JulieJ
member
Reged: 29/12/2008
Posts: 549
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Hi - I've got the unexpected offer of a trip to the USA next month, but I have no idea what the current situation is on visas! My passport has a US immigration stamp in it from several years ago, but my son's does not.
Do we need visas these days? Any knowledge gratefully received.
Many thanks, Julie
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Shoelover
member
Reged: 28/02/2008
Posts: 760
Loc: Essex
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There is a visa waiver system in place, info on this link:
http://www.esta-online.co.uk/
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jacqui_o
member
Reged: 15/10/2008
Posts: 834
Loc: Lowestoft Suffolk
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Yes you do Julie, not sure hwo long it takes to come through now, or if you actually have to go and take your passport to the consulate for stamping...
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emptynest
member
Reged: 10/11/2007
Posts: 559
Loc: South Wales
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Make sure you don't get fooled by the scam site that is online - it charges you for the visa but this is wrong as the visa is free. If you get asked for payment you are on the wrong site
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eamesey
member
Reged: 24/03/2009
Posts: 69
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Hi living in the USA at the moment you fill in a visa form (green) on the plane but you now need to fill in almost the same thing on line at least 72 hours before travelling. Some site try to charge £20 but as emptynest said the form is free.It is normally linked to your airline site you need the application number with you when you travel and make sure you have the address were you are staying with you on the flight. Enjoy your trip.
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GILL3SQ
member
Reged: 29/07/2008
Posts: 1594
Loc: Staffordshire
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Hi, I travelled to the USA in June and did not need a visa. You do need a newish passport with a machine readable code along the photo page edge. We just filled in the usual green immigration form on the plane and a white customs one.
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DianeJ
member
Reged: 23/08/2008
Posts: 84
Loc: Leicester UK
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travelling next week to New York. You need to fill in the ESTA on line as eamesey said 72 hrs at least before travel. Came in new about July time. But will still fill in the green form on plane. The completion on line doesn't take long and you get an answer within a few moments as to if you are accepted or not. The problem would be if you were rejected . Then you need to go through visa process.
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sandra4
member
Reged: 31/10/2008
Posts: 97
Loc: Lincoln
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I travelled to Vegas in March and applied for an ESTA on line, told it was compulsory but wasn't needed, I think you should still get one and also fill in green card for arrival. Use the official site and it only takes minutes (they need passport details). Better to have both in case the airport you land needs either one. Good luck on your holiday.
Sandra
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marie50
member
Reged: 07/07/2007
Posts: 950
Loc: cleckheaton west yorkshire
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I went to the USA in June and applied for an ESTA online (as others have said, free of charge from the Dept of Homeland Security website) You still have to fill in the forms on the plane but i would be very wary of not getting an ESTA before you go. We weren't asked for our ESTA details at immigration but i think thats because they can see from their system that you have one already. It would be awful to get to immigration in the USA and to be refused entry as you don't have an ESTA. As the ESTA is logged against your passport details, when they log your passport, they will be able to see that you have authority to enter the country. A decision to grant the visa is made as soon as you apply for it and is shown straight away when you complete the form. I certainly wouldn't risk going without one.
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JulieJ
member
Reged: 29/12/2008
Posts: 549
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Thank you all so much! It looks like the trip is off now, but in a way I'm relieved (it was going to be a bit of a rush if we'd gone ahead!). I wonder if you can do the Esta thing without an actual trip planned - I feel it would be useful to 'have it done just in case', and agree it's far better to get one done even if it's not strictly necessary all the time, than to get to the USA and not be allowed in!!!!
Thank you all again (and for the warning about the scam, too)
Julie
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marie50
member
Reged: 07/07/2007
Posts: 950
Loc: cleckheaton west yorkshire
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The ESTA form asks you for an address in the USA and flight details so not really much point in applying now. It lasts for 2 years once you have it.
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Swanlake
member
Reged: 24/09/2009
Posts: 75
Loc: Lancashire
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Hi Julie
Just got back from New York yesterday. We completed the online visa form (free of charge) and received back bt e-mail authorisation for us to enter the USA. However, on the plane going we still had to fill in the green form. When we arrived in New York, they didn't even ask to see the authorisation, so I presume that when we applied on line with all our details, they somehow inserted it onto their computers. They also take your fingerprints at Immigration, and a photo of your eye Iris.
Enjoy
xx
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Swanlake
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JulieJ
member
Reged: 29/12/2008
Posts: 549
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OK, looks like you actually have to have a trip booked before you can get one. But it's good to know it is'nt actually that complicated or time-consuming to do. My one dread is getting there and then being turned away!
Many thanks to all of you for your answers!
Thanks - Julie.
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