ESTA for USA Trip - Re-Usable

[youngsyr]

Hi, I've tried searching on the US Government site and as expected it's next to useless.

In April my girlfriend and I obtained ESTA visa waivers for a trip to see friends in NYC, but the trip was cancelled due to the Volcanic ash cloud.

My girlfriend and I are now travelling to California for a holiday on Thursday.

My query is this:

Do we need to renew, update or obtain new ESTAs or can we simply use the ones I printed off back in April, which show that they are valid until 2012?

Thanks for any advice offered.

[DavesFlaps]

Yes.

They are valid for 2 years.

You don't need to re-apply, but it won't do any harm and may in fact be a good idea to get another application in before they start charging shortly.

[youngsyr]

DavesFlaps said:

Yes.

They are valid for 2 years.

You don't need to re-apply, but it won't do any harm and may in fact be a good idea to get another application in before they start charging shortly.

So they're effectively two-year, multiple entry visas and not a single entry visa that is valid for two years?

I'm concerned that I'll arrive at immigration in San Francisco with an Esta that was completed saying that I'd be staying in NYC.

[Benzman]

Your ESTA authorisation is valid for two years from the original application date or the expiry date of your passport, whichever comes first.

As it is effectively an on-going visa you can enter the USA at any point of entry over the next two years, you still have to complete the green Visa waiver form on the aircraft prior to landing and it's on this that you must enter the address of your first night's stay in the USA, the fact that it's changed from your original application doesn't matter.

[DavesFlaps]

Benzman said:

you still have to complete the green Visa waiver form on the aircraft prior to landing .

No.

This is being phased out over the summer and on a recent trip, landing at JFK, I didn't need to do this. A colleague had a similar experience flying into LAX.

[Nicol@]

No harm in completing a new application (but looks like you may not need to).

I did this last year after going to two different locations within six months.
Knowing how picky the US immigration officers can be, I didn't want to risk rejection because of the address.

[Super Slo Mo]

DavesFlaps said:

Benzman said:

you still have to complete the green Visa waiver form on the aircraft prior to landing .

No.

This is being phased out over the summer and on a recent trip, landing at JFK, I didn't need to do this. A colleague had a similar experience flying into LAX.

The green visa waiver card has gone, it seems, although there's still the white immigration card to complete, which is pretty basic.

[youngsyr]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm now not sure whether to:

- complete a new one and hope it's processed in time (we fly on Thursday) and that having two ESTAs doesn't cause problems at immigration; or

- go with the ones we have and hope that the different US address/port of entry doesn't cause problems at immigration!

Don't you just love travelling to the States!

[HOGEPH]

Renew it while it's still free. They start charging for it in September.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10899968

[Benzman]

DavesFlaps said:

Benzman said:

you still have to complete the green Visa waiver form on the aircraft prior to landing .

No.

This is being phased out over the summer and on a recent trip, landing at JFK, I didn't need to do this. A colleague had a similar experience flying into LAX.

That's only just happened then, I still had to complete the green form when I went over there in June.

[Matt Harper]

I-94W (the green form) is being phased-out - it hasn't gone altogether yet. Depends on your port of entry and if they are equipped to process you without the I-94.

[cjs]

Don't worry about getting turned back at US immigration, you will not be able to leave the UK unless you have a valid ESTA, the airline will spot it at check-in. It's all linked to your Passport.

[sonic_2k_uk]

Does filling in the form on the website and being told "OK" count, or do you need to carry some kind of print out with you at checkin?

[51mes]

Being told you are ok is fine...

I believe you can amend your esta to put a different destination address on it and are supposed to do that when travelling on a second trip...

Simes.

[Stu R]

51mes said:

Being told you are ok is fine...

I believe you can amend your esta to put a different destination address on it and are supposed to do that when travelling on a second trip...

Simes.

This. You just adjust it with the correct flight details. I don't think it's mandatory, and the visa waiver covers you for multiple journeys, but it's probably a good idea just to minimise the risk of hassle.

That being said, you might as well renew it while it's free (afaik it's not free now, just part of the flight price? Even still, do it. )

The green I94 form has gone. I've been over to the states several times recently and the last couple of trips have been free of them.

Edited by Stu R on Tuesday 24th August 18:31

[Gareth79]

I will double what has been said above - you can enter your authorisation number on the site and amend your details with the new flight number, destination address etc. This will also confirm to you that it is still valid.

I would print out the confirmation page and take it with you, no harm.

I'm not sure what happens if the destination address etc. is old, not sure if they take it at the desk, if they do then entering it now will save time.