What visa do I need to visit the U.S?

Aeleys said:
I've been looking, but looks confusing to my small brain does anyone know exactly what I need?
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Are you a UK citizen? If so then you don't need a visa, you just sign a visa waiver on the plane. But you do need to apply for an ESTA advance prescreening.
 
D.P. said:
Are you a UK citizen? If so then you don't need a visa, you just sign a visa waiver on the plane. But you do need to apply for an ESTA advance prescreening.
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Yeah I'm a UK citizen, so no visa? but what the hell is that ESTA thing? wow... I'm stupid :p
 
ESTA is just for security to allow you to fly (basically the yanks want to check you are not a terrorist well in advance of you flying). ESTA lasts for 2 years.
 
The ESTA application is quick. Once you've completed the online form and paid, it comes back immediately with an approval or not.

That said, I wouldn't leave it to the last minute just in case you get declined for any reason.
 
bods said:
The ESTA application is quick. Once you've completed the online form and paid, it comes back immediately with an approval or not.

That said, I wouldn't leave it to the last minute just in case you get declined for any reason.
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Fun fact: when my parents flew out to America in October they were completely unaware of the ESTA and had to apply for it on my mum's iphone 3g whilst standing in the queue for the check-in desk. Ooops.
 
ESTA processing is usually instant and costs $14. You don't need to get one weeks in advance though they advise you do it at least a few days before.

It is just authorisation to board a U.S. bound plane or ship, not a visa. You will still be subject to a quick chat at the border from the official who decides if you will be admitted under the visa waiver programme.

You don't need an ESTA if you enter the USA by land for example.
 
As has already been said, ESTA is just travel authorisation not entry to the US. But having ESTA certainly makes the immigration process a lot easier for you & them.

Are you going for business or pleasure? If business, whetever you do don't say that you're there to work, say that you are there for business meetings/training/conference/whatever. One of my project guys spent 3hrs being questioned after he made that mistake. But maybe he jst got the TSA officer on a bad day!
 
When I went to Vegas in 2012, I checked in and wasnt able to as stupidly I forgot that I had a new passport a few months before, and my Esta didnt automatically transfer - i had to do it in the queue at the airport - fortunately within a couple of minutes of doing it on my phone i had my esta and i was allowed to fly.

I think i lost about 5lbs of sweat in those minutes though - horrific does not convey how terrifying it was that i had cocked up the holiday.
 
Just got back from the states a few days ago. Heading out, The TSA lot aren't the chirpiest people I've ever come across in my life. Wow.

US immigration on the way in were fine though.
 
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Burnsy2023 said:
Just to add, if you have any convictions, you will need a Visa as you are not eligible for ESTA.
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Won't go into things too deeply, but that of course is only if you want to make the US aware of any criminal convictions you have.

The US don't have any access to the UK criminal records database - so in effect cannot find out "what you've done".
If your crime had anything to do with the US then of course they are going to know your name, but generally speaking they wont know and rely very much on your admission during the application process.

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence, however I also have some first-hand evidence of this.
Two friends of mine have both travelled to the US under ESTA however had criminal convictions that they were "supposed" to mention. One of these two would "probably" have been refused a Visa if they had gone through the official channels.

Not advocating this at all, but just as an "interesting" point to add to this thread.
 
stoofa said:
Won't go into things too deeply, but that of course is only if you want to make the US aware of any criminal convictions you have.

The US don't have any access to the UK criminal records database - so in effect cannot find out "what you've done".
If your crime had anything to do with the US then of course they are going to know your name, but generally speaking they wont know and rely very much on your admission during the application process.

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence, however I also have some first-hand evidence of this.
Two friends of mine have both travelled to the US under ESTA however had criminal convictions that they were "supposed" to mention. One of these two would "probably" have been refused a Visa if they had gone through the official channels.

Not advocating this at all, but just as an "interesting" point to add to this thread.
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Well, if you done something terrible then you wouldn't be able to leave the country in the first place.
 
stoofa said:
Won't go into things too deeply, but that of course is only if you want to make the US aware of any criminal convictions you have.

The US don't have any access to the UK criminal records database - so in effect cannot find out "what you've done".
If your crime had anything to do with the US then of course they are going to know your name, but generally speaking they wont know and rely very much on your admission during the application process.

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence, however I also have some first-hand evidence of this.
Two friends of mine have both travelled to the US under ESTA however had criminal convictions that they were "supposed" to mention. One of these two would "probably" have been refused a Visa if they had gone through the official channels.

Not advocating this at all, but just as an "interesting" point to add to this thread.
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yeah but if they find out, welcome to never ever being allowed into the USA
 
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