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AIBU?

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Original poster

How long for ESTA approval?

434 replies

Acourtof · 05/08/2023 17:58

Starting to panic!! We’re flying to the US tomorrow afternoon and I only just remembered that we all need ESTAs 🤦🏼‍♀️

Submitted applications online. Website says up to 72 hours to come through. We’ve got 24 hours…

DH and I have travelled to the US several times and never had an issue. Our young DC have never been to the US, so I’m worried that it will need extra time for a first application.

Any comfort please on your own recent ESTA timelines, especially for DC? Thank you 🙏

OP posts:

Thread gallery

BashfulClam · 05/08/2023 23:31

LiarLiarKnickersAblaze · 05/08/2023 18:05

Thank you!

Show quote history

It’s always worth having a print out of the authorisation. I read that someone got to JFK and the system was down , they got through because they had physical confirmation but it gets gad to wait 4 hours for the system to come back.

BashfulClam · 05/08/2023 23:29

Ours in April took about an hour for mine and 1.5 hours for DH. It will be ok.

xyz111 · 05/08/2023 23:25

Have you done it through the official website as there's a lot of third party sites too

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 05/08/2023 22:50

10 minutes in my case. I was astonished.

Coffeeisnecessary · 05/08/2023 22:45

This is giving me flashbacks to the time we realised our sons passport had expired 3 days before we were due to go on a cruise (that we didn't realise we needed passports for) I cried a lot, we didn't go! But I'm hopeful for you, keep refreshing your inbox and I hope it arrives soon!!

Pushpull · 05/08/2023 22:45

Everything crossed for you. Mine showed quicker on the system than the confirmation came through! Though the constant refreshing is pretty stressful

Basketballqueen · 05/08/2023 22:42

Have to say I preferred the waiver form you got given on the plane to US where you had to tick whether or not you were a drug dealer, planning on being a prostitute in the US or if you’d been involved in genocide…

MBailey99 · 05/08/2023 22:40

26 hours about a month ago, last year it was much quicker (possibly even within the hour). Good luck!

fairydust11 · 05/08/2023 22:38

Ours took about 24 hours about two weeks ago, I hope they come through for you. Good luck.

twilightcafe · 05/08/2023 22:38

2 hours. Submitted application in late May.

Basketballqueen · 05/08/2023 22:36

Fingers crossed! Ours have never taken more than about 12 hours. You can’t travel without it but explain to the airline and they can bump you to another flight… it does happen.

StillWantingADog · 05/08/2023 22:32

What a nightmare
crossing fingers for you that it’s either sorted already or will be very soon

MumofSpud · 05/08/2023 22:13

Did ours recently - they came through after a couple of hours - they all came in at different times

AreMyDucksinarow · 05/08/2023 22:00

When I did ours it was about an hour for mine then the other trickled in we had all four of them within four hours

apapuchi · 05/08/2023 21:39

They used to always come almost instantaneously but the last couple of times I've waited 3-4 hours. Hopefully they'll change to approved imminently, enjoy your holiday! 🤞

Neonyellowfish · 05/08/2023 21:30

About 2 hours when I did ours last year.

Oatycookies · 05/08/2023 21:30

It just depends. Last time it took about 12 hours for me but before it was a lot quicker. I’ve also did it at the airport before and got it instantly.

LiarLiarKnickersAblaze · 05/08/2023 21:29

Acourtof · 05/08/2023 20:42

It’s been 4 hours since we applied online. Still showing “authorisation pending”.

It’s our long planned, much anticipated trip to Disney. So upset with myself for not thinking about this sooner 😭 Our insurance isn’t going to cover our stupidity…

All packed and now just hoping 🤞

Check your email - do you have the right number of confirmation emails for ESTAs?

I wonder if time of day impacts. I did ours almost midnight here - maybe the time difference impacted availability of processing.

amarante · 05/08/2023 20:54

I did ours - 2 adults and 2 children- yesterday afternoon. At 7pm we had received them. It is our first time going. You shall be ok.

Ljc1985 · 05/08/2023 20:52

Our last ones took about 6 hours to come through! Keeping everything crossed for you OP

purplecorkheart · 05/08/2023 20:50

I think about 1 hour. My friend who I was travelling with applied on the same day and it took about 12 hours.

BoredAndNotDomesticated · 05/08/2023 20:46

Done it loads of times, never more than 12 hours