ESTA Visa Waiver Help!

[finnbarrcar]

Shamelessly posting for traffic. We're off to Florida in July, brand new passports arrived 2 days ago for all 4 of us so I decided to apply online for the $14 US waiver thingy cos my travel agent told me I had to do this. DH and DS get "application approved" right away but me and DD get "application pending" and we've to wait for up to 72 hours to hear more.

I'm totally confused by this...why did 2 applications go through no bother and 2 didn't. I checked and double checked that I'd filled everything in right and, no, there are no issues with convictions or anything like that.

Anyone any experience of this...also, do you have to produce a paper copy of it or is it all done (as the name would suggest) electronically.

Dead dim about these things, would be grateful for any informed advice.

Thanks in advance.

Last time I applied for a group of four (all at the same time under one booking), two were approved immediately, two were not. It came through in a few days and I ignored the coincidence of nationalities involved

No paper copy required - they scan your passport and it pops up on their screen!

Hmm. Never had a split timing response like that, but they do say the usual wait time is 4 days, so you're doing fine, seems. It's all electronic, you don't need to have a paper copy.

It's all electronic, so you don't need a paper copy - - but if you're paranoid like me will take one--.

Sometimes it says 72 hours but comes through sooner. There may well be random checks.

Thank you Maid of Stars, that has put my mind at ease, and thank you both for prompt answers, clearing up the not needing a copy...DH is obsessed with paper copies of EVERYTHING and was insisting we print it out but I wanted to check with Mumsnet Mafia first.

Much obliged to you both. Hopefully it'll all get sorted out soon.

I've had 'pending' before and it's always come through in next day or two.

I think it's mostly random selection and nothing to do with you being potentially dodgy!

...lol Metella...paranoid is my middle name...maybe that's why they pinged it back..

..random selection sounds feasible Nancy, thanks again all of you.

I personally would always take a copy to be on the safe side. Never needed it though!

Initial check on DH would have come up no possible matches. You and DD may have had possible matches so they go to stage two, don't know what it is for the States probably middle names and Dates of Birth.

Don't fret - all sounds perfectly normal.

Yep, sounds normal to me, and, btw, I'm so excited for you, hope you all have a fab time

So, electronic copy of the ESTA Visa waver, but paper copies of your travel/health insurance, keep them in your passports, just in case.

Can't help with the pending situation as I only applied for an ESTA for myself and it went through straight away. I did make a note of the reference number though and kept it with my passport just in case. No one asked for it though, so asssume it was all on their computer system. Did get asked loads of questions at immigration though before we were cleared and had finger prints taken and eyes/irises photographed. This was standard for every passenger at JFK.

I think you'll be fine. When we applied, we did enter 'Yes' to one of the questions (by accident!) and I was refused. I just needed to wait 24 hours, I think, and reapply. The guy did pause a little and furrow his brow when he "processed" me though and I had printed off copies as was fully expecting to be refused entry

Hello everyone! Just to say I popped back on to the website and retrieved both pending applications and they are now Approved! Totally relieved and delighted.

Thank you all for your advice, knowledge and good wishes. What a braw bunch you are.

Not been to US for almost 20 years, pre 9/11 and internal security was non existent. Getting on an internal flight was like boarding a bus!

Will be prepared for fingerprinting and all that jazz thanks to your updates.

I remember those happy days. 10 mins before departure at the gate!

I always take the ESTA ref number with me as a precaution. I dread being refused entry to the US.

It's all electronic. They scan your passport and know your history - in 2009 I got asked about my 2001 holiday visa!?

They usually just ask you at the immigration' Did you complete a Visa Waver?" at which point you nod and smile like a good little Brit and they let you through the Golden Gates.

I'm the paranoid type so I took paper copies of the ESTAs. Not needed though - and contrary to expectations the man at the immigration desk was very friendly and chatty.

Have a lovely time...

I would take a paper copy just in case. In 2013 we went to Florida. Got ESTAs approved well ahead of time, but when we checked in for flights online the system wouldn't assign DH a seat. Same thing happened at the airport. Turns out the US immigration computer wasn't showing that DHs ESTA had been approved. Airline staff tried to argue that I must have inputted his details incorrectly, but when I showed them the ESTA print off they agreed that I had done it correctly and it was a glitch. After refreshing the system several times DH's missing ESTA finally showed onscreen and we were allowed through.

The BA staff said the above happens quite a bit. Got the feeling they wouldn't have bothered rebooting so much if I hadn't had evidence of the ESTA approval.

I always print them. I was very glad when once they had no record of DD's ESTA application and approval. I am sure they would have sorted us out eventually, but the peace of mind of having the print out was worth so much.

No need to physically print - screenshot the approval details and email them to your phone/tablet etc. Ditto with your passport details, take a pic with your phone

You aren't meant to turn on phones / tablets etc in the immigration hall though, Previously. There are big signs everywhere telling you not to.

Mehsmum - he must have been the only one. They are usually unfriendly and humourless.

Happened to us in 2013 too - DD1 went through straight away, DD2 and I took 12 hours.

Then we realised DDs had to travel on their US passports anyway so I need only have done me.

I did print my ESTA approval and took it with me but never needed it - turns out that since 2012 if you are married to a Yank, you get to go through the US Citizens lines so no waiting...