ESTA Query

[pmidds]

In panic mode and need advice!

We're flying to New York on Sunday and I went to print out ESTA confirmation earlier today. We had valid ESTAs from last summer when we went to Orlando. When I went to our group application there was an error with it. Since I last checked online my son's old passport had expired (this is what his last ESTA application was based on). And so now his authorisation was denied.

I've got his new passport details and have now applied for a new ESTA for him, I'm just waiting for this to be approved (and am starting to feel very nervous!).

However, my question is this: As we last applied for a group ESTA, and have now applied for an individual one for my son, will myself, my wife and daughter still be OK on our group ESTA?

I've gone in and can see that we all have valid individual ones, its just the group one with my son in that shows a problem.

[mick]

First of all there's no such thing as a group ESTA only a group application. The only reason you do a group application is to make one payment at the end. Every ESTA is individual to each passport.

You can check the status of all other ESTAs by simply retrieving them on the official site. You'll need the passports with you as it asks for numbers and dates.

Don't attempt to start a new application for any existing valid ESTAs

Mick

[pmidds]

Cheer Mick,

Panicking slightly so not very clear! As it stands then there are 3 of us going to NYC, but my 11 year old son is "authorization pending". Its only been 30 minutes, but I'm very impatient and just want to see it approved.

I also don't want to go home until it is!

[mick]

Originally Posted by pmidds

Cheer Mick,

Panicking slightly so not very clear! As it stands then there are 3 of us going to NYC, but my 11 year old son is "authorization pending". Its only been 30 minutes, but I'm very impatient and just want to see it approved.

I also don't want to go home until it is!

See more...

We've had live ESTAs since they were introduced in Jan 2009 and historically they've been approved instantly. However the last one was May 2018 and from what I've read on here, this year especially, the vast majority come back pending now. Just keep logging back on - fingers crossed.

Mick

[ChrisS]

Originally Posted by pmidds

Cheer Mick,

Panicking slightly so not very clear! As it stands then there are 3 of us going to NYC, but my 11 year old son is "authorization pending". Its only been 30 minutes, but I'm very impatient and just want to see it approved.

I also don't want to go home until it is!

See more...

I'm sure your lads ESTA will be approved for Sunday travel. Whilst your device may show approved, per the red banner across the top of the ESTA home page, the DHS now state they take up to 72 hours to place an approval flag on the airline system to allow boarding, in general the airline approval flag is applied within a few hours.