How To ESTA

[tracipierce]

Originally Posted by mini one

Help should I start to worry??
We fly on 17th and just applied for our ESTA. Mine and DD all went through easy but DH says authorisation pending!!! It says a determination will be made in 72 hrs. We have been to Florida many times over the years and never had any problem before. Has this happened to anyone else??

Hi, don't worry first of all....

my son's went through straight away but then my son's GF and my daughter's said authorisation pending. This has never happened to me and my other DDs before either so I was worried sick. I re checked later on the same day on both of their applications and they had both gone through. Check the application again now to see if it's updated

[mini one]

Originally Posted by tracipierce

Hi, don't worry first of all....

my son's went through straight away but then my son's GF and my daughter's said authorisation pending. This has never happened to me and my other DDs before either so I was worried sick. I re checked later on the same day on both of their applications and they had both gone through. Check the application again now to see if it's updated

Thank you thank you thank you
Was really worried and dreading the next 72hrs but checked again as you suggested and it's all ok and been approved. I would never have dared to check so quick if you had not said so thanks again.
2 weeks till Florida

[tracipierce]

Originally Posted by mini one

Thank you thank you thank you
Was really worried and dreading the next 72hrs but checked again as you suggested and it's all ok and been approved. I would never have dared to check so quick if you had not said so thanks again.
2 weeks till Florida

You are most welcome!!!!

I know exactly how you were feeling, not nice at all. I'm just so impatient, I had to give it a whirl the same day. Glad it's all gone through for you now... good luck with the rest of your planning and getting ready.... I have less than a week now and getting that excited panicky feeling lol

[BecksHH]

Hi, this is new since our last trip, am i right thinking i should do this asap? We leave 6 weeks on sat, only booked 2 weeks ago, so I'm a bit behind on all this sort of stuff! Do I have to do one for my DD who will just be 3? Thanks x

[wayneg]

Originally Posted by BecksHH

Hi, this is new since our last trip, am i right thinking i should do this asap? We leave 6 weeks on sat, only booked 2 weeks ago, so I'm a bit behind on all this sort of stuff! Do I have to do one for my DD who will just be 3? Thanks x

I would do it now, you should have no problems but they last 2 years so you might as well get them done.
Everyone needs one.

[BecksHH]

Originally Posted by wayneg

I would do it now, you should have no problems but they last 2 years so you might as well get them done.
Everyone needs one.

Thanks for that, i'll get them done asap!

[Terkina]

I thought I would get an e-mail when our ESTA's was approved or declined. We applied for the ESTA on Friday so today I had to go on the internet to find out if it was approved or not. Both our ESTA's was approved so now we are ready to visit USA in February

Is it normal not to get an e-mail when the ESTA is approved?

[wayneg]

Originally Posted by Terkina

I thought I would get an e-mail when our ESTA's was approved or declined. We applied for the ESTA on Friday so today I had to go on the internet to find out if it was approved or not. Both our ESTA's was approved so now we are ready to visit USA in February

Is it normal not to get an e-mail when the ESTA is approved?

Yes its normal. You have to check, they do not send an email.

[Terkina]

Thank you for your help wayneg

[bee86]

I underatand that estas last for two years. I will be travelling to the states twice this year, once on my own (as part of a uni study group) to Chicago and once in June with my mum.
Mum should be straight forward with just one trip.
When I apply ill put the details of the Chicago flight in.....but what do I do for the June trip for me do I need to do anything extra??

Also.....silly question but when going through immigration in Orlando, can I go through with mum or do we have to go through as individuals?like can we walk up to the officer together as we are family?

[queendisney]

Originally Posted by bee86

I underatand that estas last for two years. I will be travelling to the states twice this year, once on my own (as part of a uni study group) to Chicago and once in June with my mum.
Mum should be straight forward with just one trip.
When I apply ill put the details of the Chicago flight in.....but what do I do for the June trip for me do I need to do anything extra??

Also.....silly question but when going through immigration in Orlando, can I go through with mum or do we have to go through as individuals?like can we walk up to the officer together as we are family?

Once your Esta is approved you can go in and out with it anywhere in the USA...it doesn't matter if you have put your flight details/destination etc on it in the first place. Yes you can go through immigration at the same time as your mum thats no problem. Not sure they would allow a huge group of people but two of you, no probs. Well we did it when a friend came along with us and they didn't say anything.

[bazzanoid]

Originally Posted by bee86

I underatand that estas last for two years. I will be travelling to the states twice this year, once on my own (as part of a uni study group) to Chicago and once in June with my mum.
Mum should be straight forward with just one trip.
When I apply ill put the details of the Chicago flight in.....but what do I do for the June trip for me do I need to do anything extra??

Also.....silly question but when going through immigration in Orlando, can I go through with mum or do we have to go through as individuals?like can we walk up to the officer together as we are family?

You'll only need to put the details of the first trip you plan on taking on the ESTA application, it then remains valid for two years no matter where you're going to go in the US. The ESTA is purely permission to travel to the US, but has nothing to do with actually getting in, that's down to the officers at port of entry.

[bee86]

Brilliant thank you so much for your prompt replies I get so nervous about the security side(even checking in, as I'm terrified of flying and the airport in general lol) of things in the airport I just like to have every thing perfect!

[Disneyfan.UK121]

We are travelling on the 20th March and our forms run out on the 23rd March Do we need to complete a new one for our stay or do you just need a valid one for the entry?

Thanks for the clarification.

[wayneg]

Originally Posted by Disneyfan.UK121

We are travelling on the 20th March and our forms run out on the 23rd March Do we need to complete a new one for our stay or do you just need a valid one for the entry?

Thanks for the clarification.

ESTA only needs to be valid for your entry date.
Here is the official wording:

My travel authorization is valid for travel to the United States but will expire before I depart. Do I need to apply for a new one before my trip?

No. ESTA travel authorization needs only to be valid upon arrival in the United States.

Taken from ESTA help page:
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/WebHel...ine_Help_1.htm