Online Visa (ESTA ?) or Visa Waiver

[Barbucks]

Hi,
2 years since we last went to Florida and had never heard of the ESTA, what is it?
Have visited the US Embassy website and it doesn't even mention it, just the I94w visa waiver form as always.
Do you need to fill in the ESTA online before travelling ( we're going in September ) or can you still just fill in the I94 on the plane?

[Sniff]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Barbucks
Hi,
2 years since we last went to Florida and had never heard of the ESTA, what is it?
Have visited the US Embassy website and it doesn't even mention it, just the I94w visa waiver form as always.
Do you need to fill in the ESTA online before travelling ( we're going in September ) or can you still just fill in the I94 on the plane?

[/quote]
Currently you have to do both. Check the sticky thread here

http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/topic_51677.asp

[Barbucks]

Thanks Sniff, I've used the link and can relax now.
I really think that the travel companies should be telling people when they book flights that this system is now in place.

[Sniff]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Barbucks
Thanks Sniff, I've used the link and can relax now.
I really think that the travel companies should be telling people when they book flights that this system is now in place.
[/quote]
Yes they definitely should. I have been notified by BA and LH when booking flights to USA. I think though that there is a whole load of confusion on when/if the ESTA is ever going to replace the VW forms, so I guess the airlines are as confused as everyone else :D

[Liz & Graham]

Just spotted on the Virgin website...

An ESTA check has now been added to our check-in systems on US routes starting with the VS43 Gatwick to Las Vegas service on 12 August. This means that all visa waiver nationals (unless they have a visa or residency card) will only be able to travel if they have a confirmed travel authority via the ESTA website. The system will be activated on all other US routes over the next few weeks.

[website link edited]

[Sniff]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Liz & Graham
Just spotted on the Virgin website...

An ESTA check has now been added to our check-in systems on US routes starting with the VS43 Gatwick to Las Vegas service on 12 August. This means that all visa waiver nationals (unless they have a visa or residency card) will only be able to travel if they have a confirmed travel authority via the ESTA website. The system will be activated on all other US routes over the next few weeks.

[website link edited]
[/quote]
That is very interesting. I wonder exactly how Virgin intend to check that you have a confirmed travel authority via the ESTA website?

The ESTA website explicitly states you will never have to show your authorisation to anyone, so I suspect many people will never have printed it off when they filled in the form initially (and afterwards even if you go back into ESTA you never get to see all your data again). And I also doubt very much whether Virgin have access to the ESTA website to check themselves, so in the end they are just going to have to take your word for it.

This was always going to be an issue when ESTA eventually came fully online. The airlines currently have a duty to ensure that you have the correct documents to travel to the USA (although of course they have no way of knowing if you need a visa). Now they have no way of knowing if you have done ESTA either, so it will be interesting to see how this develops, and if other airlines take the same approach - I suspect not.

I think eventually all airlines will wash their hands of this, and inform passengers it is their own responsibility to ensure they have successfully applied for ESTA, and it is their risk (and cost) if they get rejected by the US Border for not doing it.

[Sniff]

I went to the Virgin website to see what they said on this...there is another paragraph that states:
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Once granted, a travel authority is valid for two years. Before each new trip to the US the passenger must update their travel plans and address details via the ESTA website. It is the passenger's responsibility to make the application and ensure they have a valid travel authority before they travel. This will make the check in process much easier for them.[/quote]
So I suspect Virgin just intend to ask you during the check-in process whether you've applied for ESTA. If you say 'Yes' that will be the end of it for them.

[steph_goodrum]

They can presumably ask for the number though? As (I think it is still the same) the airlines are fined for each person who is refused entry it is in their interests to ensure compliance wherever possible and I would assume that somewhere in the depths of the the Ests application it may say that you have to provide the number to the travel company if asked or something along those lines.
The travel agents have been running the system for Australie for years where they apply for the ETA (costs around £10) so once they are up to speed with the system I'm sure it will seem a lot easier.

[Sniff]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by steph_goodrum
They can presumably ask for the number though? As (I think it is still the same) the airlines are fined for each person who is refused entry it is in their interests to ensure compliance wherever possible and I would assume that somewhere in the depths of the the Ests application it may say that you have to provide the number to the travel company if asked or something along those lines.
The travel agents have been running the system for Australie for years where they apply for the ETA (costs around £10) so once they are up to speed with the system I'm sure it will seem a lot easier.

[/quote]
According to the ESTA website...

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:prior to boarding, a carrier will electronically verify with the United States Customs and Border Protection that you have an approved travel authorization on file.
[/quote]

so it seems there will be some way of the airlines checking with ESTA at check-in time that you have valid authorisation. However I'm willing to bet any amount of money that not all airlines have this connectivity (I know that for sure for some of them) so I still think many airlines will push responsibility onto the passenger - check for small print on your tickets soon :D