Esta visas for USA

[soozmac]

does anyone know about the new ESTA system for travelling to USA? Is there a charge for it? I've put all my details into a website, which said I was approved, but didn't charge. Now I've checked other sites, and they say that not only is there a charge of �20, but I should beware of fraudulent sites which are only after my info. Now I'm worried that I've just given my passport number, name, and date of birth to randoms! Any help much appreciated!

[sddsddean]

Its free. As long as you have used a link from the US Embassy or something you should have no problems.

[sddsddean]

This is a link from the US Embassy. You can put your details in to check your status (eg see if you have been approved).
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html?_flowExecutionKey=_cAC257F76-53FC-A44D-594A-3C1926C697C3_k4114E339-1526-E7B9-C8F0-D209C2F067DB

[sddsddean]

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html?_flowExecutionKey=_cAC257F76-53FC-A44D-594A-3C1926C697C3_k4114E339-1526-E7B9-C8F0-D209C2F067DB

[sddsddean]

As the links don't work, use this http://www.usembassy.org.uk/
ESTA is in the the top right corner.

[soozmac]

cool, thanks guys, that's the site I used. Have since read that sites that charge are the frauds, not the other way round!! Phew, I was really close to getting ripped off there...

[dzug]

Rip off they may be, but not actual frauds - you do get your ESTA if you apply through them

[jno]

they're kinda frauds, dzug, if they make out that you need to go through them. They seem to have loaded Google so that their sites come up ahead of the official site if you search for -esta'. Like soozmac, I nearly fell for it.

You'll notice the approval is good for two years, soozmac, so you won't have to apply for another one until 2011. But in the meantime you still have to fill out the green forms on the plance.

[soozmac]

Dzug, they are frauds, as you are not actually issued with an Esta. They take your money, but the service they claim to provide is actually not provided - they do not get you an esta visa. Charging for a service they do not provide is fraud. You can then be held up at customs, and the blame would be yours, not theirs. Check out this site:

http://www.estascams.com/how-to-run-an-ESTA-SC AM.html