Expiring Passport

[PPM]

It’s a case of risk v reward. You decide to leave the ESTA application until a week or so before travel and you then get the full two years ahead for holidays. I the vast majority of applications this goes thro no problem, but one or two get turned down due to errors that folks have made innocently, and their applications are rejected. No time to get a visa, so holiday is binned, and insurance won’t pay out on a failed ESTA
So the question is:
Are you willing to risk a £5000 to £10000 holiday on the cost saving of $14 by leaving the application until just before holiday?

I know I won’t, but it’s up to everyone to access the risk themselves, I’m not advising either way.

[mick]

The UK enjoys the same special relationship with about 130+ other nations. You don't need any grace on your passport. This proves it.

cbp.gov/sites/default/fi...date122017.pdf

Brexit or not nothing will change in this relationship. May do if you need to fly via the EU but who knows? I'm sure that Mother Theresa doesn't

Too many sad stories on here about people who think it's a good idea to scrape loads of holidays out of a $14 ESTA. Refusal is very unlikely but, trust me, it happens.


No ESTA - no time to get a visa = no holiday, thousands of £££ down the toilet. No insurance pay out.

Mick

[Hornet1976]

Originally Posted by mick

The UK enjoys the same special relationship with about 130+ other nations. You don't need any grace on your passport. This proves it.

cbp.gov/sites/default/fi...date122017.pdf

Brexit or not nothing will change in this relationship. May do if you need to fly via the EU but who knows? I'm sure that Mother Theresa doesn't

Too many sad stories on here about people who think it's a good idea to scrape loads of holidays out of a $14 ESTA. Refusal is very unlikely but, trust me, it happens.


No ESTA - no time to get a visa = no holiday, thousands of £££ down the toilet. No insurance pay out.

Mick

See more...

I think a month prior is more than enough time for Esta. Brexit reference was to do with the time it takes to get a passport, not Esta. There were a raft of applications a few weeks ago. Even if an Esta is refused it only takes two weeks to get a visa for the US.

[mick]

Originally Posted by Hornet1976

I think a month prior is more than enough time for Esta. Brexit reference was to do with the time it takes to get a passport, not Esta. There were a raft of applications a few weeks ago. Even if an Esta is refused it only takes two weeks to get a visa for the US.

See more...

Really?

Those recent Dibbers who have been refused through making an error on their applications and took months to get a visa appointment will be gratified to read this.

And all those Dibbers who were refused an ESTA following a software failure at SFB a few years back.

Your decision. I'm out

[Thorpy]

Originally Posted by PPM

So the question is:
Are you willing to risk a £5000 to £10000 holiday on the POTENTIAL cost saving of $14 by leaving the application until just before holiday?

I know I won’t, but it’s up to everyone to access the risk themselves, I’m not advising either way.

See more...

I've added to your statement, for it is only if you book a holiday that falls in the last 6 months of your 2 years that you actually mange to save any money.

We generally get an ESTA around now (March), for August Holidays. This covers this year and next. We then renew when it runs out in readiness for the next cycle. We haven't quite had live ESTA's all the time since they came in... we had a baby instead one year

[mick]

Originally Posted by Thorpy

I've added to your statement, for it is only if you book a holiday that falls in the last 6 months of your 2 years that you actually mange to save any money.

We generally get an ESTA around now (March), for August Holidays. This covers this year and next. We then renew when it runs out in readiness for the next cycle. We haven't quite had live ESTA's all the time since they came in... we had a baby instead one year

See more...

We have had live ESTAs since they were introduced in Jan 2009 just in case the Premium Bonds allow us to fit a spontaneous trip.

I'm 18 months younger than Mick Jagger who keeps fathering babies but I've done a Risk Assessment of that happening to me any time soon.

Mick

[PPM]

Originally Posted by mick

Really?

Those recent Dibbers who have been refused through making an error on their applications and took months to get a visa appointment will be gratified to read this.

And all those Dibbers who were refused an ESTA following a software failure at SFB a few years back.

Your decision. I'm out

See more...

Two weeks? I’ll bail with you Mick

[Sunset girl]

Originally Posted by Hornet1976

My son's (11) passport runs out 3 weeks after we are due back from our trip to Orlamdo in May. Will this still be valid for our trip and will we get an Esta? Has anyone got experience of this and did you have any issues?

See more...

We are taking our grandson aged 10 and his passport expires roughly 4 weeks after we return
After advice on here saying it’s not a problem- it’s not a problem!
So we haven’t renewed the passport

[Blue nose]

Originally Posted by Hornet1976

Quick update on this: there were a few people that seemed a little concerned about the timing of all this ie. Quite near our travel date. We applied for my lad's passport three weeks ago, we received it back within 2 weeks. We then applied for our ESTA's Sunday which was approved later that day. Kind of wish I'd left the ESTA's until a few weeks before our travel date so that it stayed valid until Easter 2021. Basically just wanted to let people know that there really is no panic with ESTA's and passports under normal circumstances. I suppose Brexit could affect passport application times but that aside it's a very quick process.

See more...

It's great that you're sorted but chances of sorting a Visa in your suggested timescales are unlikely and not something best left to chance.

You're basically gambling thousands of pounds on getting an appointment and getting it approved for the sake of $14 dollars 😱

I value and appreciate all the advice on here and only comment on what I know as fact, on this topic - you didn't need a new passport. We've travelled with only a couple of months left. I try not to offer an opinion when I don't know for sure, particularly if risking someone's dream holiday.

Imagine someone following your advice and ruining their holiday.

IMO irresponsible.

[Hornet1976]

Originally Posted by Blue nose

It's great that you're sorted but chances of sorting a Visa in your suggested timescales are unlikely and not something best left to chance.

You're basically gambling thousands of pounds on getting an appointment and getting it approved for the sake of $14 dollars 😱

I value and appreciate all the advice on here and only comment on what I know as fact, on this topic - you didn't need a new passport. We've travelled with only a couple of months left. I try not to offer an opinion when I don't know for sure, particularly if risking someone's dream holiday.

Imagine someone following your advice and ruining their holiday.

IMO irresponsible.

See more...

I think everyone needs to calm down. This is at least the 3rd time I’ve done Esta’s, probably more. I renewed the passport because it needed doing anyway - I know my son could have travelled on it. I just don’t agree that people need to do them miles in advance. Sounds like the timescale I quoted for a Visa might be a bit ambitious, particularly if there are problems with that too so if I’ve mislead anyone on that then I’m sorry. That said there isn’t any need to sort out passports and Esta’s before you book your holiday a year in advance like some have suggested on here.
Wish I’d never bothered asking, some quite angry people on this forum!