ESTA, US clarifies given name requirement

[MTEC]

A friend has just done her estas last week (travelling with us). She didnt put middle names on. Shes just read online that they need to.be on estas now, changed were made in october. Her esta is still valid from last time and she didnt out her middle name on. Do they need re doing?

[PPM]

There’s another thread on this page all about this marked
Instant ESTAs no linger available.

[LOU LOU DISNEY]

I’m travelling on last years esta for our trip in April with no middle name on it. I did my sons the other night without knowing about the change, so I didn’t put his middle name in. It was approved, but for piece of mind I’m doing his again to be safe than sorry!

ETA her esta will be fine if it’s from last year, even without the middle name as the change is from October.

[MTEC]

Ok.thanks

[loves2plan]

Apparently, there was a change in October, but I'm not sure of the date. ESTAs that were granted before the change are okay and don't require the middle name. All new ESTAs do need middle names if they are shown in the machine readable section of your passport. Another dibber emailed CBP and received a response from them confirming this:
https://DIBB.in/13629366

[MTEC]

Brill thanks

[Orlando 2004]

As your friend did it before October they'll be ok. My dmil's was done in November though and she travelled at Xmas without any issue but now I'm not sure if she should do another before she goes again in April. Has anyone else travelled since this change without realising? I would have thought people will continue to complete the form with just their first name until the wording is actually changed on the main form not just in the guidance notes.

[loves2plan]

Originally Posted by Orlando 2004

As your friend did it before October they'll be ok. My dmil's was done in November though and she travelled at Xmas without any issue but now I'm not sure if she should do another before she goes again in April. Has anyone else travelled since this change without realising? I would have thought people will continue to complete the form with just their first name until the wording is actually changed on the main form not just in the guidance notes.

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The OPs friend did their ESTA last week, so will need to decide whether to use it and hope it's okay as it was in your mils case or reapply.

[MTEC]

She just did one last week, the rest were done the summer before.

[scottishmum]

Why on earth do they keep changing stuff , if middle name was optional before goodness was knows why they change these things .