Do i need a VISA for a 1 week trip to America?

DylanDude22

So me and a friend are planning on taking a trip to America for a week and I've been looking at the American Embassy Nonimmigrant Visa. But that would cost 160$ and it could take months, That's if I actually get accepted and not denied. Of course I have no reason to be denied. Anyways, I've been looking at some posts and someone said you can get an ESTA I believe since I'm only going for 1 week. Could someone please let me know if I have to pay 160$ for a VISA or can I just get through with my Irish Passport. Thanks, Dylan.

donegal.

you dont need a visa

click here for some simply info (DON'T BUY AN ESTA HERE)

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ this is where you get your esta.

jumbone

You need an esta but don't use the link in the post above. It is to a service that applies for the esta on your behalf and charges you.

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ is the real site

Jayop

Yep, if you're not working get an ESTA application in. I think it's valid for like a year or more and you can use it over and over in that time.

DylanDude22

I'm not really sure what an electronic passport is though? Isn't that required ?

donegal.

your passport needs this symbol on it

Jayop

DylanDude22 wrote: »

I'm not really sure what an electronic passport is though? Isn't that required ?

If you've got an Irish passport issued in the last 10 years it should be electronic. It's a small chip in the first page which contains your information.

DylanDude22

My passport does have that on it

Jayop

Enjoy your trip and mind yourselves!!

Also, go to Vegas!

DylanDude22

@Jayop, Do you know how much an ESTA costs?

mahamageehad

It's $14 per application, you can pay with credit card or Paypal

Jayop

mahamageehad wrote: »

It's $14 per application, you can pay with credit card or Paypal

Isn't there a thing where you can do multiple ESTA's for a cheaper price? I seem to remember that but it was a few years since I was there.

mahamageehad

Jayop wrote: »

Isn't there a thing where you can do multiple ESTA's for a cheaper price? I seem to remember that but it was a few years since I was there.

Could be but I think you need a bigger group than 2 for that. $14 is like €13 so it's not a major expense.

Jayop

Very true

DylanDude22

Is there any real requirements for this ESTA thing? Can pretty much anyone do it ?

donegal.

very easy just look here https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

coylemj

DylanDude22 wrote: »

Is there any real requirements for this ESTA thing? Can pretty much anyone do it ?

Not sure exactly what you're asking but it applies to people from countries that are eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) which includes Ireland.

You should get ESTA approval pretty much immediately, it lasts two years or when your passport expires, whichever comes first and it covers multiple trips i.e. you don't have to apply for a new ESTA approval for each trip.

Just in case you're in any doubt, if you show up at a point of entry (which includes the US pre-clearance places in Dublin and Shannon airports) and you do not have either a valid visa or ESTA approval, they will not deal with you, you will be turned away.

DylanDude22

@coylemj If i fill out this ESTA Form and its accepted can we be denied entry on the plane when boarding for the flight? I seen something about that.

dev100

Unless you have a criminal record or have been there before and if over stayed your welcome on any other previous occasion then you've nothing to worry about ....

DylanDude22

I've got no criminal records and i've never been on holidays so thats good Thank you

coylemj

DylanDude22 wrote: »

@coylemj If i fill out this ESTA Form and its accepted can we be denied entry on the plane when boarding for the flight? I seen something about that.

It's possible, the ESTA is simply a screening exercise, it does not guarantee that you will be admitted to the US.

You will not be waved through just because you have ESTA approval, expect to be asked some questions but don't worry about the questions themselves, it's usually your reaction and general demeanour that counts. Don't act shifty, stand up straight, look at the agent, give short and truthful answers, don't waffle and don't crack any jokes.

cml387

Don't try and make the immigration people smile. They won't.
Have evidence of where you are staying, eg hotel booking.

DylanDude22

Ok thank you guys

Rackstar

DylanDude22 wrote: »

Is there any real requirements for this ESTA thing? Can pretty much anyone do it ?

Isis and taliban are excluded.

coylemj

cml387 wrote: »

Don't try and make the immigration people smile. They won't.
Have evidence of where you are staying, eg hotel booking.

It's dead easy to manufacturer an e-mail showing a hotel booking, all you have to do is find an old confirmation e-mail, change the dates and print it so in my experience they don't ask for it and they know from the API you have submitted that you have a return ticket so you don't need a printout of your flight booking either.

And you could be staying with a friend/son/daughter and have no hotel booking.

DylanDude22

I can only see one problem. I'm currently unemployed. Is that a problem ?

cml387

coylemj wrote: »

It's dead easy to manufacturer an e-mail showing a hotel booking, all you have to do is find an old confirmation e-mail, change the dates and print it so in my experience they don't ask for it and they know from the API you have submitted that you have a return ticket so you don't need a printout of your flight booking either.

And you could be staying with a friend/son/daughter and have no hotel booking.

True, but it might be best not to attempt entry with forged documentation;)

I used to have one of those old multiple indefinite visas in my green passport.
Unfortunately I failed to realise that the system had been changed shortly before my trip as the man pointed out, putting a big black cross on it.
On that occasion he did have a human response when I said that i quite liked the impressive stamp I had, he said that all good things come to an end as he sent me back to fill out the new visa form.

DylanDude22

cml387 wrote: »

True, but it might be best not to attempt entry with forged documentation;)

I used to have one of those old multiple indefinite visas in my green passport.
Unfortunately I failed to realise that the system had been changed shortly before my trip as the man pointed out, putting a big black cross on it.
On that occasion he did have a human response when I said that i quite liked the impressive stamp I had, he said that all good things come to an end as he sent me back to fill out the new visa form.

You probably didn't see my previous message but would being unemployed at the time of the trip affect me in a negative way?

coylemj

DylanDude22 wrote: »

I can only see one problem. I'm currently unemployed. Is that a problem ?

It's not necessarily a 'problem' but if you are asked about your work and say you are unemployed it might result in a loaded question along the lines of 'how can you afford a trip to the US when you're on the dole?'

Bear in mind that one of the red flags that they're looking out for is people who intend to work illegally in the US so it will be up to you convince them that you don't fall into that category.

Atlantic Dawn

DylanDude22 wrote: »

You probably didn't see my previous message but would being unemployed at the time of the trip affect me in a negative way?

In can lead to additional questions, if you have return flights booked and means to support yourself you should be ok. They will likely ask you questions on when you last worked, possibly what salary you were on and how you can afford to go on a holiday, how much money you are bringing to support yourself, they will ask what ties you have in Ireland, the ESTA also requires you to put in your employer details and a contact number for them so not sure what you should put in there.

coylemj

cml387 wrote: »

I used to have one of those old multiple indefinite visas in my green passport.

So did I.

There was a notice in every Garda station in the country alerting would-be travellers that our entry into the visa waiver program rendered them obsolete and it also received significant coverage in the press at the time.

cml387

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

In can lead to additional questions, if you have return flights booked and means to support yourself you should be ok. They will likely ask you questions on when you last worked, possibly what salary you were on and how you can afford to go on a holiday, how much money you are bringing to support yourself, they will ask what ties you have in Ireland, the ESTA also requires you to put in your employer details and a contact number for them so not sure what you should put in there.

I know my sisters in law were in the states a few years ago and two of them were unemployed, so it's not a big thing as long a you intend to come back.

DylanDude22

cml387 wrote: »

I know my sisters in law were in the states a few years ago and two of them were unemployed, so it's not a big thing as long a you intend to come back.

I'll need to get my story straight.

DylanDude22

Mr.S wrote: »

Have accommodation
Have return flight
Have enough money to support yourself through your trip

That's all!

Gotcha

DylanDude22

So im at a point on this application where its asking me to put in the travel information and its asking for addresses and that but we havent booked anything since we wanted to get this out of the way so we know we'll get in the country. Any ideas?

coylemj

DylanDude22 wrote: »

So im at a point on this application where its asking me to put in the travel information and its asking for addresses and that but we havent booked anything since we wanted to get this out of the way so we know we'll get in the country. Any ideas?

Didn't we already tell you that getting the ESTA is just a screening exercise? You still have to deal with immigration agents, that's the hurdle you need to worry about. Getting the ESTA is a breeze, it's virtually certain that you'll be approved because you have already said that you have not overstayed on a previous visit.

So there is very little risk involved in booking the accommodation first but you are allowed update some of the data fields after the ESTA is approved, that address I think is one of them.

DylanDude22

coylemj wrote: »

Didn't we already tell you that getting the ESTA is just a screening exercise? You still have to deal with immigration agents, that's the hurdle you need to worry about. Getting the ESTA is a breeze.

Don't regard the ESTA application as an obstacle or getting it as some kind of achievement, it's almost certain that you'll be approved because you have already said that you have not overstayed on a previous visit.

So there is very little risk involved in booking the accommodation first but you are allowed update some of the data fields after the ESTA is approved, that address I think is one of them.

Since we haven't booked can i just type unknown into all of the above? Apart from the bottom. "EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION IN OR OUT OF THE U.S" I can put my parents info there.

coylemj

I recall from a previous thread that the contact data can not be changed afterwards but your address in the US can so it will be safe to leave it blank or put in the name of some hotel in the same city and then change it when you make a firm booking....

Oliver1985 wrote: »

Maybe stupid question .
I have another year left on my ESTA.
My point of contact address is for New York when u visited last year.
I'm now travelling to Vegas but it won't let me update the point of contact.
I can update " address while in USA" but not point of contact.
Will this be an issue ? Many thanks

Nikkijinky

Hi there,

Confused about ESTA visas. We are travelling from Dublin to Toronto and spending a weeks hols there and then flying from Toronto to Orlando for another week. Do we still need to sort ESTA's or is it something else we need to do?

rossie1977

You will need to complete esta before entering the us regardless where you enter from unless you are already a us citizen

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Jayop

Well that settles it.

endofrainbow

Nikkijinky wrote: »

Hi there,

Confused about ESTA visas. We are travelling from Dublin to Toronto and spending a weeks hols there and then flying from Toronto to Orlando for another week. Do we still need to sort ESTA's or is it something else we need to do?

You also need an ETA for Canada , if your nationality requires it.

Nikkijinky

endofrainbow wrote: »

You also need an ETA for Canada , if your nationality requires it.

Thanks guys. We are both Irish citizens so looks like ESTA's all round!!!!