ESTA Charge ($14!) & Date Confirmed

[scottishgirl87]

Is that based on anything official? The only reason I ask is that in my view it is a travel authorisation and merely allows you to travel to the US, it is then down to the Immigration official at the airport to grant you permission to enter and stay, meaning that as long as your authorisation is valid on the day you travel you are fine. I'm happy to be proved wrong though.

That's a good question. I just assumed it would have to be valid for your whole trip I suppose though if you're entering the country before your expiry you probably wouldn't be turned away Never thought about it before!

 

[2Tiggies]

That's a good question. I just assumed it would have to be valid for your whole trip I suppose though if you're entering the country before your expiry you probably wouldn't be turned away Never thought about it before!

I think the reason none of us really think about that is people generally don't plan to travel EXACTLY on the cusp of expiry of the old one. In fact, since we haven't hit the 2 year mark since ESTA was introduced, nobody has had to deal with that yet. We will see by mid January, although most people, if aware of the charges soon to be introduced, will have reapplied by then any way.

 

[darthtatty]

Thanks for the date, ive been trying to do mine for our trip next year but been so busy. will make sure i get them done before the charge

 

[scottishgirl87]

Thanks for the date, ive been trying to do mine for our trip next year but been so busy. will make sure i get them done before the charge

Can someone nominate themself to on the 7th Sept post a LARGE message reminding everyone?!

I would nominate myself but I know I'll forget!!!

 

[Pegasus928]

Can someone nominate themself to on the 7th Sept post a LARGE message reminding everyone?!

I would nominate myself but I know I'll forget!!!

To be honest I think it is something that will remain the topic of conversation for the next few weeks.
Admittedly it's not as important as trying to solve world peace or anything, but if it saves someone the cost of having to buy them then its worth keeping it near the top of the first page.

 

[skelfbsfb]

Will update given us another 2 years before we need to pay. Thanks for letting us know.

 

[dc1964]

is it worth worrying about, its not that much money on the scale of things, if it gets rid of those green cards then it is worth paying.

 

[Pegasus928]

is it worth worrying about, its not that much money on the scale of things, if it gets rid of those green cards then it is worth paying.

I don't think anyone is saying that they are worried about it, just making sure everyone knows so they don't get caught out paying for it when they can still get it for free.

 

[Cyrano]

Just a little update, we flew with virgin on the 8th july and there were none of those nasty green forms but still had to do the other family form. I know of some people that went out in May/ june and had to fill both in.

That is the customs declaration form

is it worth worrying about, its not that much money on the scale of things, if it gets rid of those green cards then it is worth paying.

I don't think anyone is worrying about it, but from a trip planning perspective I definitely appreciate the heads-up to save any $ on a trip

 

[Disneymad]

I don't see anyone worrying about this Yes, it's only $14 and won't break the bank but if you lost £10 in the street when you pulled out your wallet you'd be kicking yourself - wasting money for zero reason, no matter how small the amount, is something most people tend to want to avoid

 

[kristieuk]

is it worth worrying about, its not that much money on the scale of things, if it gets rid of those green cards then it is worth paying.

In my measuring life by bottles of wine way, $14 each = $56 for our family of 4, which is approximately £32, which is 6 or 7 bottles of wine!

 

[Disneymad]

In my measuring life by bottles of wine way, $14 each = $56 for our family of 4, which is approximately £32, which is 6 or 7 bottles of wine!

 

[franc]

Thanks for posting. I did my ESTA's a few months ago, but will reapply just before the charge comes in, that way it will cover the school summer holidays in 2012 as well.

 

[mollies_mum]

Yes it's per person.

You haven't had to do it before as the charge comes into effect on the 8th September.

Thanks

 

[DCLMan]

Is it just me or is it slightly ironic, that the US are going to charge a group of people, to fund an organisation which is trying to attract that same group of people?

Or has this plan not been thought through entirely?

I agree, it's just another tax

 

[kerstfan1]

well if they do start chargeing this will be my last trip to the us

i dont mind paying for a visa i always do when going to turkey and egypt but we dont even need a visa to go to the us so why pay

 

[Chilly]

Thanks for the date

 

[DCLMan]

well if they do start chargeing this will be my last trip to the us

i dont mind paying for a visa i always do when going to turkey and egypt but we dont even need a visa to go to the us so why pay

They will start charging and it's one of the reasons I will not be flying into America next year. I'm fed up with airports in general, and flying into America is a miserable experience. Immigration, miserable luggage allowances, cramped airline seats, poor airline food, the list goes on!

Next year we are doing a two week Med cruise, leaving from Southampton with an unlimited luggage allowance.

 

[Kaz65]

What to do? DS passport needs to be renewed but only lasts for 5 yrs at £49 Not flying out til May next year so not much difference in paying $14 now and 'wasting' 8 months of passport allocation??? or renewing passport ealry and 'saving' on the ESTA fee!!

 

[2Tiggies]

What to do? DS passport needs to be renewed but only lasts for 5 yrs at £49 Not flying out til May next year so not much difference in paying $14 now and 'wasting' 8 months of passport allocation??? or renewing passport ealry and 'saving' on the ESTA fee!!

Just do everyone else's ESTAs now and then you only have one to do for your DS next year. As you say, it's pretty much a break even, although if you really want to count pennies, it is still cheaper to renew the passport now. As you say, hardly much difference so it really boils down to whatever is most convenient for you.