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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:
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5
SerafinasGoose · 06/08/2023 16:42

themessygarden · 06/08/2023 16:37

We forgot about Esta's. We did a driving trip in Canada with an Alaska cruise tagged on.

Flew into Vancouver spent a few days there before the Alaska cruise, followed by a driving trip through the rockies. Arrived to board the ship and realised Esta's had not even crossed our mind, we weren't the only ones, as there was a whole bank of computers at the cruise terminal for passengers who had forgotten about Esta. We filled it in there and then and got Esta approval within 30 minutes.

Hope you remembered your international drivers' permit!

Scalottia · 06/08/2023 16:41

notimagain · 06/08/2023 16:27

Having seen a bit of this over the years I’m certainly not going to rush to judgment. Yes in an ideal world this all sounds like a doddle but stuff like this falls through gaps for a thousand and one reasons - workload at home, A thinks B is doing it, B thinks A is doing it…

Worse case is some folks can be completely unaware there’s any ESTA or Visa requirement for their destination - Ex UK - Australia used to be a favourite for that…

Show quote history

And most of those reasons boil down to simply being disorganised and/or not researching what you need. Travel requirements change all the time. We all have workload at home, so that's not really relevant.

themessygarden · 06/08/2023 16:37

We forgot about Esta's. We did a driving trip in Canada with an Alaska cruise tagged on.

Flew into Vancouver spent a few days there before the Alaska cruise, followed by a driving trip through the rockies. Arrived to board the ship and realised Esta's had not even crossed our mind, we weren't the only ones, as there was a whole bank of computers at the cruise terminal for passengers who had forgotten about Esta. We filled it in there and then and got Esta approval within 30 minutes.

notimagain · 06/08/2023 16:27

Scalottia · 06/08/2023 16:20

How do people actually forget to organise visas/ESTAS etc...it's one of the first things that should be thought about! Like those people who book everything only to realise that their passport has expired, honestly it's common sense and not worth the risk of disappointing your children when you have to cancel. How do people honestly forget to check this stuff?

Having seen a bit of this over the years I’m certainly not going to rush to judgment. Yes in an ideal world this all sounds like a doddle but stuff like this falls through gaps for a thousand and one reasons - workload at home, A thinks B is doing it, B thinks A is doing it…

Worse case is some folks can be completely unaware there’s any ESTA or Visa requirement for their destination - Ex UK - Australia used to be a favourite for that…

FlibbertyGibbitt · 06/08/2023 16:24

CaveMum · 06/08/2023 15:04

Oh my goodness, I read this with my heart in my mouth! so glad it all worked out.

We are taking the kids to Disney next Easter and off the back of this thread I’ve put 3 calendar reminders in my phone for the 2 months before we leave reminding me/DH to make sure the ESTAs have been done and approved!

Have a fabulous time!

On a group I’m in on Facebook, someone said their parents in their 80s turned up to fly to meet them in Florida , parents had completed ESTAs in good time and had been there before. Anyway ESTAs had been cancelled unbeknown to them and no explanation given so airline consequently cancelled the flights .

As it was they re applied and flew out a couple of days later. It’s a bit worrying though so when it’s our turn will be checking, checking and checking as of course you can’t claim on travel insurance for that

Scalottia · 06/08/2023 16:20

How do people actually forget to organise visas/ESTAS etc...it's one of the first things that should be thought about! Like those people who book everything only to realise that their passport has expired, honestly it's common sense and not worth the risk of disappointing your children when you have to cancel. How do people honestly forget to check this stuff?

SerafinasGoose · 06/08/2023 16:09

I do love a thread with a happy ending!

Safe flight (and thanks for the timely reminder to update the address details on our own ESTAs!)

WhatCameFirstTheChickenOrTheDickhead · 06/08/2023 15:24

CaveMum · 06/08/2023 15:04

Oh my goodness, I read this with my heart in my mouth! so glad it all worked out.

We are taking the kids to Disney next Easter and off the back of this thread I’ve put 3 calendar reminders in my phone for the 2 months before we leave reminding me/DH to make sure the ESTAs have been done and approved!

Have a fabulous time!

As PPs have said you are best just doing them now, something as stupid as you having the same name as criminal can mean they are rejected as it's all automatic and if that happens then you need a visa, my cousin has just gone through the process of getting a visa to move to the US with work and it took months just to get an appointment at the embassy.

Poetnojo · 06/08/2023 15:21

Bon Voyage

notimagain · 06/08/2023 15:14

That airport view brings back memories…have a great flight.

Teentrauma · 06/08/2023 15:12

Oops, just realised this was yesterday! So glad it worked out!

Snowdropsarelovely · 06/08/2023 15:07

I'm so glad they got approved for you! Hope you have a great holiday

Teentrauma · 06/08/2023 15:04

Did ours last week, about 11.30pm on a Sunday. Email with authorisation came through about 2.30am. We fly to the US tomorrow pm too 😀

CaveMum · 06/08/2023 15:04

Oh my goodness, I read this with my heart in my mouth! so glad it all worked out.

We are taking the kids to Disney next Easter and off the back of this thread I’ve put 3 calendar reminders in my phone for the 2 months before we leave reminding me/DH to make sure the ESTAs have been done and approved!

Have a fabulous time!

notol · 06/08/2023 15:02

Amazing!! Enjoy Grin

Original poster
Acourtof · 06/08/2023 14:59

Waiting to board. Tipsy on celebration champagne!! 🥂😆❤️

Cheers you gorgeous lot!! Thank you again for all of the support and advice 🥹

P.s. Ignore very awful manicure… I cancelled my nail appt during yesterday afternoon’s panic haha

How long for ESTA approval?
How long for ESTA approval?
OP posts:
AutumnNymph · 06/08/2023 14:48

Have a fabulous holiday OP. The waiting would have killed me off, well done for keeping it from the kids and keeping a calm facade

WithIcePlease · 06/08/2023 14:47

I'm so happy for you! Have a great time 😊

CringeLicious · 06/08/2023 14:30

Have an utterly fabulous holiday! 😀

MrsPinkCock · 06/08/2023 14:26

Fucking hell OP!

DH and I travel to the states a lot and always have “live” ESTAs… once we turned up to the airport, DH had renewed his passport but not his bloody ESTA 🤦‍♀️ so I left him, checked into the flight etc… and his ESTA was happily approved within about an hour so he managed to leg it through the airport and made the flight 😂 but he had a horseshoe up his ass that day!

I am so pleased you made your holiday though, the waiting would have finished me off!!

Coffeeisnecessary · 06/08/2023 14:23

Oh my gosh I'm feeling so much second hand relief for you it's unbelievable!! This is a brilliant update!! Have a wonderful holiday, champagne needed at the airport!!

lucywho123 · 06/08/2023 14:11

I quickly caught up by only reading OPs posts after my earlier comment and YAY, have the best time, so pleased for you

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 06/08/2023 13:55

SmartHome · 06/08/2023 12:21

Crikey!

Also has it been confirmed that if one of your familys passport is renewed during the 2 years your ESTA is valid for that invalidates it and you have to get a new one?

Only the one that has expired. We applied as a group and my ESTA is valid for 2 years after we applied, but DH’s runs out on the day his passport expires.

NortieTortie · 06/08/2023 13:51

Choux · 06/08/2023 11:15

Is that a daily thing you do? Not heard of that before.

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I don't do it religiously, just if I notice it on the clock. It was 11:11 when I finished reading the thread so it seemed fitting 😁

Glad it worked out, OP