ESTA

[ChristmasFlary]

Apparently the rules have changed and now ESTA has to have the middle name on the form if it appears on the passport.

Apparently this came in from Oct 18.

Can anyone please clarify if this is true.

I have copied this from It's Orlando Time on FB as loads have been concerned about it:--------

Listen folks, when we realised that the ESTA application form had changed and no longer stated to exclude your middle name we contacted CBP to ask them several questions on the consequences of this. They confirmed that middle names are now no longer excluded from the application form, but if any middle name has been missed off this was not grounds for denial of entry. This is an extract of one of their answer to the questions.

“An ESTA approval only authorizes a traveler to board a carrier for travel to the United States under the VWP. Currently approved ESTAs that do not have middle names can cause delays at check-in and/or upon arrival in the United States. In all cases, we encourage all applicants to enter their name how it appears on their Machine Readable Zone.”

We have not heard of anyone being denied entry for not including their middle. I suspect this would be the vast majority of people enter on a current daily basis.

I done mine last October before all the changes so mine are still valid until this October, so I don't need to redo mine. But it has caused mass panic.

@southnownorth - that is the post that made me aware of the changes. I'm just concerned that no-one seems to know where the October deadline came from so how credible is the information

Yet another reason to be pleased I don't have any middle names!

Anyone concerned should go ahead and get a new one - it's $14, peanuts compared to the rest of the cost of a trip. Well worth it compared to the possibility that some jumped up "security" twat at border control will turn you back.

ESTAs are not being approved instantly now so if you are going to reapply (or just apply) then do it in plenty of time

Heh. Or don't. The ESTA application form has "family name" and "first name" fields, with "do not include your middle name in this field" on the latter. That seems pretty conclusive.
www.esta-visaform.us/gb/registrations/application

You should only use the official USCBP Website to apply for your ESTA

esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

Use only the official US government website as per yellow office block because there are many companies out there who charge customers a lot more than the actual cost of $14 per esta application.

I have recently travelled to the USA and had a look at my current esta application. It does have all of my names on it even though it states first (given) name.

Thanks @YellowOfficeBlock - it didn't even occur to me that there'd be third-party application sites. How odd. America is a strange place.

Doesn’t just happen in America. It’s a money making thing I’ve seen for British passports, diving licenses, Ehics etc.

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https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/holidays/4604117-anyone-in-crete-atm-is-it-stupidly-gale-like-where-you-are

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NC fail? If that’s your question about wind in Crete then you are not new to this site. You have a long posting history.