Should we update our US Esta?

[sparks_E39]

We took out new Esta’s last month as we went to New York. We are travelling to Vegas this week and don’t know if we should update them or not with the new address whilst in the States? An internet search proved somewhat inconclusive. Do any of you guys bother? Thanks.

[SimonTheSailor]

If i've got some time left on an Esta i've just gone again before its expired. Never thought of updating the address ?!

Its kind of pointless as you might stay somewhere on arrival for a couple of nights then stay at numerous addresses on a road trip.

[djc206]

I’ve never bothered. They’ve got my phone number and email address if they want to contact me.

[GCH]

You do not have to update the address.
You will put the address on your customs form anyway.

[Yipper]

As long as it is in date, it will be fine as-is.

[8.4L 154]

Nope, its an optional question on the Esta, You will have to fill out your advance passenger information with your airline for each flight/trip into the US though, which includes where your staying. Not that there is any obligation to actually stay where you say you will, once you clear the airport your free to go where you want.

[tvrolet]

GCH said:

You do not have to update the address.
You will put the address on your customs form anyway.

No such animal now in most airports. If you've already visited once on your current ESTA you're directed to automated machines (that are easy to work, but seem to stump a great many travellers) which print out a wee slip of paper that replaces the customs form. So while many of the airlines still hand out the white/blue forms, you only have to fill then in if there's no machines and/or it's your first visit on your ESTA. As to the 'no machines' question there may be a list somewhere but they're certainly at SFO, LAX, JFK and MCO.

As to the update/renew question, then no - you never have to update your ESTA again once you've got it, even if later trips take you to different places. But you do, of course, have to renew when it expires. If you're unsure when it expires then the ESTA web site shows you the expiry date if you put back in your application number or passport number.

[GCH]

tvrolet said:

No such animal now in most airports. If you've already visited once on your current ESTA you're directed to automated machines (that are easy to work, but seem to stump a great many travellers) which print out a wee slip of paper that replaces the customs form. So while many of the airlines still hand out the white/blue forms, you only have to fill then in if there's no machines and/or it's your first visit on your ESTA. As to the 'no machines' question there may be a list somewhere but they're certainly at SFO, LAX, JFK and MCO.

Will take your word for that. Despite being a US resident I have never used the machines and still have to do a customs form.

[Matt Harper]

Is it being stated that this form doesn't exist anymore?



I filled one in last week - or did I imagine that?

[djc206]

I thought they were two unrelated things. The machine is for immigration and the form is for customs ie what you’re carrying?

[sparks_E39]

Matt Harper said:

Is it being stated that this form doesn't exist anymore?



I filled one in last week - or did I imagine that?

I didn’t fill one out in December.

[tvrolet]

Matt Harper said:

Is it being stated that this form doesn't exist anymore?



I filled one in last week - or did I imagine that?

The form still exists, and it still gets handed out of flights. But if you use the machines (which I've always been directed to of late) then they print out a slip that negates the use of the form. The machines ask the same questions as on the form whether you've pitched-up with a completed form ot not. If you give the immigration or customs guy the slip and the form, the form just goes in the bin. And if you ask if you're returning on the same ESTA you've been through immigration before on, and you've used the machines and have the printed slip then you don't need the form.

[Dave Brand]

As I understand it any visitor holding an ESTA can now use the APC kiosks, even on their first visit.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/apc

[andy43]

I put down the head office of a cruise company because we'd booked the cruise but not the stay when I did our ESTA - no problems.

[captain_cynic]

Dave Brand said:

As I understand it any visitor holding an ESTA can now use the APC kiosks, even on their first visit.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/apc

Yes, did so in Miami last month... but you still need to see a person to get fingerprints and what not. It's not any faster than it used to be, they've just added another hoop to jump through.

[djc206]

captain_cynic said:

Dave Brand said:

As I understand it any visitor holding an ESTA can now use the APC kiosks, even on their first visit.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/apc

Yes, did so in Miami last month... but you still need to see a person to get fingerprints and what not. It's not any faster than it used to be, they've just added another hoop to jump through.

It is considerably faster than it used to be and the machine takes your prints if it’s working correctly.

When I landed at LAX in 2016 the machines were on but they weren’t working properly so everyone had to go through the full check at the desk, it took about an hour I think. When I flew through Miami twice last year it was the machines again but this time working properly so the manual check was a cursory glance at and stamp in the passport, we were through in minutes.

[Dave Brand]

captain_cynic said:

Yes, did so in Miami last month... but you still need to see a person to get fingerprints and what not. It's not any faster than it used to be, they've just added another hoop to jump through.

There may be some variation between airports, but the APC machines we've used have all taken fingerprints.

[sparks_E39]

Just to update this we are currently in Las Vegas. On the plane we filled in the customs forms. Then at the airport we went through self service and didn’t give anyone the forms, so they got shredded. From landing to being at our hotel on the strip was about 60 minutes. Quite impressive really.