I didn't realise I needed an ESTA for the US - application pending but my flight is in 24 hours ...

[WobblyLondoner]

Help! I had no idea I needed an ESTA to travel to the US (it is for a 2 day work event). I just tried to check in online and at that point realised that I needed an ESTA. I just applied but got a message saying the decision is pending and that "a determination will be available in 72 hours". But I should be on a flight in 24 hours.

Does anyone have any experience of this - and did you get a response more quickly than 72 hours? I feel like such an utter mug, and will be so embarrassed about this if I can't attend the meeting.

Arrrgghh! Any wise words - or others. Please don't tell me I've been an idiot not to have known, I've not been to the US for years.

Mine has usually come through in less than 24 hours

My ones have taken longer than 24hours. But I'm brown skinned.

Mine said application pending but came through in about 10 minutes. My boyfriends went through straight away

DH always forgets and they usually come through in less than 24 hours.

So unfair Wizzywig

Sadly @wizzywig is right. If you're on Trump's Naughty not Nice list demographic, things might take longer.

They are normally instant so if not it may well be less that 24 hours.

More than sorry.

We did our ESTAs last weekend. Also got the 72 hour message. But a few hours after submitting, DH checked the progress of the application via the ESTA website and it said approved (or similar). But we think this may be because we have had ESTAs before.

So check the progress of your application and then call your airline for advice.

We did the same OP. In fact we didn't realise until we got to the airport after being stuck in traffic and we ended up missing our flight. Got a flight 24 hours later.

We applied for all 3 of us, (dh and toddler DS) online and it came through after 5 hours. It was a tense 5 hours though.

Fingers crossed for you.

I won't mention that my dh swore blind we wouldn't need one a few weeks before and him being the seasoned traveller I took his word for it. Got that argument in reserve for when I need it

I get 'pending' every time I've applied, but it usually comes through in half an hour or so. Check again, might be updated already.

Oh wow, thanks everyone - that is (sort of!) reassuring. I'll keep checking. There is a US number on the website for queries - do you think there is any point calling that if I've not heard by mid afternoon?

What makes it worse is that I really didn't want to go in the first place, so there is a tiny part of me thinking but a much bigger part of me feeling like a complete idiot, especially when it comes to imagining the conversation with the people paying for me to go

It's approved!! So 30 minutes after application. Phew. Thanks all.

Mine and DS'S took about 4 hours. However it's Saturday so that may make a difference ?

PS so sorry to hear about the variability in how quickly it takes these applications to be processed. Would love to know how it works behind the scenes ...

DH once I’d it in the checkin queue, but I would not recommend that. He had had several before.

We’ve done the check in queue ESTAs too. Not the greatest experience with 2 kids in tow, but they came through within a few minutes.
Glad it’s sorted OP.

My ESTA took 3 days to be approved. At the same time my DP got his back same day within a few hours, he has an Arabic name and it was just when trump had implemented his ban, so we expected a bit of a wait for him. I would be very interested to see how it all works behind the scenes.