esta make me panic

[mackay_j]

Why is it I always go into panic mode after submitting these while waiting for approval- I have never broken a rule anywhere never mind a law waiting for our group authorization.

 

[2Tiggies]

I had a panic as well for some silly reason last month because I'm traveling on an old ESTA which expires just after we get back so it's still good to go, but DD got a new passport so she has a brand new one.

They usually come back instantly for individual applications. I didn't know that group ones took longer

 

[wayneg]

I have no idea how to do a group ESTA

I had no panic about mine or Karen's but I did hold my breath with Matt's. In the past year he has had a US study visa, a visa for Ghana and a new passport. It went thru no problem.

 

[2Tiggies]

I have no idea how to do a group ESTA

I didn't even know you could until the OP posted this. Goes to show how well I read the content of the web page It's not like I haven't applied for a few since 2009!

 

[mackay_j]

got it

Wayneg- did your son change his mind about doing his studies in the us. My eldest is now looking at doing a masters and one of the places she was considering was in California- but so far she has struggled to sort out health insurance issues as she is diabetic and has had various other medical issues in the past. So it now looks like she will probably do it here.

 

[wayneg]

got it

Wayneg- did your son change his mind about doing his studies in the us. My eldest is now looking at doing a masters and one of the places she was considering was in California- but so far she has struggled to sort out health insurance issues as she is diabetic and has had various other medical issues in the past. So it now looks like she will probably do it here.

We left him in New Hampshire last August. The campus was stunning and very friendly welcome, all looked good until we went into his halls of residence, this was the first shock, seeing the difference between new Lancaster rooms and very old US halls. Ok we spent a few hundred $'s sprucing up his room and it was liveable.
We left (after a few tears) and came home. He started his lectures the next day, this was when the main problem started. The work did not match what he had been doing in the UK, a course was aimed at childcare not English language, another was a room full of 4th year students, he was starting his 2nd year. He could have worked his socks off and worked around the issues but he was there to enjoy himself as well as study, if he had stayed it would have been all study.

End of the day there were many reasons, it doesn't matter how much time you spend in the US on holiday seeing their University system was a shock to the system, nothing like Matt expected.

If she is still considering it, don't go on Matt's experience, there are many many students love studying abroad, it just wasn't for Matt. He has now completed his 2nd year at Lancaster (final exam yesterday) he is 110% sure he made the right choice, getting good grades in his work, helped start a charity, been to Ghana & made amazing friends.

A few links to his words on the subject:
http://mathewgillings.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/arrival-in-boston/
http://mathewgillings.wordpress.com/2013/08/25/parents-departure/
http://mathewgillings.wordpress.com/2013/08/29/studying-abroad/
http://mathewgillings.wordpress.com/2013/08/30/journey-home/
There are other posts between these that might contain more on the subject but pulled the main ones.

Article he did for the National student:
http://www.thenationalstudent.com/Student_Travel/2013-09-23/Why_studying_abroad_wasnt_for_me.html

If there are any questions she(or anyone else reading) wants to ask just email Matt thru his blog, he is more than happy to help anyone with studying abroad (or anything to do with Lancaster University)

 

[Dimplenose]

I have no idea how to do a group ESTA

I had no panic about mine or Karen's but I did hold my breath with Matt's. In the past year he has had a US study visa, a visa for Ghana and a new passport. It went thru no problem.

I didn't know what we were doing, just blindly followed the instructions for making a single credit card payment and ended up with a group ESTA for just the two of us.

 

[missnic07]

I'm a little confused too. I did ours about 2 weeks ago, and the status says that they've been approved, which is good. But do I have to print something off to take with us? Or is it all done now?

 

[2Tiggies]

I'm a little confused too. I did ours about 2 weeks ago, and the status says that they've been approved, which is good. But do I have to print something off to take with us? Or is it all done now?

You aren't required to print them but if you make a note of your reference number it would be helpful and save you some time if you wanted to go back in and reprint them/print them later. I print them before we go but have never been asked for it; I've only been asked on occasion whether I have done my applications. If it makes you feel better, it's a sheet of paper per person and you can slip it in with the rest of your travel documents.

 

[twissie]

Just done mine as a group and had a very tense 48 hour wait for approval.
Just a note to anyone else who doesn't get approved straight away, there is no notification (or we didn't get one anyway) just keep logging in to check.

 

[wayneg]

I'm a little confused too. I did ours about 2 weeks ago, and the status says that they've been approved, which is good. But do I have to print something off to take with us? Or is it all done now?

As Lee says you are not required to print but I always recommend it. 2 years ago when I did our last ones, we arrived at immigration to be told he had no record on the system for Karen & Matts ESTA, only mine was showing. I gave him printouts and he said I had just saved him & ourselves a load of time & hassle. Thankfully we didn't find out how much hassle.
At least take the numbers but I always take a print out.

 

[mikki.young]

Just done mine as a group and had a very tense 48 hour wait for approval.
Just a note to anyone else who doesn't get approved straight away, there is no notification (or we didn't get one anyway) just keep logging in to check.

Thanks for that tip - I'm sure we were sent something when we did it before. Just logged in and seen we are approved