ESTA

quote:Originally posted by Neil
quote:Originally posted by catsilversword
Have they started charging for this? I thought it was free (it was when I got my ESTA)< but a friend of mine is currently on the link provided by the Virgin site and she says they want to charge 20 per ESTA!!!


No, it is still currently free. The link on the VS site, still takes you to the free, official site, and this is the only site you should use (I have just checked the link now myself). There are a number of sites that do charge you for filling out the same information that you can do yourself so you have to be careful of those.


That's just what I thought - and that was also the link I sent her! I wonder what she's done then? OK, many thanks for that.... I'll let her know [:D]

The ESTA site linked from the Virgin site states clearly here in response to the fee question:
.....there is no fee to apply for a travel authorization.
....but.... there may be an application fee in the future.

There are sites that attempt to get payment for making the free application for you.
I do not believe these sites would be linked from the VS site!

edit: Neil: you got in while I was constructing my reply
I have left this as it includes the link.

quote:Originally posted by Bill S
The ESTA site linked from the Virgin site states clearly here in response to the fee question:
.....there is no fee to apply for a travel authorization.
....but.... there may be an application fee in the future.

There are sites that attempt to get payment for making the free application for you.
I do not believe these sites would be linked from the VS site!

edit: Neil: you got in while I was constructing my reply
I have left this as it includes the link.

quote:Originally posted by catsilversword
quote:Originally posted by Bill S
The ESTA site linked from the Virgin site states clearly here in response to the fee question:
.....there is no fee to apply for a travel authorization.
....but.... there may be an application fee in the future.

There are sites that attempt to get payment for making the free application for you.
I do not believe these sites would be linked from the VS site!

edit: Neil: you got in while I was constructing my reply
I have left this as it includes the link.



No, and that's just why I sent her the link from the VS and site and exactly why I was surprised when she mentioned a fee! I also read the faqs and saw what you've quoted! I'll look at it when I'm at home tonight, I need to update my authorisation (authorization?!).

I've just updated mine via the VS link. This took me to the legit, no fee, site.

Paul

I updated my family's information yesterday.

I have to admit that I just googled ESTA rather than follow any links and the sites that came top of the list were pay site. Some of them look very official and convincing and I can see how some people may believe that a fee is payable.

Is it worth having the 'real' link here, with a warning to help those who may be coming to this site for advice?

quote:Originally posted by Slipperman
Is it worth having the 'real' link here, with a warning to help those who may be coming to this site for advice?


It may also be worth a number of us raising a complaint with Google!

Is there any chance your friend is getting confused with the Australian ETA which does charge a fee unless you have a certain type of passport?

There was a thread about it quite recently following the Sydney UC sale because there was a recent change in the entry programme into OZ - sorry can't remember details as brain is frazzled.

THere are several links to the official site within this thread but I did mine via the US Embassy website.

quote:Originally posted by tontybear
Is there any chance your friend is getting confused with the Australian ETA which does charge a fee unless you have a certain type of passport?

There was a thread about it quite recently following the Sydney UC sale because there was a recent change in the entry programme into OZ - sorry can't remember details as brain is frazzled.

THere are several links to the official site within this thread but I did mine via the US Embassy website.




It's possible, but not that likely, I'd have thought. She's asked me to look at it tomorrow with her though. Unless the link became corrupted in some way between my pc and hers.... no idea if that could happen.

I guess updating one's ESTA means using the right hand bit of the screen...?

[Darren Wheeler]

If you Google for ESTA, the offical site is 4th after the sponsered links.

Top one is http://www.esta-online.co.uk/ and they list a 20 fee.

quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
If you Google for ESTA, the offical site is 4th after the sponsered links.

Top one is http://www.esta-online.co.uk/ and they list a 20 fee.


Which turns out to be just what she did! I asked her why she didn't use the link I sent her, and apparently it didn't work - no idea why! She did, eventually however, find the official site (4th down!) and recognised the page as the same as the one I'd also printed off for her to refer to.

D'oh....

[honey lamb]

quote:Originally posted by catsilversword
quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
If you Google for ESTA, the offical site is 4th after the sponsered links.

Top one is http://www.esta-online.co.uk/ and they list a 20 fee.


Which turns out to be just what she did! I asked her why she didn't use the link I sent her, and apparently it didn't work -no idea why!

She may have been using a browser like Google Chrome

quote:Originally posted by icarus2009
quote:Originally posted by Nemmie
Oh my these horror stories make me shudder!
...........................................................

Does anyone know if there is any time period you have to be back in the UK for before you go back again?

Few years ago (but since 9/11) I visited Miami under the 'Visa Waiver' arrangement.
US Immigration allowed me the usual 90 days.
After staying 85 days I returned to London, staying in London for 1 month.
Then I went back to Miami, again under the 'Visa Waiver.'
The US Immigration Officer lady was not pleased, giving me a long, unpleasantly intimidating lecture, a much shortened version of which was
You've no right to return here unless you've been in your own country for the same amount of time as you were here.
I think she was wrong to say I had to be in my own country for the same amount of time as I'd been in the US, but she may have meant to say, and been right in saying
You've no right to return here unless you've been out of the US, Canada, Mexico & the nearby islands (Bermuda, Bahamas) for the same amount of time as you were in the US.
Eventually she relented, ungraciously granting the usual 90 days again.

The next year I explained to a younger, more personable Immigration Officer
I have a home in Florida and being retired I like to spend much of the winter there, so was there was anything I could do to improve my chances of a trouble-free entry to & stay in the US in future?
Her reply:
I can't speak for other Immigration Officers, but if you were in front of me with a B1/B2 Visa (Business/Tourist Visa) I'd usually grant you a 6 month stay. If you left the US for a short while then returned a few days later, I'd let you stay the balance of the original 6 months.

So I applied for a B1/B2 Visa, visited the US Embassy for interview, was asked why I wanted it, explained my holiday home in Florida and being retired I like to spend much of the winter there, paid $100 for it, and a few days later my passport with the Visa was mailed back to me.
I've been granted 6 months stay each visit since.



Can I ask how long your b1/b2 visa lasts for? Is it 5 years? TIA

My B1/B2 visa lasts for ten years.
[:X]

Thanks Tinkerbelle! That's pretty awesome!

[Decker]

Awesome like a hotdog?

Awesome like Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake.

I think I may have booped with my ESTA. I am travelling to Vegas tomorrow and got my ESTA back in April. I remember noting that I didnt need to take the number with me. I thought I would get an email.

So today, I check my email and there isnt one (also confirmed on this thread). In a panic, I apply again and get instant approval.

Will they still let me in as my latest application was not done 72h before?

Is there any way I can find my old number, or maybe they are the same?

quote:Originally posted by kingcole1974
Will they still let me in as my latest application was not done 72h before?

Is there any way I can find my old number, or maybe they are the same?


You'll be fine [y]. I have also done this before. Also wish that ESTA would email you the confirmation with #.

For my first application, I also lost the number then changed my plans. I did once email their tech support, they wouldn't give me the number but did say I was approved. I then reapplied and made sure I printed off the screen and to be sure emailed myself the #.

You do not need the number or to print anything off - it is an electronic system !

The 72 hours is not a 'must do' deadline. It is one of the time limts to get a response if you get 'application pending'

These are from the ESTA FAQ:

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/dhs/ESTA_FactSheet.pdf

Do VWP travelers need to bring a paper printout of their ESTA approval to the airport?

No. DHS will be able to communicate a travelers ESTA status to the carriers. However, DHS recommends that travelers print out the ESTA application response in order to maintain a record of their ESTA application number.

AND

Authorization Pending: Traveler will need to check the ESTA Web site for updates within 72 hours to receive a final response.

I don't even think it's running properly yet. I've been out several times since it was introduced, and have just changed my hotel and flight on the ESTA website every time.

I've not once been asked about it - every time has just been the same green forms stating that I'm not a nazi war criminal, and some vague mumbling that both systems are being run in parallel. It wouldn't surprise me if they never phase out the forms.

quote:Originally posted by tontybear
You do not need the number or to print anything off - it is an electronic system !



Tonty - you DO need your number if you fly frequently and need to update your flight and arrival location information. ESTA approval is valid for two years, and every time within that that you fly, you should update this information. Since the site only lets you update by entering your approval number, it is a slightly useful fact to have!

Slinky

thats true but what I meant was it's not someting you need to carry around with you and show to check-in or INS staff which is what some people think they need to do - and thats what the ESTA FAQ says.

The FAQ also says you CAN use it to update an itinerary but it is NOT required (but I agree it is probbaly a good thing to do) as you can generally travel as many times as you wish during the two year validity.

quote:Originally posted by tontybear
Slinky

thats true but what I meant was it's not someting you need to carry around with you and show to check-in or INS staff which is what some people think they need to do - and thats what the ESTA FAQ says.



Ah yes, of course.