Do I need a VISA?

Daze · 28 May 2012 at 18:39

I'm going on holiday to New York for one week in December. I'm wondering if I need to apply for a VISA and if so what kind of VISA do I apply for and where do I apply?

edit: 911 posts, how fitting.

The Halk · 28 May 2012 at 18:40

You don't. However you need to apply for ESTA, which is the visa waiver programme.

Pretty simple, but do it a couple of months in advance.

Art · 28 May 2012 at 18:41

Far as I remember if you're a UK citizen you need an ESTA instead unless you're staying for longer than 6 odd months.

EDIT: Derp, beaten to it. And it's 90 days, not 6 months.

estebanrey · 28 May 2012 at 18:42

No, they accept MasterCard too.

mithrandir · 28 May 2012 at 18:42

Info here

Semple · 28 May 2012 at 18:45

Very easy to apply for as well. Costs quite a bit for what it is though.

Daze · 28 May 2012 at 18:46

Awesome, cheers. I couldn't find a definitive answer on the web (my google skills are usually above par) and mates I've asked have told me completely different things.

arknor · 28 May 2012 at 18:52

if youve ever been arrested for a crime of moral turpitude your suposed to apply for a visa but i dont think they have access to our police records
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_turpitude

[SKR]Phoenix · 28 May 2012 at 18:54

Make sure you use the official site. There's plenty of "agents" out there that charge rip-off prices to do it for you.

This is the site: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

Last time I looked, it was $14 per person, which I don't think is loads, like that other poster said. :confused:

Destination · 28 May 2012 at 19:00

[SKR]Phoenix;22019060 said:
Make sure you use the official site. There's plenty of "agents" out there that charge rip-off prices to do it for you.

This is the site: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

Last time I looked, it was $14 per person, which I don't think is loads, like that other poster said.

I don't think we charge visa waiver people to come here.
We probably should. many countries in the world have a visa on arrival system for their visa waiver programme, but give the speed at which UK civil service works, we'd be best never introducing anything or the sort.

Semple · 28 May 2012 at 19:05

[SKR]Phoenix;22019060 said:
Last time I looked, it was $14 per person, which I don't think is loads, like that other poster said.

I've not double checked on the price. But assuming it is $14 that equates to about £9. Imagine if you were going with a family of 4/6/8 people? The costs do add up considerably.

Especially seeing as we don't charge the Americans to visit the UK? Pretty certain we don't anyway.

jon86 · 28 May 2012 at 19:51

The ESTA does last two years, if I recall correctly.

The Halk · 28 May 2012 at 19:54

jon86 said:
The ESTA does last two years, if I recall correctly.

Something like that yeah, I had 18 months in my head. In any case it's good for a couple of trips - I did suggest leaving it until a couple of months before just to get the best of it.

Bear · 28 May 2012 at 20:01

Semple said:
I've not double checked on the price. But assuming it is $14 that equates to about £9. Imagine if you were going with a family of 4/6/8 people? The costs do add up considerably.

Especially seeing as we don't charge the Americans to visit the UK? Pretty certain we don't anyway.

So a family can afford the cost of flying, transport, accommodation, eating and entertainment but the ESTA is a cost that might be a cost too much? What are you smoking?

jrodga2k5 · 28 May 2012 at 20:24

$14 cost, valid for two years or until your passport expires(If expiry less than 2 years from application).

I'm just waiting for my new passport to drop through the door to get my ESTA put through for Vegas in August

spudbynight · 28 May 2012 at 20:54

DaZe said:
I'm going on holiday to New York for one week in December. I'm wondering if I need to apply for a VISA and if so what kind of VISA do I apply for and where do I apply?

edit: 911 posts, how fitting.

Flying to New York? Get a Visa.

For everything else there's MasterCard.