Dont get left behind at the airport. (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA))

Member Name: garymarsh6

Product:	Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA)
Date:	12/02/09 (329 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Essential for travelling to the USA

Disadvantages: Another tier of beaurocracy.

ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorisation.


The department of homeland security of the USA now requires all persons entering the USA to pre register with them prior to travelling to the USA..
If you have not done this then you will not be permitted to enter the USA let alone get on a plane bound for the states.

It is a simple on line process which has to be completed up to 72 hours prior to departure. Anyone booking flights to the USA should have been informed of this by your ticket issuer or travel agent.

The system became mandatory this January although you could register prior to that.
All passengers who enter the USA under the visa waiver programme must register that includes all EU citizens and some other countries.

If you do not have access to a computer at home or at work you can use the facilities in your local library. There are some companies who will do this for you for a fee of course but it is entirely free at the moment and very simple to do taking less than five minutes.

On the home page of the US embassy on the right hand side of the page click on the link for ESTA. It will take you to the ESTA welcome page and you can choose which language to complete it in.

There are two choices to make initially
1. If you are a new applicant.
2. To update your details.


There are a few steps to complete the application.

1. Complete the registration form: details required are
2. Surname
3. First name
4. Citizenship
5. Country of residence
6. D.O.B
7. Sex
8. Email address (Don't worry if you do not have one).
9. Telephone number
10. Passport number
11. Place of issue
12. Start date.
13. Expiry
14. Place of departure.
15. Airline
16. Flight number
17. Address in the USA where you are staying.

There follows a couple of declarations you have to click.

Click next to submit application which whizzes off

An application number is issued.

After a few minutes approval is given which you can print out.


It is so simple to complete however I understand that if you are landing by boat and not an airport or on a non approved airline you still have to apply for a visa.

You still have to complete the landing cards on the plane and present them to immigration on arrival. It still does not guarantee you entry to the USA just to travel to the USA and from my recent experience it certainly does not speed your admission to the USA.

My over all opinion is that it is so very simple and straightforward to do yourself so why pay someone to do it for you.

Good luck and Happy Holiday!

Summary: Compulsory pre registration of visit to the USA.