USA holiday

[Matchworn Shirts]

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 ?

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

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.

[wokinghamred]

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.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

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

[Matchworn Shirts]

Merci dir !

[Bob's Orange]

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.

[suttonred]

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

[Honkytonk]

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.

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.

[Abrahammer]

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.

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

[Bob's Orange]

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.

[LucienSanchez]

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

[Sussex]

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.

[Dostoyevsky]

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 

[Whits]

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.

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!

[Abrahammer]

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

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