Visa for holiday in USA?

Soldato
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The girlfriend and I are off to Florida (Tampa) for a week at the beginning of December. The rest of her family are flying out the following day and we are staying in a family friend's, who is also coming with, holiday home.

Colleagues at work have reminded me about sorting out a visa. I'm a little confused as different sources are saying fairly generic things.

I was under the impression if the visit was less than 3 months a Visa isn't required. There seems to be a a few different types (B1, B2) and something called an ESTA and also being part of a Visa Waiver Program Country.

Could anybody clued up on the subject or having been recently to the states advise what preparation is required to avoid winning the cavity search lottery and being sent packing the same day we arrive!

Thanks,

BennyC

Edit: I've also been informed of new 'micro-chipped passports' that are preferred by the U.S. but not essential?
 
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ESTA is all you need provided you are not a criminal then a visa is required.

The official site is this one : https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

Don't use any other site.

Any valid passport is fine makes no difference, it has to be machine readable (line of black numbers on photo page) but any ones that were not machine readable have expired.

Travel insurance is critical.
 
you won't need a visa. there will be a short form you will have to fill out (you'll be given it about an hour before landing, probably less) that you give to passport control and it goes from there. last time i went i didn't bother filling it out as the time i had gone before it got scrutinised so i thought i'd let them do it and he didn't have a problem with this though it is not advisable.
 
Thanks for the replies.

you won't need a visa. there will be a short form you will have to fill out (you'll be given it about an hour before landing, probably less) that you give to passport control and it goes from there.

This is what the Mrs has just said, that they do it on the plane on the way over. I'll bookmark this thread and see what B.A. recommend.
 
you won't need a visa. there will be a short form you will have to fill out (you'll be given it about an hour before landing, probably less) that you give to passport control and it goes from there. last time i went i didn't bother filling it out as the time i had gone before it got scrutinised so i thought i'd let them do it and he didn't have a problem with this though it is not advisable.

Ignore this. You will need to fill out an online ESTA.
 
Thanks for the replies.



This is what the Mrs has just said, that they do it on the plane on the way over. I'll bookmark this thread and see what B.A. recommend.

they do, you've got nothing to worry about. i got stopped the first time i went over, even though i was with my missus who was a US passport holder! they were convinced i was going over there to work for some reason though this was pre 9/11, there priorities have changed a little. just smile, be apologetic if needs be, use the word sir/mam and you'll breeze through.
 
The online ESTA is all you need. Why risk it? You'll spend enough time queuing to get through immigration without complicating matters.
 
So what happens if you haven't filled in the ESTA. I've never heard of this until now. Do you just have to cough up $ when you go through immigration?

Still, it's useful to have to gain "authorization". I spent some time in a Utah nick last time I was there and have been wondering if I'll be allowed back in to the country or not. The ESTA should give me a clue. :D

Here's more info about ESTA -
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/esta-usa-visa
 
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I got busted for drinking on the street when I went. No fun being cited by three armed police when you're a bit merry! Had to mail in my fine. If that didn't arrive it meant I would have had to attend court a month after a left - which obviously I couldn't do.

Not turning up at court after not paying a fine puts a warrant out for your arrest apparently, which means I could be detained at customs next time I go.

I just hope their mail service is reliable and my fine got delivered :)
 
you also need to provide API information if using an non US carrier, US carriers seem a little more vague on this but it's best to

Really? I applied for my ESTA last year when I went to LA. I'm flying to New York next week and hadn't though I might need to provide further info again - I thought it was valid for 2 years?
 
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