to think so called 'visa free' travel to the USA is a joke?

[Santasjinglebelle]

Just finished going through an online "Visa Waiver" system that took 5 hours for a group of 6, asked for all our work details plus parents names but won't now be confirmed for another 72 hours!!
AIBU to say that ESTA is essentially a visa application system? Why bother with the subterfuge of a misleading moniker?

Hi, I second logging back in. I did ours recently (5 of us) got the standard message saying could take 72 hours. Logged out and logged back in and all had been approved. I did another for my niece separately a week later but did it outside US hours and it took a bit longer but I guessed that it was the time difference and logged back in, in the afternoon about 3pm and it was approved.

If you think that was an inconvenience then you’re in for a treat when you hit immigration in the US! Finger prints, photos, outright suspicion and hostility, weird questions ‘ what car do you drive’ and ‘ are you coming here to take American jobs’ being 2 of my recent favs and i’m White, UK passport, married to an American and come over frequently to visit our US office.

And the reason I mention being white is because from my experience the people of colour tend to spend a lot more time getting through than I ever do.

Woo hoo - the Jinglebelles are going stateside

Just checked again this morning and the applications have been approved. Roll on end of term!!

My friend got the 72hour notice as they have tightened right up. Ignore the ‘something wrong’ post. Her RATA was fine.

ESTA was fine-autocorrect x

Anyone know what happens if you need to travel urgently? Family member unwell in the US and I worry we would be delayed if for example we had to go straight to the airport. Thanks, can you apply without definite flights?

Took me about 10 minutes to do my last one.

Ha, ha, ha, try going to Russia where the visa application form asks for every country you’ve visited in the past ten years with dates (I cheated along with most people who just list those stamped in their passports...) as well as what feels like your entire personal history. Plus you need the details of your hotel “invitation” and then you have to go to one of the three visa processing centres in the U.K. to have your fingerprints taken. All for the princely sum of £104pp in 2017!

Yeah, I’ll take the ESTA.

@Girlundercover definitely apply now: they're valid for multiple trips over a couple of years so it's much better to have them in place.

OP I'm no longer eligible for visa waiver and had to get an actual ten year holiday visa. It involved: giving them information on every country I've travelled to in the past x many years, information in every time I've been to the states before (had to dig out old passports for that) very specific sized photographs that only two places do and about half a day to fill out the form and another half a day at the embassy.

Trust me, the visa waiver is a dream compared to that!

I think it's great, really cuts down on time especially at the airport. My family of 5 took less than 30 minutes the last time we applied and it was even faster for our Canadian ones.

Hahahaha @WickedGoodDoge. I was thinking that too! How I hate getting my Russian visas!

ESTAs are easy. I needed an Indian visa and had to travel 180 miles to the visa office in London to complete the paperwork. That was a pain in the butt!

Yes, you can apply without flights because it covers all trips for 2 years. I don't think I had to put in a date of travel?

An actual Visa for my friend involved going to London from the West Country and it took hours, plus he wasn't allowed to take in any electronics so had to find somewhere to stash his stuff. I'll take a computerised form I think!

I think it's a brilliant system, never had issue either.

I have to say, I have never witnessed any unpleasantness with US immigration, always sailed through or was met by very friendly officials asking a couple of questions, and I am neither Brit nor exactly white!

I usually get a response the next day and manage to do mine and ds visa in half an hour at the most

Going through customs takes some time even with their finger print machines that you check through

But compared to some other countries customs and their visa application it’s a doddle

I have had a few rude immigrantion officers

Maybe becuase I am visiting close family the assumption for most people I meet in the states is that I want to live there

"Maybe becuase I am visiting close family the assumption for most people I meet in the states is that I want to live there"

Ha, they need to get over themselves.

I don't know about you but the USA is a loooong way down the list of places I'd want to live!

OK for a holiday but their overzealous immigration procedures are a pain.

My little gems from my last trip through imigration included.

"Did you have a drink in airport before flight?"

"What did you eat on the plane?"

"What are your plans for wednesday?"

Unsure what they where getting at but not sure "some vile mushy microwave meal" was the answer they where looking for 😂

You are in for a treat if the esta form seemed hard.

My husband who is British visited me in the US 4 times and never applied for a formal visa and never had any issues.

It sounds like the website or your connection was glitching, perhaps some user error as well.

I've done ESTAs for work and it's 10 mins a person. How do you expect them not to check who.comes to their country? Agree with pp that if you ever have to apply for a proper visa you'll be horrified!

It's not your country. You don't make the rules. I've had a lot worse.

Thanks troubledlichen and copperbonnet I have seen signs up about it and the last line should have been enough to make me look into it more! I will now do so.