ESTA - Anyone had experience with this yet?

Just noticed today that the travel information to the USA had been updated on the Virgin holidays website:

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/info/im ... l_updates/

I went to the website and had a look at the new form and it looks exactly the same as the old green VWP form except you fill it out online.

Does anyone know the procedure once you arrive at US immigration? Do you just hand them your reference number and they just let you through?

[preiffer]

Did mine.

Still handed across the I-94W on entry. Wasn't asked for, nor did I refer to, an ESTA reference number.

Whole thing seems rather ridiculous and OTT for now. Until they ultimately REPLACE the I-94W with the ESTA authorisation, there's no gain at all for you as a traveler.

I did mine for my recent trip to MCO too. As preiffer says, there is nothing to be gained by doing ESTA at the moment - you still have to complete the I-94W form and will still be met at US Immigration by an ever friendly & happy Immigration officer.

The big change will be next year, when unless you have done ESTA 72hrs prior to departure, you will be unable to fly.

The new system comes into effect on 12th January so I'll guess we will have to wait until then.

-Steve

I imagine this is going to cause a lot of problems when they final ditch the I-94W forms. Any non computer literate people are going to have a tough time, as are those who forget to do it 72 hours in advanceÉ. That is unless the travel agent does it for you when you book your trip.

[Scrooge]

I was just thinking that, how many people do you think are going to be told they can't fly because they did not fill out the form 72 hours before ?

ESTA only goes active on January 12. It gives you the 'freedom' to travel without any further hassles for a year, after which you have to renew your information. That means that if you are travelling to the US multiple times a year, you have to register once, and your information will remain current until the 12 months are up, or you renew ahead of time with new information (and extend the timeout for another year).

It's supposed to make things 'easier'. Supposedly. If you do not register with ESTA, you're not coming in.

It will be up to the travel agents to tell customers about this, and if you book at VS direct, you are always advised that you have to provide this information ahead of time. I recall having been notified about it at least once.

S.

I registered a couple of weeks back, its valid for 2 years

They've changed that then. Good...

S.

What happens if you try to book less than 72 hours before you fly? Does this completely kill the last minute break?

quote:Originally posted by musicmanbrain
What happens if you try to book less than 72 hours before you fly? Does this completely kill the last minute break?


Register now just in case[;)]

[Decker]

If you're already registered then all is right with the world.... if not they SAY there will be special emergency procedures so wait and see I guess.

quote:Originally posted by Decker
If you're already registered then all is right with the world.... if not they SAY there will be special emergency procedures so wait and see I guess.


Hmmm, I did wonder whether, if you've already registered during the trial period, you need to reregister when it is live and mandatory? I asked ESTA by email but haven't heard back from them yet ...

I just spoke with our BA rep about this and as far as they have been told, there will be facilities to do this at the airport before departure.
She was a bit sketchy on the details and I presume that the US/airlines will charge for this facility but she said that there would be something in place.

The dodgy thing is that they say as an airline they have no idea whether the flying pax has or has not got an ESTA and they just have to make sure all the APIS data is filled in as before. She thinks that the go live date will go ahead but that paper forms will still be acccepted until they have worked out how exactly it will work.
They are not ready for it yet!

quote:Originally posted by jaguarpig

Register now just in case[;)]

I was originally under the opinion that this was a possibility - register once and travel whenever but the registration process asks all the questions currently on the Visa Waiver form including flight number. Is it even possible to register in advance?

FM

quote:Originally posted by FamilyMan
[quote]Originally posted by jaguarpig

Register now just in case[;)]

Is it even possible to register in advance?

FM


Yes you can, then note your registration number and you can then change the flight details online when you have a confirmed plan.

[Neil]

quote:Originally posted by slinky09
quote:Originally posted by FamilyMan
[quote]Originally posted by jaguarpig

Register now just in case[;)]

Is it even possible to register in advance?

FM


Yes you can, then note your registration number and you can then change the flight details online when you have a confirmed plan.


Although it does say that you don't have to update it for each trip/visit but that it will make your immigration process easier.

[quote]The dodgy thing is that they say as an airline they have no idea whether the flying pax has or has not got an ESTA and they just have to make sure all the APIS data is filled in as before

Surely airlines are going to have to have some sort of system in place, they can't just be taking loads of pax that knowingly haven't completed ESTA as required, can they? If an airline currently sends a pax to a country and they don't have the correct documents (passports etc) then they are responsible for the costs involved in getting them home so surely the same would apply here?

quote:Originally posted by Neil
[quote]Originally posted by slinky09
[quote]Originally posted by FamilyMan
[quote]Originally posted by jaguarpig

Register now just in case[;)]

Is it even possible to register in advance?

FM


Yes you can, then note your registration number and you can then change the flight details online when you have a confirmed plan.


Although it does say that you don't have to update it for each trip/visit but that it will make your immigration process easier.

[quote]The dodgy thing is that they say as an airline they have no idea whether the flying pax has or has not got an ESTA and they just have to make sure all the APIS data is filled in as before

Surely airlines are going to have to have some sort of system in place, they can't just be taking loads of pax that knowingly haven't completed ESTA as required, can they? If an airline currently sends a pax to a country and they don't have the correct documents (passports etc) then they are responsible for the costs involved in getting them home so surely the same would apply here?


I understod from the pre-launch 'blurb' that, unless pax had already submnitted the required information 72 hrs before their flight, they would NOT be allowed to board. Or is my interpretation wrong?

quote:Originally posted by slinky09
[quote]Originally posted by FamilyMan
[quote]Originally posted by jaguarpig

Register now just in case[;)]

Is it even possible to register in advance?

FM


Yes you can, then note your registration number and you can then change the flight details online when you have a confirmed plan.


You can change the flight number, airline and address, but it doesnt ask for a travel date/s

Use of ESTA will be voluntary until Jan 12th 2009 when online completion will become mandatory for all Visa Waiver Programme travellers to the USA Ð provided that the airline used is capable of receiving and validating ESTA data (if not capable, the I-94W will continue to be used).

Although on test until January 12th, approved ESTA applications before that date will still last 2 years before renewal. Use of the old manual I-94W form will still be mandatory up to January 12th, with use of the ESTA online version being voluntary

I would imagine that VS could integrate the ESTA registration number in their APIS request form, so that when they ask that you submit APIS info, you also include your ESTA number (if you have registered).

S.

quote:Originally posted by Penny_L
[quote]Originally posted by slinky09
[quote]Originally posted by FamilyMan
[quote]Originally posted by jaguarpig

Register now just in case[;)]

Is it even possible to register in advance?

FM


Yes you can, then note your registration number and you can then change the flight details online when you have a confirmed plan.


You can change the flight number, airline and address, but it doesnt ask for a travel date/s


As I understand it, you don't need to supply flight information, dates or travel plans. You simply register and you are covered for 2 years. Correct me if I'm wrong, please, because I have alreday registered and am due to fly to Washington on January 12th!

Chris

[Neil]

quote:Originally posted by cshore
As I understand it, you don't need to supply flight information, dates or travel plans. You simply register and you are covered for 2 years. Correct me if I'm wrong, please, because I have alreday registered and am due to fly to Washington on January 12th!

Chris


If you have registered and been accepted then you will be fine. It does say that if you update your info before each trip it will help make your immigration process easier, so I guess it will help if you can go and ammend it to include your travel plans then great but it is not a requirement.

Neil

They will still get the info that changes every time you enter the US in the APIS which you still have to provide so as long as they can marry up the two it should be fine.

So how do VS find out if you have been approved, rejected or not bothered filling it in? I assume they would still have to get you home if refused entry on arrival?