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If you are eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver programme you will no longer be able to complete the green I-94 form on board your aircraft. You will need to apply for authorisation using the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). Please see below for our top tips regarding the application process.
Applying for an ESTA is generally quick and simple, usually a response will be posted within 12 hours but it may take up to 72 hours.
In order for an ESTA to be granted you must be eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver programme. Holding an ESTA does not guarantee entry to the USA, it provides a clearance to travel, entry approval is granted by the Customs Border Protection Officer.
We strongly recommend that you make a note of the application / reference number as the system cannot recall your details without this. It is not mandatory to provide a print of the approval for either the airline or the Customs Border Protection office upon entry to the USA.
The ESTA is valid for a period of 2 years as long as your passport remains valid. You are recommended to update your ESTA each time you visit the US in order that the entry information on your ESTA matches the information that you submit through APIS (eg. address whilst in the USA, flight number). This will save time in entry to the US and result in fewer questions from the Customs Border Protection Officer.
If an ESTA is not granted you will be required to obtain a US Visa.
ESTA and APIS are different requirements and are run by different government departments, you will be required to complete both.
ESTA applications can be made at any time ahead of travel, but should be made at least 72 hours before departure. It will still be possible to submit an application up to the point of on-line check in or check in at the airport, However should the ESTA not be granted, travel to the USA will not be permitted.
If you are eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver programme you will be required to complete the green I-94 form on board your aircraft for presentation to the US Immigration service.
You may during this period apply on a Voluntary basis using the on-line Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. However, you will in addition still be required to complete the green I-94 form whilst both systems continue to run in tandem. We strongly recommend that you make a record of the 16 digit reference / application number as the system cannot recall your details without this.
If your passport has ever been reported lost or stolen to the authorities and then recovered, please do not attempt to use it for travel to the United States. If you input the passport details into ESTA, your application will be denied.
You will still need to provide further APIS information specific to your journey either at check or, If you are travelling with British Airways or Virgin Atlantic this may be done in advance on-line using our ‘ViewTrail’ facility.
Visa free travellers entering or passing through the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) require individual machine readable passports. It is important to note that families will require individual passports for each traveller should they wish to travel visa free. Travellers not in possession of machine readable passports will require a visa.
How do I know if I have a machine readable passport?
A machine readable passport can generally be identified by the presence of two typeface lines printed at the bottom of the photograph page that can be read by machine. All British Passports that were issued in the UK are machine readable. If you are in any doubt please contact Trailfinders Visa & Passport service.
All British Citizen passports issued by the United Kingdom Passport Agency, or UKPA, qualify for the Visa Waiver Program under the new Biometric Passport requirements. Other nationalities (or UK passports issued abroad) should check the following information carefully:
US immigration are moving towards the full implementation of US-VISIT. This includes:
Please note that there is no longer a "Transit Without Visa" facility. All passengers clear immigration at the point of first entry to the USA on all international flights. If a client would need a visa to "stop" in the USA they would still need a visa to "transit". The US embassy has announced that as of 31 December 2002 anybody needing a visa to travel to or via the USA will no longer be able to apply through a visa agency like ourselves or directly by post to the embassy. Trailfinders visa service is no longer accepting applications. Passengers will instead have to make an appointment for a personal interview at the Embassy. Please call the Embassy information and appointment number 09042 450 100 (premium rate £1.20 per minute). In Ireland call 1580 456111 (€1.90 per minute). This will inevitably lead to severe delays, and applicants may have to wait a number of weeks before securing an appointment. You must consider this when making any booking involving the USA if you require a visa to travel or transit there.
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If you were born in the USA you are automatically entitled to a US passport. Even if you hold dual nationality with another country you must travel to the USA on your US passport otherwise you'll be denied boarding.
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You should always have correct documents and visas for your destination/s beyond the USA. Entry into the USA is always at the discretion of the duty immigration officers and Trailfinders can bear no responsibility if a client is refused entry or refused a US visa even if these guidelines have been followed.
Contact Trailfinders Visa & Passport Service
