Do I need a Visa to fly to New York?

[Arraminta]

Flying to New York this week and noticed something about needing a Visa on our tickets? I vaguely remember filling out a Visa actually on the plane when we last visited the USA, but that was years ago?

Is it the same now?

Stay calm OP. Yes you need one but mine came through in 15 minutes. It should cost about 21 dollars or pounds. I can’t remember which offhand. Be careful though. There are some organisations which will put it through for you for a fee, which I think was lively (£100 plus).

God years ago. But my point is , being waved thru was exactly my experience!

They are often quick but mine took three days. I would just get it done.

They became mandatory in January 2009.

As well as the dodgy countries list, a friend of mine had problems because they had been on a cruise the previous year. The checking back onto the ship after a trip ashore was done manually and and wrong so according to "the system" they had never left the US and were listed as an illegal immigrant. They needed to visit the US Embassy in London to get it sorted and it took 2 months to get an appointment.

16 replies before this all variously saying something is needed and most mentioning Estas and PontiacFirebird rocks up with a don’t worry about it! Great advice right there.

Some of you are obviously really enjoying the idea that the OP may have left it too late.

It will probably be fine OP you just need to fill the form out online and pay and it should come through in time.

I was too, but that was in 1999. In 2015, they made me wait three days for ESTA approval.

I am such an idiot!!! Have downloaded the Esta App and started the application process but my phone will not 'read' the cover of my passport! Have tried multiple times and on the back cover too! Help!!!

Yes, i got caught out by this a few years ago on a work trip. I was flying DC > Toronto > London as it was the cheapest option (public sector). Got my US ESTA sorted, but the travel coordinator hadn't realised about Canadian ETA for the transit. I was denied check in, had to apply at the airport and luckily it came through instantly so could go back and check in again. Doubt I'd be so lucky nowadays!

Will people stop saying when they went years ago they just filled in some form on the plane. NOT TRUE!

Fill in an ESTA on the official government US site and pray it comes through quickly. Take care with it as some people have inadvertently ticked to say they DO have a criminal conviction and wonder why they never hear back in time.

DO IT NOW!!!

Australian e-visitor visa is free.

OP - try another device. The form is fiddly. I would try on laptop or even IPAD.

Or try someone else’s device.

Try the website version? https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta

I've had trouble scanning my passport for my UK BRP and I had to restart my phone a few times and hover the phone over my passport a million times before it worked. So frustrating!

And the point is that times have changed and this OP won't be waved through. No one is waved through these days. If you haven't got the ESTA you won't even be able to check in.
I recently flew to Canada and got an email from the airline a week before saying please enter the number of your ETA on to your booking or you won't be able to check in either online or at the airport.
At the gate to board the plane there were staff there who were doing a second check on people's ETAs or visas (depending on what they had). You had to show the email with the ETA number. Massive queue, everyone faffing around on phones trying to find the email etc.

The answer to this (yes, apply on line for an ESTA) will be in the ‘visa’ section of your booking confirmation, likely with the relevant links.

People saying about timescales for the ESTA, don't mean to worry you OP but when I did ours (me, my mother and DS), theirs came back in about 4 hours but mine took 9 days 🤷🏻‍♀️

Maybe if your advice is from “years ago”, you could perhaps consider not sharing your well meaning advice in case someone actually takes it, and things don’t turn out well? Outdated advice doesn’t always work in 2024…

@Arraminta - whilst you're at it with the holiday admin, you do have travel insurance, don't you...?

Depends on where you're flying from!

OP, try the website version. Perhaps it will let you type in your passport number? I did for one of them, but I can't remember right now whether it was the Canadian one.

It's obviously changed- I went in 2012 and filled in my ESTA application on the plane.

A laptop or desktop negates the need to scan in your passport, you have to upload a picture instead. I found it easier than doing it by phone.

You are scanning the internal page with your photo and passport number etc @Arraminta nit the actual cover?

The electronic system of application has been mandatory since 2009 (was introduced in 2008), so you must have had some form of visa or visa waiver.