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787Groove

Visa Waiver and ESTA question!

By 787Groove in Tourist Visas

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787Groove Rookie

787Groove   0

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Filed: Country: Slovenia
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Hi!

I'm not sure where to post this so I'll just leave it here, if that's okay...

Me and my GF are going to travel to the US next week but we don't have the ESTA, as my GF is still waiting on her new passport. I've read that you should apply for the ESTA at least 3 days prior to departure.

Is it possible for us to apply for the ESTA on Monday and depart on Friday?

Thank you so much for you help!

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Hypnos
Hypnos

They believed you were going to work illegally without authorisation to do so. Having hard copies of things like an I-765 in your luggage was not smart. Had they searched your belongings and not found

az2014
az2014

Yep there are airports where they have a desk with a computer where you can only do ESTA applications, for people to do before they get on their flight to USA who have not done it yet.

JFH
JFH

Lesson learned. VWP is purely for tourism and visiting friends and family. If you ever want to go back, follow the steps that exactly match your reason for going. I would say your case was quite obvio

787Groove Rookie

787Groove   0

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My last two ESTAs arrived within minutes, but they say you should allow 72 hours.

Thanks for the response :)

And were they valid within that timeframe? The 3 days? I don't want to get to the US on Friday and not get admitted because it was ''too soon'' or whatever.

So it's okay for me to book the tickets now for next Friday and set up our ESTA on Monday? That's 4 days.

Gaaah, I'm sorry if I sound like a fool :D

Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   45,949

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
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I would wait for ESTA to be approved forst, unless the tickets are refundable. I have heard of people turning up at the airport who forgot to do ESTA and getting approval immediately and making their flight.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

787Groove Rookie

787Groove   0

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I would wait for ESTA to be approved forst, unless the tickets are refundable. I have heard of people turning up at the airport who forgot to do ESTA and getting approval immediately and making their flight.

Well.. I'm buying it from Priceline Negotiator, so I have to check.

So when I receive the confirmation email that's when I'll know it's approved?
Our plan is still - to do the ESTA thing first thing Monday morning.
MacUK Proficient

MacUK   983

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Filed: Other Country: United Kingdom
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Thanks for the response :)

And were they valid within that timeframe? The 3 days? I don't want to get to the US on Friday and not get admitted because it was ''too soon'' or whatever.

So it's okay for me to book the tickets now for next Friday and set up our ESTA on Monday? That's 4 days.

Gaaah, I'm sorry if I sound like a fool :D

Without the ESTA you won't get near the US, the airline won't let you fly.

August 2000: We start e-mailing. I'm in Bosnia, she's in Florida

October 29th 2000: She sends me e-mail asking if I would marry her

October 29th 2000(5 seconds later): I say yes

November 2000: She sends me tickets to Orlando for when I get back

December 6th 2000: Return from Bos

December 11th 2000: Fly to Orlando, she meets me at airport

December 22nd 2000: I fly back to UK

January 3rd 2001: She flies to UK (Good times)

Mid February 2001: Pregnancy test Positive

Mid February 2001: She flies back to US

March 2001: Miscarriage, I fly to US on first flight I can get

May 2001: I leave US before my 90 days are up

June 2001: I fly back to US, stopped at airport for questioning as I had only just left

September 2001: Pregnancy test Positive again

September 2001: She falls sick, I make decision to stay to look after her as I am afraid I may have problems getting back in.

April 16th 2002: Our son is born, we start getting stuff together for his passport

March 6th 2003: We leave US for UK as family

Early April 2003: Family troubles make her return to US, I ask Embassy in London about possibilities of returning to US

April 16th 2003: London Embassy informs me that I will be banned from the Visa Waiver Program for 10 years, my little boys first birthday

June 13th 2006: I-129f sent

August 11th 2006: NOA1 Recieved

After our relationship breaks down she admits to me that she had never bothered to start the application process

mallafri76 Experienced

mallafri76   1,012

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Sweden
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Usually, once you submit the ESTA application, you'll get a decision on the computer screen straight away, given that you meet the requirements for visa free travel of course. That's how it's always been for me and everyone I know, so yeah, Monday for ESTA application should be fine.

Have a nice trip to the US.

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Hypnos Grand Master

Hypnos   6,578

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: United Kingdom
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Posted

Whilst you usually receive an ESTA decision instantly, sometimes a manual check is needed, and this can take 2-3 days.

Widow/er AoS Guide | Have AoS questions? Read (some) answers here

 

AoS

Day 0 (4/23/12) Petitions mailed (I-360, I-485, I-765)
2 (4/25/12) Petitions delivered to Chicago Lockbox
11 (5/3/12) Received 3 paper NOAs
13 (5/5/12) Received biometrics appointment for 5/23
15 (5/7/12) Did an unpleasant walk-in biometrics in Fort Worth, TX
45 (6/7/12) Received email & text notification of an interview on 7/10
67 (6/29/12) EAD production ordered
77 (7/9/12) Received EAD
78 (7/10/12) Interview
100 (8/1/12) I-485 transferred to Vermont Service Centre
143 (9/13/12) Contacted DHS Ombudsman
268 (1/16/13) I-360, I-485 consolidated and transferred to Dallas
299 (2/16/13) Received second interview letter for 3/8
319 (3/8/13) Approved at interview
345 (4/3/13) I-360, I-485 formally approved; green card production ordered
353 (4/11/13) Received green card

 

Naturalisation

Day 0 (1/3/18) N-400 filed online

Day 6 (1/9/18) Walk-in biometrics in Fort Worth, TX

Day 341 (12/10/18) Interview was scheduled for 1/14/19

Day 376 (1/14/19) Interview

Day 385 (1/23/19) Denied

Day 400 (2/7/19) Denial revoked; N-400 approved; oath ceremony set for 2/14/19

Day 407 (2/14/19) Oath ceremony in Dallas, TX

787Groove Rookie

787Groove   0

Posted
Filed: Country: Slovenia
 Timeline
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Whilst you usually receive an ESTA decision instantly, sometimes a manual check is needed, and this can take 2-3 days.

Aha, I get that.

Last two questions! :) I promise!!!

There are two options on the screen right now - Group or Solo. Since I'm going with my GF can I do it for the both of us while selecting Group?

And... Since this will be out first time going to the US, what can we expect from the border control officer? We're going there for 3 months.

Hypnos Grand Master

Hypnos   6,578

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted

I would imagine you can use group, unless it specifies a minimum group size of more than two.

There is nothing special about entering the US for the first time. It will probably be the most uneventful five minutes of your life.

Widow/er AoS Guide | Have AoS questions? Read (some) answers here

 

AoS

Day 0 (4/23/12) Petitions mailed (I-360, I-485, I-765)
2 (4/25/12) Petitions delivered to Chicago Lockbox
11 (5/3/12) Received 3 paper NOAs
13 (5/5/12) Received biometrics appointment for 5/23
15 (5/7/12) Did an unpleasant walk-in biometrics in Fort Worth, TX
45 (6/7/12) Received email & text notification of an interview on 7/10
67 (6/29/12) EAD production ordered
77 (7/9/12) Received EAD
78 (7/10/12) Interview
100 (8/1/12) I-485 transferred to Vermont Service Centre
143 (9/13/12) Contacted DHS Ombudsman
268 (1/16/13) I-360, I-485 consolidated and transferred to Dallas
299 (2/16/13) Received second interview letter for 3/8
319 (3/8/13) Approved at interview
345 (4/3/13) I-360, I-485 formally approved; green card production ordered
353 (4/11/13) Received green card

 

Naturalisation

Day 0 (1/3/18) N-400 filed online

Day 6 (1/9/18) Walk-in biometrics in Fort Worth, TX

Day 341 (12/10/18) Interview was scheduled for 1/14/19

Day 376 (1/14/19) Interview

Day 385 (1/23/19) Denied

Day 400 (2/7/19) Denial revoked; N-400 approved; oath ceremony set for 2/14/19

Day 407 (2/14/19) Oath ceremony in Dallas, TX

MacUK Proficient

MacUK   983

Posted
Filed: Other Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted

Aha, I get that.

Last two questions! :) I promise!!!

There are two options on the screen right now - Group or Solo. Since I'm going with my GF can I do it for the both of us while selecting Group?

And... Since this will be out first time going to the US, what can we expect from the border control officer? We're going there for 3 months.

One little thing you should remember.

The VWP allows you to stay in the States for 90 days, not 3 months.

Overstaying that 90 days even by a day could mean you are never able to use the VWP again.

And you might get asked how you are able to fund a stay in the US for that time without working.

August 2000: We start e-mailing. I'm in Bosnia, she's in Florida

October 29th 2000: She sends me e-mail asking if I would marry her

October 29th 2000(5 seconds later): I say yes

November 2000: She sends me tickets to Orlando for when I get back

December 6th 2000: Return from Bos

December 11th 2000: Fly to Orlando, she meets me at airport

December 22nd 2000: I fly back to UK

January 3rd 2001: She flies to UK (Good times)

Mid February 2001: Pregnancy test Positive

Mid February 2001: She flies back to US

March 2001: Miscarriage, I fly to US on first flight I can get

May 2001: I leave US before my 90 days are up

June 2001: I fly back to US, stopped at airport for questioning as I had only just left

September 2001: Pregnancy test Positive again

September 2001: She falls sick, I make decision to stay to look after her as I am afraid I may have problems getting back in.

April 16th 2002: Our son is born, we start getting stuff together for his passport

March 6th 2003: We leave US for UK as family

Early April 2003: Family troubles make her return to US, I ask Embassy in London about possibilities of returning to US

April 16th 2003: London Embassy informs me that I will be banned from the Visa Waiver Program for 10 years, my little boys first birthday

June 13th 2006: I-129f sent

August 11th 2006: NOA1 Recieved

After our relationship breaks down she admits to me that she had never bothered to start the application process

Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   45,949

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted

US is the land of the 2 week holiday.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

787Groove Rookie

787Groove   0

Posted
Filed: Country: Slovenia
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted
One little thing you should remember.

The VWP allows you to stay in the States for 90 days, not 3 months.

Overstaying that 90 days even by a day could mean you are never able to use the VWP again.

And you might get asked how you are able to fund a stay in the US for that time without working.

I understand. Our tickets are booked for 88 days actually.

Well we will have funds with us (both of us, some 4000+), also we'll be staying with a friend at his house.

You think there might be issues? :(

 
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