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 🙏

Ours took about 24 hours about two weeks ago, I hope they come through for you. Good luck.

26 hours about a month ago, last year it was much quicker (possibly even within the hour). Good luck!

Have to say I preferred the waiver form you got given on the plane to US where you had to tick whether or not you were a drug dealer, planning on being a prostitute in the US or if you’d been involved in genocide…

Everything crossed for you. Mine showed quicker on the system than the confirmation came through! Though the constant refreshing is pretty stressful

This is giving me flashbacks to the time we realised our sons passport had expired 3 days before we were due to go on a cruise (that we didn't realise we needed passports for) I cried a lot, we didn't go! But I'm hopeful for you, keep refreshing your inbox and I hope it arrives soon!!

10 minutes in my case. I was astonished.

Have you done it through the official website as there's a lot of third party sites too

Ours in April took about an hour for mine and 1.5 hours for DH. It will be ok.

It’s always worth having a print out of the authorisation. I read that someone got to JFK and the system was down , they got through because they had physical confirmation but it gets gad to wait 4 hours for the system to come back.

I realised when I tried to check in at Dublin airport that my ESTA was attached to my expired passport and not my new one. Aer Lingus wouldn't let me check in without it. I quickly did it and it came within approx 1 hour and I made my flight. :)

Mine took six hours, last year

Mine have come through immediately both times I've applied. I literally logged out and back in again and it had been authorised.

12 minutes last week on the official site!

Fingers crossed OP

I’ve been traveling to the US several times per year for the last 30 years . The two yearly ESTA application approval used to be immeadiate but I’ve noticed in the last few years it can take up to 1-2 hours . Fingers crossed it all comes through 🤞🤞

Am sure it will be fine op I hope you get some sleep.

Always a good idea to do it before booking flights. If for some reason you’re refused, there’s no appeals process and you need to apply for a visa.

But I’m sure you’ll be fine.

Not needed

Just woke up. Logged in to the official app… They’re all still “PENDING AUTHORISATION” 😭

Shit shit shit.

It’s been 14 hours since application. We are supposed to leave for the airport in 5 hours.

There’s no recent it won’t get approved, as we’re as boring and normal as can be.

DH wants to move our flights, I’m still (pretending) hoping it will be fine.

I feel sick with worry.

I’ve had to do mine at the airport just before a flight OP and it was approved very quickly obvs so really hoping another couple of hours and they’ll be authorised for you alll

I know you say official app but have you double checked it's the right place to apply ( sure you have)

I applied via the wrong website once but soon managed to correct it

Sorry OP this is really shit! I was hoping they would have pinged over night for you. Is there a live chat or anything you can go on to discuss?

We had a palaver with ours… for some reason they sent us an email with a reference number that when entered showed our expired ESTA from 2018. I’ve no idea how that was triggered. My DH eventually logged in a different way ( maybe passport number or name / dob) and found they had actually been approved but we didn’t receive a confirmation email.
How long have you got until your flights?

There is a help line isn’t there ?

I've found it depends when you submit. On a weekday it tends to be quicker but on a weekend it tends to be the next day. Has never been more than 24 hour hours. Go to the airport, I'm pretty sure you will be fine if not talk to the airline and chances are they will just put you on the next flight. Either way I'm sure you will have the most magical time 💕

Thank you all for your reassurances.

I’m just turning on my laptop to check the website, rather than app on phone.

I’m going to check the website, call the US help number, call BA and pray. And try not to cry.

Our DC just came into our room singing “we’re going on holiday”. They’re so excited.