ESTA

[LBecky 4]

Hello, and hope everyone is staying safe. I tried to complete the visa waiver for my daughter today, because I intend for her to visit from the UK once they are allowed International travel beginning sometime in May per Boris' announcement to phase out of lockdown.  However, as I got to the part in the application process after reviewing the information then to submit and pay there was an alert regarding Covid and travel restrictions so I take it they aren't allowing any ESTA applications at the moment? Has anyone had the same issue? 

[TedsGirl 193]

35 minutes ago, LBecky said:

Hello, and hope everyone is staying safe. I tried to complete the visa waiver for my daughter today, because I intend for her to visit from the UK once they are allowed International travel beginning sometime in May per Boris' announcement to phase out of lockdown.  However, as I got to the part in the application process after reviewing the information then to submit and pay there was an alert regarding Covid and travel restrictions so I take it they aren't allowing any ESTA applications at the moment? Has anyone had the same issue? 

Hello. That’s odd and I hope someone else may have more info on this. I applied for and got an ESTA last year, around October/November and don’t recall any similar message. I’m a British citizen with Canadian PR. I needed it to visit my fiancé in January this year.

Are there still restrictions against UK visitors from the UK visiting America? Perhaps nearer to the ease of the lockdown date in May you can try again?

 

 

[LBecky 4]

Thank you, I plan to wait until May and then try again! 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Did the alert actually prevent you completing the application? That wasn’t clear to me. That said - There have been reports of people losing ESTAs when checking in online to fly here from one of the covid-banned countries, so it may not be surprising they are not authorizing new ones either. Are you already a LPR, and if so is she still under 21? If not, If the ban is not lifted by when she wants to come she will not be allowed to enter the US directly from the UK, assuming she is also not married to an American citizen 

 

[LBecky 4]

Hi, yes I was unable to complete the application. And yes I am a LPR and she's going to be 19 in May, so the exemption from the president's declaration covers her.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

52 minutes ago, LBecky said:

Hi, yes I was unable to complete the application. And yes I am a LPR and she's going to be 19 in May, so the exemption from the president's declaration covers her.

Ok. Someone here posted a case where their ESTA got taken away, and they said they called CBP and got it reinstated. That’s not the same situation as you, but maybe giving CBP a call might yield some useful information. It’s possible there’s a workaround.

Assuming she does get an ESTA, if the ban is still in place when she travels make sure she knows not to check in online before, but to check in at the airport with the proof of how she qualifies for the exemption.

[LBecky 4]

That's a brilliant idea, thank you. I will give the CBP a call tomorrow. 

[LBecky 4]

Hello, I rang the CBP and the lady checked and said she could see my unpaid application and she suggested that I go back and retrieve the application but use a different browser from Chrome, so I tried IE and it worked. I was able to complete the payment and her ESTA authorization is approved. Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.