Visa for Holiday to USA

JimmyCorkhill · 26-10-2022 1:27pm #1

Hi, had a look online and between ESTA and Visa Waiver programs I cannot make out which route I need to take if going for a week to the US.

Irish National, valid passport with a few years left on it.

Also, can I apply for a visa before booking flights and just select a period that I will be travelling between?

Thanks

Tauriel · 26-10-2022 1:46pm

I am heading out to the US for the first time in a few weeks and I applied for the ESTA. My understanding is that if your stay is less than 90 days over a two year period then you go for ESTA. If you are planning on staying longer, then it's a visa that you will need.

cml387 · 26-10-2022 1:48pm

ESTA is the visa waiver program.

Apply for ESTA online and on the actual US government website and not the misleading websites which will charge you extra.

Nigel Fairservice · 26-10-2022 4:37pm

Official website below, lots of fake websites out there that will charge a lot of money to do it for you. I did it a few weeks ago, the fee is $21. Don't pay more than that.

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

Donald Trump · 26-10-2022 4:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119795302#Comment_119795302

No. Technically it is 90 days at a time. You cannot reset the time by going to a few countries (Mexico or Canada at least) but you can (in theory) by going to other countries.

However, the VWP works both ways. You also waive your right to any appeal. It is 100% at the discretion of the CBP officer. If you are there for 89 days, head to the Bahamas for a few days and straight back, there is a good chance that they will form the opinion that you are trying to be more than just a short term visitor and deny entry.

A "rule of thumb" (not an exact equation) would be that you would want to be out of the US for as long as your last visit there. So if you stay 2 months, it might be dodgier if you go back within another 2 months. etc.

JimmyCorkhill · 27-10-2022 9:35pm

Thanks all.

Filling out ESTA now and on step 4 of 7, it asks "Is your travel to the US occurring in transit to another country?". I am selecting No. As the plan is to fly to NY and back home again.

Then it asks me for US Point of Contact information, do I just fill in my own details?

I have no accomodation booked yet so not fully clear on what to do here.

Any advice?

Thanks

Tauriel · 27-10-2022 10:03pm

I put down the hotel that I thought I would be staying in as I believe it said that you could put that down.

JimmyCorkhill · 27-10-2022 10:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119802147#Comment_119802147

Thanks, I actually left it all as Unknown.

Paid for ESTA there, it did say "Your travel authorization is under review because an immediate determination could not be made. This response does not indicate negative findings. A determination will be available within 72 hours".

Is that normal?

Tauriel · 27-10-2022 10:22pm

I got the exact same message when I applied for mine and within 24 hours I got an email asking me to log in to check the status, which in my case was approved.

Donald Trump · 27-10-2022 10:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119802223#Comment_119802223

Usually means you are on a watch list for Al Quaida.

Only messing of course. I think that's a standard thing. I think the last time I got one (pre covid mind) it said something similar but was back in an hour or two

ma88 · 20-02-2023 1:06am

Hi all,

Ive got denied 214(b) US visa recently!

Have 3 citizenships at the moment, got my 1st Irish passport 5 yrs ago!

Been denied another US visa 15 yrs ago with my native passport while i was a student & applied for work & travel to USA!

Now all my family 2 kids & the wife-all Irish passports been Esta authorised, not myself - think i may be in the system as denied b4!

Now, was planning a little holiday to usa in the summer when kids are out of school for about 2 weeks, haven't booked nothing yet, did try 1st to see why/if ill get a go ahead to us b4 booking flights & hotel, but didn't happen!

So the 1st question at the interview was if i had an idea why my esta been rejected? Told them that i have not been given a work & travel us visa 15 yrs ago may be the reason for it!

Then where/if i had any family in us? Have a cousin in Boston - even though not planning to go to them or if family means goes that far to cousins...

Asked the reason for travel - summer holiday, what im doing here - self employed...., did asked me to have a seat & wait to be called!

Waited about 2hrs, heard my name, got there, been asked if i have ever been rejected any schengen visas?! I've never applied/needed 1 in any of my other passports - all expired except Irish 1, been to Iceland recently for a week all 4 of us all good, so why would u need a schenghen visa if my passport allows me to travel EU/schengen area without a visa....

Been asked if i didn't really plan nothing at all of my trip to US? No as still time till summer holiday - July if so, what the wife's doing - works in ...for so long!

Sorry, this time u haven't been given a visa under section 214(b)...

Now looking to apply again, but not sure how soon should i go again if so, and looking to book the return flights & hotel to show them solid proof that i don't intend to stay over there, but not sure if it happens to get denied again i may loose the flights as they are quite expensive, the hotel is refundable if cancel within a certain time!

Was looking for New York, to show the kids & ourself aswell statue of liberty, empire state, or Chicago-home alone house, trump Tower, Orlando disney - any of them places, but all depends on prices & availability as the Mr's job doesn't really get the time off as she wants, so may be quite challenging here!

Sorry for the long post, just a bit of a light im looking for here!

Thank you.

ma88 · 20-02-2023 1:07am