ESTA - Delay

[Tigger85]

Hi all,

Is it common now to have to wait up to 72 hours to be approved? The last two ESTA's I have applied for, me and my partner have been approved right away but this time we have been told to wait up to 72 hours for approval.
Anyone else had this recently? Just wondered if they are now a bit more careful when looking at applications.

Thanks!

[Guest]

Log off and log on again, see what happens.

[catki11]

It did that with my OHs on Monday. I just logged out then logged straight back in and it was approved

[mick]

Did you do the previous ones as individual applications and the current one as a group by any chance?

Every year since they were introduced until last summer we've done ours as individuals and they were approved instantly. Last June I did Joan and I as a group and it showed pending. Logged off and on 5 minutes later and it was approved.

Mick

[Tigger85]

Thank-you! That worked, was getting a bit worried!

[Sweetie Babes]

I've always done mine as individuals - never worked out how to do a group one and pay all in one go! It doesn't really matter, though.

I've always been approved instantly, and in a way I think the lack of stress of seeing the approval screen pop up outweighs any time benefit of just entering all your card details once.

[Geordie Al]

Have done it both as individuals and groups. Every time have done an individual it has been approved immediately likewise when done as a group it has always gone to pending

Is anyone out there had trouble trying to get on the website this weekend; mine needs renewing but can't get on the website

[yetihunter]

Just completed application for an individual and it's come up as pending. Waited 10 minutes, logged off and on again and it's still pending. Can't see any reason why as we travel every year. Only needed renewing due to a new passport. Might this be a reason to hold it up?

[Forkbeard]

Yes, we had a delay. However we went back in and checked after a couple of minutes and they were approved.

Of course I panicked believing I'd been accidentally flagged as a international terrorist leader hell bent on the destruction of western civilisation. Apart from that I was okay

[yetihunter]

Just logged back on and thankfully all approved. Can't even start to tell the things that have been going on in my head these last few hours. How we take international travel for granted and just assume all will be ok. There was absolutely no reason that we would get denied but even so it's a shock when you don't get the instant ok!