ESTA ..Anyone tried today ?

[tocpe321]

Originally Posted by unixgirl

We go in April (well maybe) and I just did mine, usually it's straight through but this time it says authorisation pending.
I don't think I made any mistakes. When people are saying don't fill in API that's on your flight right? I filled in Disney for the address and contact in USA.
My API is always on file with VA so hope that hasn't de-railed things.

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I did mine yesterday as a group. I kept checking and then I got an email telling me status had changed from pending. Thankfully all approved. Probably about an hour in total.

[mick]

Originally Posted by unixgirl

We go in April (well maybe) and I just did mine, usually it's straight through but this time it says authorisation pending.
I don't think I made any mistakes. When people are saying don't fill in API that's on your flight right? I filled in Disney for the address and contact in USA.
My API is always on file with VA so hope that hasn't de-railed things.

See more...

I've read around 90% of ESTA threads since they were made compulsory in Jan 2009 - and possibly responded to most of them. We've also had around 6 or 7 successful applications since.

All I'll say is don't panic. Around a year/18 months ago they seem to stop instant approval. All ours up to this May were approved instantly but reading posts recently none seem to be approved instantly. Very soon hopefully you'll get an email saying your status has changed - log back in and bingo. About 30 minutes for us.

Yes the reference to not doing API is on your flight. Nothing wrong with entering your accommodation on the ESTA.

Mick

PS Not quite sure what you mean by your API being on file with VA. You can only do API on VA 24 hours before your flight.

[unixgirl]

My Secure flight info is on file with VA - I did see somewhere else I could only enter API 24 hrs before flight so all good there. The ESTA status is "Your travel authorization is under review because an immediate determination could not be made." I have plenty of time to sort it but it's strange as I have Global Entry as well.

[mick]

Originally Posted by unixgirl

My Secure flight info is on file with VA - I did see somewhere else I could only enter API 24 hrs before flight so all good there. The ESTA status is "Your travel authorization is under review because an immediate determination could not be made." I have plenty of time to sort it but it's strange as I have Global Entry as well.

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That sounds like the wording we had and hopefully soon you'll get this one. Not May 22 though.

There has been an update to your ESTA Travel Authorization Status submitted on May 22, 2020. Please visit https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta to check your application.

Mick

[unixgirl]

Thanks Mick - still not as bad as when I was in a queue to check in for a flight to the USA and decided to do 1 last check. I didn't have my application number handy so used the passport and other fields and it came back as not approved. That was because it defaulted to the previous years and it had expired. Luckily I found my application number (thank you mobile expense application) and using that it said approved.

[unixgirl]

Phew and just after I posted the last one I got the email saying the application had changed status and it was approved \o/. I hope we get to go back to the US soon.

[mick]

Originally Posted by unixgirl

Phew and just after I posted the last one I got the email saying the application had changed status and it was approved \o/. I hope we get to go back to the US soon.

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Anyone whose location is "just outside York" is OK by me as I was born "just outside York" in 1946

Mick