywhere. Clear/IRIS/NEXUS/Global Entry are just expediters... they let you bypass the human inspection that comes with a passport (you still have to use your passport, but it's a machine and is 'faster'). The passport card is, well, a US-only invention (although, to enter the UK at Dover/Calais you can use your UK driver's license).
I for one would prefer NOT to have to share my data with the rest of the world unless I specifically say so. Clear/NEXUS/Global Entry are all for entering the US... who/where is the barrier here? I think we know that answer. The UK's IRIS system is supposed to speed things up, but I don't know... I've seen people get very frustrated and exit the IRIS queue, only to join ours for the passport. A botched attempt to build a Clear-like system?
S.
And yes, there is a very big difference between two US parents, and one US parent, although after 1986 that was relaxed. I presume that you were born before 1986, at which time the law was changed to state that if one of your parents was a US citizen, they lived in the US for at least 5 years before your birth, and at least 2 of those years were AFTER your US parent's 14th birthday, you would be accepted as a US citizen.
Before 1986, the law was even more strict in the case where only one parent was a US citizen (a minimum of 10 years of residence/permanent presence in the US, of which a minimum of 5 years was after their 14th birthday).
As for your question why there can't just be one system... let's see... IRIS is UK, Clear is a similar system to IRIS in the US. Passport card is not valid on flights, only on land/sea entry into the US (so you don't have to carry a passport, but rather just a card to slip into your wallet). Nexus is a Canada/US hybrid of a passport card and Clear/IRIS, and finally Global Entry is similar to Nexus and Clear, but for international travellers.
The only UNIVERSAL system that is accepted everywhere is... surprise... your passport. It works everywhere and anywhere. Clear/IRIS/NEXUS/Global Entry are just expediters... they let you bypass the human inspection that comes with a passport (you still have to use your passport, but it's a machine and is 'faster'). The passport card is, well, a US-only invention (although, to enter the UK at Dover/Calais you can use your UK driver's license).
I for one would prefer NOT to have to share my data with the rest of the world unless I specifically say so. Clear/NEXUS/Global Entry are all for entering the US... who/where is the barrier here? I think we know that answer. The UK's IRIS system is supposed to speed things up, but I don't know... I've seen people get very frustrated and exit the IRIS queue, only to join ours for the passport. A botched attempt to build a Clear-like system?
S.
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