Already used esta

Mouse madness · 22 Apr 19, 07:54 AM

Hi everyone,

We still have our esta’s from our trip to San Francisco last summer so no need to renew. My husband seems to think that if you have already used your valid esta you can go through a different que at immigration and save time. Does anyone know if that’s the case please.
Thanks in advance x

chmurf · 22 Apr 19, 08:02 AM

you might be allowed to use the automated kiosks (APC) and do the immigration process at a machine (you will eventually need to queue to see an immigration officer anyway)

but because you CAN use the machines does not mean you WILL be allowed to use the machine
at the end of the day, it's up to the staff manning the lines to decide if the APC queue is open, or if you may use it

and the ability to use the APC is not about having an already used ESTA, it has to do with having entered the US under any ESTA since 2008 (ESTA is valid for 2 years) even though it would seem that, nowdays, simply having an ESTA will qualify for the kiosks

Mouse madness · 22 Apr 19, 08:11 AM

Thanks for the detailed response. Is there an age limit of using the APC machines please as we will have our 9 year old daughter with us?

Holiday-mum · 22 Apr 19, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Mouse madness

Thanks for the detailed response. Is there an age limit of using the APC machines please as we will have our 9 year old daughter with us?

We all used the machines at JFK in August, and my children were 6 and 3

rosiebun3 · 22 Apr 19, 03:29 PM

I think it depends on how busy the immigration is and possibly the size of the airport.
At Newark in March there was a queue line for returning ESTA’ s but it didn’t open until then main queue started to build up. However at Atlanta last September there was one line.

Burgmeister · 23 Apr 19, 01:01 PM

IF the machines ar ein operation it doesn't matter whether you have used your existing ESTA before or not. It only matters that you have used any ESTA in the past.

Like Holiday-mum, we used the machines in JFK last August and it was a brilliant time-saver (no queues, whereas the other line was showing as 55 minute wait).

I have, however, been reading many reports on here that the machines in MCO are not being used anymore.

Mickey's Magic · 23 Apr 19, 01:07 PM

They were directing people who have travelled to the US on a valid ESTA previously to the kiosks at MCO in the summer. You still have to speak to a immigration official and have your passport stamped but it did seem a little quicker than the normal queue!

22 Apr 19, 08:02 AM	#2
	22 Apr 19, 08:02 AM chmurf Imagineer
chmurf Imagineer Join Date: Dec 12	you might be allowed to use the automated kiosks (APC) and do the immigration process at a machine (you will eventually need to queue to see an immigration officer anyway) but because you CAN use the machines does not mean you WILL be allowed to use the machine at the end of the day, it's up to the staff manning the lines to decide if the APC queue is open, or if you may use it and the ability to use the APC is not about having an already used ESTA, it has to do with having entered the US under any ESTA since 2008 (ESTA is valid for 2 years) even though it would seem that, nowdays, simply having an ESTA will qualify for the kiosks Edited at 08:05 AM.