USA lengthens ESTA processing times: no more instant approvals

By Chris C., December 18 2018
USA lengthens ESTA processing times: no more instant approvals

Business travellers and tourists heading to the United States under the visa-waiver program will now need to apply for their US ESTA at least 72 hours before travel or risk being offloaded from their flight, with the US Government no longer granting “real-time” ESTA approvals.

Although most passengers would apply for their ESTA well ahead of their flight, sometimes, busy business travellers or holidaymakers simply forget, or don’t realise their previous ESTA had expired, and so could previously apply at the airport, get speedy ESTA approval and board their flight as normal.

Under these changes, effective immediately, “arriving at the airport without a previously approved ESTA will likely result in being denied boarding,” says the US Customs and Border Protection agency.

ESTA, the US Government’s Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, is a compulsory online clearance for Australian passport holders – and many others – travelling to the United States for business or pleasure under the visa-waiver program: that is, without a prearranged US visa.

Passengers approved to travel by the ESTA system receive a two-year authorisation covering multiple trips for business, tourism or both, at a one-off cost of US$14, payable by credit card during the application process.

Travellers would only need to apply for a new ESTA if their previous approval has expired or they’ll be using a new passport to enter the United States, as each ESTA is linked to a passport, not to the traveller themselves.

If you’re heading to the United States, use the official ESTA website to apply for your own travel authorisation well in advance of your planned trip, or to confirm that your existing ESTA hasn’t expired, to ensure a smooth departure.

Also read: Visa-free entry to the USA: what you need to know about ESTA

Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

10 May 2012

Total posts 134

worth saying, but there are a tremendous number of fake sites that look like the real thing. You won't know until the end when they ask you for +$75 (not $14). So take care!

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

08 Feb 2011

Total posts 12

Agree with above the fake sites are very good! I did one on Saturday and it was approved by Monday morning when I checked back. They ask for more info now as well and have some strange passport scan process on the site, but I ignored it and it went thru ok. Some of the info slots are also blocked the site says you will be able to go back later but I could not find a way to do it, in any case it went thru ok.

AV
AV

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

16 Apr 2013

Total posts 48

I made the silly mistake of applying for this on a fake site this morning before I read this article! My card was charged $100.14. I tried calling the number on the site and it says 'the person you are trying to reach is on the phone, please try again later'. After I submitted the application I got an email from them to say they needed a photo of my passport which I stupidly sent....hopefully they can't do anything with this information. Thankfully the bank has stepped in to offer me a refund, however does anyone know how to report this website so other people don't get scammed?

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 May 2013

Total posts 144

I have never received an instant clearance. It took anywhere from 8hrs to 24hrs to get one. I think they are trying to avoid people coming to airports and realising they have not received one and apply for it and try to board because it is instant.

Nothing more than red tape here. If it is possible to provide this instantly, why would they not???

24 Apr 2012

Total posts 2432

I applied for an ESTA late last year for a holiday and found it was granted within five minutes, which used to be very common: perhaps not the case now, though.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 Jun 2011

Total posts 88

Were ESTAs valid for 10 years previously? I have a note that mine expires in 2024. Wouldn't want to be caught out!

QF

02 Nov 2012

Total posts 48

My original ESTA was 3 years, are you sure yours was 10 years?

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 Jun 2011

Total posts 88

Yep, I have it noted in my diary and recall looking up the confirmation email I received at the time... Unless I'm losing my mind! This was in 2014 if that makes a difference.

24 Apr 2012

Total posts 2432

I'm not aware of any 10-year ESTAs (10-year visas, yes, but 10-year ESTAs, no), unless you got lucky. If you're planning a trip to the US, perhaps visit the official ESTA site (linked in the article) and just confirm that your ESTA is still showing as valid in the system, to avoid any issues at check-in.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 Jun 2011

Total posts 88

Oh I'll definitely be doing that :)

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 Jun 2011

Total posts 88

Turns out I'm an idiot - I had the day and month of the ESTA expiry with the year of my passport expiry. Glad this article came out as I would have been in trouble for my trip next year!

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

12 Nov 2017

Total posts 20

I have applied for the Visa waiver many times and only ever had the waiver for two years. Last time I applied was around three months ago (and received instant approval).

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

26 Apr 2016

Total posts 21

I apply as soon as we book flights, sometimes 11 months out. Sometimes I have to relinquish an existing visa, but generally find the $14 is a nominal fee for the convenience of locking in another 2 years. I only ever use USA Homeland Security's website for this transaction. Approval has been as swift as 5 minutes, but averages 24 hours for a group application.

24 Apr 2012

Total posts 2432

Hi lw1962, applying for an ESTA doesn't void or cancel any existing (or new) US visa: you can have both at the same time, as you're expected to use the appropriate credential for your trip every time you visit.

For example, I have a five-year multi-entry United States journalism visa that I'm required to use when visiting the US for work, but if taking a personal holiday to the US, have to apply for and use ESTA like everybody else, to enter as a tourist under the visa-waiver program. Having one doesn't cancel out the other: you just tell the staff at passport control your reason for entry and you're processed accordingly.

AV
AV

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

16 Apr 2013

Total posts 48

Hi Chris, what is the correct website to apply for a Canadian visa? I'm heading to USA but then to Canada just for a few days.

24 Apr 2012

Total posts 2432

Hi AV, if you mean the 'eTA' for visa-waiver travel (the Canadian equivalent of the US ESTA), you'll find more detail on this, and a link to apply, in our story here.

12 Dec 2012

Total posts 1029

There are links to the eTA site on the US ESTA site and a link to the ESTA site on the Canadian eTA site.

Every time I've gotten an ESTA, it's been for 2 years, and it's always been approved within minutes. I applied for one early once before, when they were still free, so that I wouldn't have to pay the silly $14 fee until 2 years after they added it. (the $14 is $10 for international tourism promotion and $4 for ESTA admin costs)

05 Dec 2018

Total posts 146

This faux security program is a fustrating cash grab. Now a time burgular for last minute travel.

My last ESTA done a few months back was also instant approved.
I guess the time delay will make people ‘think’ something actually gets processed on an invisible typewriter!

Thanks for the heads up on the changes :)

25 Feb 2017

Total posts 25

Keep my Mothers Body on Ice please. I cant get there for 5 Days. Thankfully we are not Jewish. More Trumpish Noncense

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

06 May 2016

Total posts 33

Like Chris we normally have ours authorized within minutes. We have probably had about four now - the most recent earlier this year. Qantas have a link which is always safe for the $14. Absolutely no trouble at all.

Qf

26 Apr 2015

Total posts 21

I have just applied for Estas for myself and husband, as a group. Not sure how long it took, but I checked after 48 hours and they were approved. Previously it was very quick, but because they said 72 hours I didn’t check for a few days.

12 Dec 2012

Total posts 1029

I applied for a new US ESTA and an eTA at the same time in early Oct.
The ESTA was approved by the time I was done filling in the eTA form.
Cip
Cip

04 Sep 2021

Total posts 1

I applied for ESTA 12 days ago and the Authorisation is still pending. I was a resident for the last 7 year in the US and moved my residence to Germany after my E2 Visa expired  one month ago. Maybe it's still pending because I answered truthfully that I was in Syria, Iran, Irak and Sudan after 2011. I was an Airline Pilot in the ME and our huge route network included these Countries. Usually you hardly leave the aircraft in a country since  ground-time is less then 1 hour. You spend  a few minutes on their soil for an outside check.. This is the only reason I could think off be the reason for the pending status.


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