Travel to US -ETSA Question

Lawros Tache

Hi All,

Apologies for dumb questions, have used the search functions but can't find an answer.

Have booked a week (holiday not business) in New York in June 2018 (not using Travel Agent) and have just heard about ETSA.

I presume this is a requirement for all travellers?

Do i need to have it completed before travel? or are there exemptions?
I understand it takes 72 hours but has it any correlation to pre-clearance of Irish flights or do I need both?
Or does one cancel the other?

Apologies again,

many thanks

maximoose

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

It's only applicable if you are travelling on a passport from a Visa Waiver Program country

You need to have it completed before travel, pre-clearance is a separate thing altogether

It's a pretty simple process, that's the official site I've linked and it costs $14

messrs

As far as i know you will need to do it before you go - you will still need to go through pre clearance, i got my Esta last week and its $14 - about 4 pages of questions to fill in

Jimbob1977

If you are Irish or EU or from a qualifying visa waiver country..... you need to complete the ESTA online in advance of travelling to the USA. It's less than $20 per person.

You will also need to fill out your airline's Additional Passenger Information (API) online, if necessary.

When departing from Dublin or Shannon, you will clear US immigration in Ireland. The agents will know if you have your ESTA or not by scanning your passport.

Just to be safe, maybe have a screenshot or printout of your ESTA confirmation. Without a valid ESTA in their system, you won't be allowed to board.

When you arrive in the USA, you arrive like a domestic US citizen. Just grab your bags and exit.

Dial Hard

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

When departing from Dublin or Shannon, you will clear US immigration in Ireland. The agents will know if you have your ESTA or not by scanning your passport.

When you arrive in the USA, you arrive like a domestic US citizen. Just grab your bags and exit.

Just to clarify for the OP, this only applies if you're flying direct to the US. If you've a connection via anywhere else, you can't do pre-clearance in Ireland, you'll be processed along with the masses in your US arrival airport.

goingnowhere

You won't be able to check in on any airline flying to the US without a valid ESTA or Visa

Lawros Tache

Many Thanks to All,

much appreciated

Thank You

coylemj

goingnowhere wrote: »

You won't be able to check in on any airline flying to the US without a valid ESTA or Visa

+1 doing pre-clearance in Ireland has nothing to do with ESTA. Whether you do immigration in Dublin, Shannon or JFK, you need to have the ESTA done and dusted before you fly.

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

Just to be safe, maybe have a screenshot or printout of your ESTA confirmation.

Totally unnecessary because ...

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

Without a valid ESTA in their system, you won't be allowed to board.

A piece of paper won't get you past immigration if they can't find your ESTA approval on their system.

tricky D

Also only get your ESTA from the official site https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

Otherwise you risk paying more than the $14 official fee.

naughtysmurf

Don't leave it until the last minute, it's $14 and lasts for two years

endofrainbow

naughtysmurf wrote: »

Don't leave it until the last minute, it's $14 and lasts for two years

unless you change your name or get a new passport

coylemj

OP, there usually isn't a problem and most people get approved straight away but just in case there are any complications like you have the same name as someone on the 'no fly' list, I'd do it a month before travelling.

It sounds like this is your first trip to the US but just in case it isn't, you need to have a clean sheet in terms of not having overstayed on previous visits. Not having this clean record is another reason for a rejection when you apply for ESTA approval and those people need to apply for a visa which is a whole different deal.

Jinny Joe

There are money grabbing sites which charge over $80 for ESTA to USA. I fell foul of one and wish to warn others. The only website to visit for ESTA application is https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta. Enjoy your trip and have yourself an extra treat on the $60 you save.

coylemj

Jinny Joe wrote: »

There are money grabbing sites which charge over $80 for ESTA to USA. I fell foul of one and wish to warn others.

That's very good of you but can I point out .....

1. This thread is over three years old

2. Of the 12 posts before yours, two of them (#2 and #9) contain a link to the official website

3. Three posts (#2, #3 and #9) state the official ($14) price for an ESTA application

4. Post #9 also includes an explicit warning about the scammers......

tricky D wrote: »

Also only get your ESTA from the official site https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

Otherwise you risk paying more than the $14 official fee.