Thetownend.com

I had a quick look on the internet and it seems some say I need fill in an 'ESTA' (not Rantzen ;) for my US holiday. I just (foolishly) presumed I would not need any Visas or such.

Can anybody who has been recently clear this one up ?

I can confirm you need an ESTA.

I hope this clarifies the situation.

Seriously though, it's a piece of piss to get one unless you've got a criminal record. Costs about 15-20 quid and it usually gets approved straight away. Allow 72 hours though (i.e don't wait until the day before you go to do it) in case it gets referred. If it does get referred it does not necessarily mean there is a problem.

Also, make sure you use the proper US Government website as there are quite a few out there that will rip you off. Use this link...https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

Edit: Once you've got it, it is valid for 2 years.

Got mine yesterday. It costs $14.

Even better then. Been a while since I got mine, in fact I will need to re-new next time I go.

Merci dir !

Does it really take 72 hours? When I did it (it was a few years back now) I filled in a simple form on the internet and got the thing there and then.

Has it all changed then? Last time I went, admittedly about 5-6 years ago I did it on arrival at LAX.

Yeah. It takes that long because they really have to scrutinise that $14 to make sure you're not a terrorist.

Seriously though, unless you have a criminal record, it's a piece of piss.

Nah it will be approved in about 5 mins unless you have a criminal record

Do the US border control still treat you like shit on entering their country?

Last time I was visiting my mother (who lives in the States) and when I answered that I was coming to visit my mum, it was almost as if I had pissed on the guys shoe 'and what is she doing here' etc etc.

As a welcoming party, they rank pretty low.

Last time i did it (2011), it was a free online thing that got approved instantly.

If a friend of a friend had a criminal record, should he just lie on the application?

My friend is very interested on how you go about this.

I've got a friend as well. He has a criminal record for a few trivial drunken matter. Has this friend got any chance of being allowed to visit the USA or is his only option to wade across the Rio Grande? I will pass any information onto this friend  ;)

haha, they are a bunch of cunts, but thats the job they have to do i guess?! it seems to be a prerequisite to get the job!

Yea they started charging for it within the last couple of years

when did they do away with the visa waiver thing you fill out on the flight?

As far as 'cough' friends having records are concerned, I think it's primarily used to root out hardcore crims. I doubt a couple of 'under the influence' on their record will be a problem. DUI might be, as you're allowed to drive on a tourist visa, but as I have no criminal record I wouldn't know. I did get told never to even think about lying on visa applications to the states though. If they don't find your friend out this time, they may well in future and then they're barred from the country for good.

For some reason they still have visa waivers on the flight. I imagine its because of Europeans who aren't British.

Actually went to get one last week and noticed mines still valid from last time, result.

No. Most of the time it goes through straight away. There are a multitude of mundane reasons for it to get referred though and it's not uncommon. It doesn't necessarily mean they think you're a drug/gun runner though. What you shouldn't do is apply for it the day before you go just in case it gets referred.

Last time I went it was a simple green card and white card thing, filled out on plane as landing into Orlando...although maybe I did it online...this was 2008 mind!  :hmmm:

The last time I did my ESTA was about 9 months ago and took about 5 mins online and a piece of piss.  I normally do it a couple of weeks before I go so there is time to sort thing out if there is a problem (fortunately there never has been, but with the Yanks you never know!).

The immigration guys have definitely got better in the last couple of years.  Beforehand it felt that they deliberately went out of their way to try and wind you up and be discourteous, but in the last couple of years the pendulum has swung the other way and I think they have realised that they make the first impression of the USA for most visitors, so now tend to be more cheerful and friendly.  It still takes bloody ages to get though with everyone having to have a digital photo and digital fingerprint doodah!

If you are lucky, you will get to witness a load of Muslim women wearing the full kit so that you can only see the eyes, trying to get through immigration.  It kept me and a guy from work highly entertained for the full half hour we were queuing up!

American Border Guards are surly, but  they are better than they used to be. My grandmother got frog marched off to an isolation interview room and held for two hours at LAX on her way to New Zealand because her fingerprint didn't match the one on her passport. Turns out there was a problem with the reader she used. They told my Grandfather, who she was travelling with, absolutely nothing abiut what had happened to his wife. One complaint to the British Embassy later, and the Airport issued one of those "we apologise, but we're not sorry" letters. Now though, they are still cold, but they dont look at you as if you are there just to piss all over their flag. I even got an 'enjoy your stay' last time I went there...

It's the TSA you've got to watch out for. Mentalists and jobsworths the lot of them.

My mate was asked, "Where have you come from?" and made the mistake of asking what the official meant by that, i.e. Oxford, Heathrow, flight via Amsterdam. The guy went mental and almost refused him entry.

I was going to send some skunk back from LA in December, but my plan to post it was thwarted by my flight being a Sunday and all of the post offices shut. The one that was open was in the airport. I soon realised when I got there, and saw the vast array of x-ray machines, police, scanners, and dogs that it was a very bad idea - went straight to the toilets and flushed it down a bog. Had my bag fully searched when I arrived in LA at about 4am too.

I would certainly advise to steer clear of using any form of humour while entering via US immigration.  Even having a previous passport stamp within the previous year can cause a good 5/10 minute questioning.
72 hours for an ESTA is advised, I had a referral once and it did take about 3 days to come through.  I think mine was because I had a previous ESTA within the 12 months but couldn't remember the ref number so applied again rather than updating the original.

well we are German, not much chance of that in any case

You're actually German? With a German passport? and speak German? I thought you just lived there ???

Where are you going in the US?

:clap:

Clearly the exception that proves the rule..

I used to confuse the hell out of the border control staff in Cincinnati when I used to tell them 'I'm going home' as my reason for travelling. Priceless moments....

My youngest daughter is emigrating(she hopes) to the US.......taking her little lad with her :cry:

Anyway she is finding it incredibly hard to make the final step....14 months down the line and two visits to the US Embassy later she is still a long way off getting that initial visa.

Incidently the area around the US embassy was an eye opener to me with the old war buildings Eisenhower used during WW2 nearby etc.

I'm going to Vegas on Thursday. \:)/ I just updated my Esta. And the TSA are cunty cunt cunts.

I'm watching CSI right now. And given they're on Season 13, its a dangerous place. Be careful......

His previous forum name was Dachauer, presumably that is where he comes from. I remember it causing quite the stir when he first signed up.