How long for ESTA approval?

[Acourtof]

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 🙏

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.

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/faq?lang=en&focusedTopic=About%20ESTA%20and%20The%20Visa%20Waiver%20Program&answerToDisplay=How%20does%20Cuba%E2%80%99s%20designation%20as%20a%20State%20Sponsor%20of%20Terrorism%20impact%20my%20travel%20to%20the%20United%20States%20using%20my%20approved%20ESTA%3F%20

Cuba info

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!)

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?

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

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…

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.

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.

Hope you remembered your international drivers' permit!

I’m not even going to try to give an exhaustive list of reasons.

What I do know is nobody is infallible and anybody who thinks they are so smart they’ll never foul up on passports/ESTAs/Visas/inoculation requirements and whatever else is required is probably going to be in for a shock at some point.

I just have been. This thread made me realize I likely need a Canadian ETA to visit the horseshoe falls at Niagara.

I have two weeks to sort it, but until OP posted this thread it simply never occurred to me. Very glad I happened upon this thread.

NB I don't, apparently - and didn't when I visited before - but I certainly had a moment's wobble!

We’ve just double checked Canada but are arriving by land (from USA) so don’t need. Always worth checking.

OP or her DH cocked up. She asked for advice and support, and got it. Several other people will have read this thread and gone straight to apply for their ESTAs.

What exactly is the point of your comment other than to crow about your infallibility?

Ahh Bless you, I had to scroll through to check for a happy outcome before I told you my DD went on a gap year passing through a NY connection, never even left the airport so didn't know she needed an Esta, nowhere on the booking line suggested it. First we heard was when they pulled her put of the check -in line at the airport.

They said usually Estas come through either instantly, or 24 hours later. Rarely anything in between.

She missed her flight, luckily booked onto one the next day but nobody at the airport told us that was even possible until checki in closed, leaving a sobbing dd thinking she had lost her life savings on a trip she couldn't go on.

One of the most stressful things we've ever done.

Oh my gosh op, I’m so relieved and happy for you! 😅 Have a fabulous time.

Just for reference it's the duty of the flyer, not the airline to make sure you have the correct visa,m

Because I don't understand how some adults can't manage this very basic stuff especially for a 'holiday of a lifetime'. I can't stand disorganised people, they do my head in. That's the point of my comment, and I am entitled my opinion on an open and public forum. Does this answer your question?

Pride comes before a fall.

If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything.

Weird that you've taken this as a personal insult. Are you seriously saying that a stranger forgetting something for a holiday you're not invited on has 'done your head in'? 😄

I am so glad this worked out! Had my fingers crossed all day for you. Now relax and enjoy.

Right…

I do always sort of side eye these situations but then instantly mentally slap myself and say it could happen to anyone at any time. I’m damn near neurotic when it comes to travel documents and requirements but know I’m one oversight away from being in the same situation.

Traveling during Covid was my own special hell with different testing and vaccine requirements between different countries.

@Scalottia miss perfect aren't you .

This happened to me. I didn’t want to say anything until the thread had a happy ending. My family were travelling to Canada to see grandparents. We’d been several times before and hasn’t realised they introduced The ETA since the last time we’d been. I realised a couple of days before we traveled. Three out of four came straight back, but one of my daughters didn’t come until about six weeks later. We ended up having a haven camping holiday instead. :(

Thrilled for you. Enjoy!