ESTA on the news today.

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
Same here too [?]

Seems like a few of us ... let's hope it's teething issues.

Still, at least it's not required until January [:0].

Another one who is 'pending' here - at least I'm not the only one, was starting to panic!

[Darren Wheeler]

72 hours delay apparently.... Also could be a flood of applicants

I went straight to approved - don't know if its related but I have been to the US 8 times this year so far....

[mitchja]

Just gone in and checked and I'm now approved [:D]

Regards

[Darren Wheeler]

Snap.

[Decker]

Mine also but we still need to fill in the paper I94-Ws for a while...

Originally posted by mitchja
Just gone in and checked and I'm now approved [:D]

Regards

Mines as well [y]

David [:)]

Applied and approved in seconds![:D]
Wonder what happens if you are not approved?

Originally posted by avalon
Wonder what happens if you are not approved?

Knock at the door, dark suits, dark glasses.... [:)]

but if you were not approved then would/should you travel?
Will the airlines be asked to check if you are an approved alien or not?

[Decker]

Well until the scheme is mandatory and the airlines have communication systems in place to validate the ESTAs the I94W will still be used. Once it is all automated the airline's systems will do the checking against the US databases.

I completed my online form, y'know, just in case... authorisation arrived in seconds. But with the disclaimer that the Customs Agent on arrival at JFK has the final say... and I still have to answer those stupid questions on the VW form like 'Are you a criminal?'. Well, if I was, would I answer honestly?

Mind you, I had to look up 'moral turpitude' before answering.

Originally posted by avalon
but if you were not approved then would/should you travel?
Will the airlines be asked to check if you are an approved alien or not?

I noticed that the website said that a refusal does not preclude you from applying for a visa, it just means you cannot travel visa-free.

[Decker]

and if you DIDN'T answer honestly and you were arrested for something else and in a background check they found you were 'a criminal' they wouldn't have to prove a case against you on the original arrest they could just deport you for lying on your I94W.

Soooo ... the dork I can be, I cut the registration # when I applied, but didn't paste it anywhere, hence number forgotten.

Getting in touch with the ESTA technical help (which seemed the only way to resolve this since there's no 'lost number recall' bit anywhere) I had a mail saying my application is approved, but they cannot tell me the number ... I'll have to create a new application ...

So, don't forget to write down your number!

So having registered and been approved, I gave the address in the US as our Naples address, we now will be flying into New York next month.
As ESTA does not come into effect until January can I leave our registration as is or should I change it?

[mitchja]

You can go in and update your flight and hotel details at any time, just as long as you have your registration number.

I updated my details on Saturaday after booking my ORD trip.

Regards

Hmmm - as I missing something. I thought this replaced the green visa-waiver form? Having filled out the online form and got approval I turned up at SFO yesterday and they (immigration) had never heard of it. I filled out a green form while someone from immigration went off to google it....


Dom

[Decker]

Nope until the computer systems are all speaking to each other the I-94Ws are still required...

so the point of doing it until it becomes mandatory is????


Dom

p.s. That is rhetorical....

I know that the system doesn't go live until next year, but I thought I'd give it a go anyway (in advance of my December trip). I was approved instantaneously.

I had assumed that even though it wasn't live, the fact that I had registered would be known to immigration on arrival - as a sort of double running trial period for them. Can anyone confirm if this is true or not?

Ian

[Decker]

See my latest JFK TR - no