Passport Renewal and ESTA

[MissCellaneous]

Got DH's passport renewal being delivered today (just shy of a 2 week turnaround! 👍 ).

Any reason I should wait rather than applying for a new ESTA for him immediately tonight, do you think? (We're still hopeful for September in Orlando) 🤔

As in, is it too new? I'm paranoid! 🤣

[scottishmum]

Not too new , do it as soon as you like ie tonight lol.

[MissCellaneous]

Originally Posted by scottishmum

Not too new , do it as soon as you like ie tonight lol.

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Thank you! 🙂 Sorry for asking a silly question 😁 It just arrived too!

Will do it tonight! Hope we can use it... 🤞🤞🤞

[animal 1970]

my hubby got new passport yesterday also i need to do all our estas now but someone told me at the moment we cannot apply for estas is this true

[shelle]

Originally Posted by animal 1970

my hubby got new passport yesterday also i need to do all our estas now but someone told me at the moment we cannot apply for estas is this true

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No, you can still apply for your ESTA. You cannot, however, attempt to travel using it until restrictions are lifted.

Some say completing API can be seen as attempting to travel so avoid doing this if you have flights already booked.

[scottishmum]

Originally Posted by animal 1970

my hubby got new passport yesterday also i need to do all our estas now but someone told me at the moment we cannot apply for estas is this true

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Not true we got both ours a couple of weeks back.

[Andi]

Originally Posted by animal 1970

my hubby got new passport yesterday also i need to do all our estas now but someone told me at the moment we cannot apply for estas is this true

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Unless something has changed in the last month or so, you can still apply for an ESTA. DH got an ESTA when his new passport arrived a couple of months ago.

[mick]

Originally Posted by animal 1970

my hubby got new passport yesterday also i need to do all our estas now but someone told me at the moment we cannot apply for estas is this true

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Scores of Dibbers have reported getting ESTA approved in the last 15 months or so - including us.

It's "attempting to travel" that may result in your approved ESTA being cancelled.

Mick

[animal 1970]

thanks all ill hold off a while longer not going till end of september

[mick]

Originally Posted by animal 1970

thanks all ill hold off a while longer not going till end of september

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Any reason you don't want to do it now?

Having read maybe 90% of ESTA threads since they were made compulsory in Jan 2009 I'd say the consensus of the majority of DIBB opinions is to do them 6 months out and/or before you commit any serious non-refundable money to a holiday.

The chances of a rejection are extremely small but over the years there have been enough reported on the DIBB. About 5 years ago there was a major software failure at SFB which recorded hundreds of passengers as overstayers and their subsequent ESTA applications were refused. More common reason for refusal though is carelessness - answering an obvious NO question as YES. The "6 months" suggestion is just to allow time to get a visa should the very slight risk of refusal occur.

The other reason to do them before financial commitment is that if you are refused your insurance won't reimburse you if you can't travel because of no ESTA.

I think most Dibbers see the $14 investment as something that's best sorted as another box ticked compared with the overall cost of a holiday.

Mick