USA flights bookings and ESTA query
#31
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: Confirmed
Posts: 1,091
Would it be possible to go to a OW hub outside of Schengen (e.g. DOH) stay there 14 days and then fly to the US or are there other restrictions in addition to the ESTA we need to think about?
Hopefully when I'm due to travel (August) it won't be needed and also things may have changed a lot by then.
Hopefully when I'm due to travel (August) it won't be needed and also things may have changed a lot by then.
#32
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
both I and Mrs Definitas were told at our GE interviews (by the same HS employee) that our GE would automatically expire if we didnt have a valid ESTA and that we should renew our ESTA in advance of them expiring. I am now thinking that he perhaps misled us given the experience of others on this thread.
#33
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: LON, between FAB and EGTD
Programs: OWE - AA Plat Pro, Lifetime Plat, BA nobody (blue)
Posts: 849
I have travelled to the U.S. seven times since last September. I have a British passport, ESTA, and an American spouse.
On just one of those trips I had an ESTA issue. Shortly after OLCI opened (not that you can do OLCI on these routes) I received an email from the CBP saying my ESTA had expired (not was cancelled). The CBP guy at LHR made his usual checks to allow me to fly, and also "fixed" the expired ESTA. No ramifications to my Global Entry.
On the other six trips there has been no issue.
On just one of those trips I had an ESTA issue. Shortly after OLCI opened (not that you can do OLCI on these routes) I received an email from the CBP saying my ESTA had expired (not was cancelled). The CBP guy at LHR made his usual checks to allow me to fly, and also "fixed" the expired ESTA. No ramifications to my Global Entry.
On the other six trips there has been no issue.
#34
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 140
Aware this may be a stupid question but... do you need to do anything to make clear the situation? e.g Is being on the same PNR what is used?
Well be travelling with two youngsters so minimising other forms of stress is always welcome :-)
#35
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Im about to book a trip with the same situation.
Aware this may be a stupid question but... do you need to do anything to make clear the situation? e.g Is being on the same PNR what is used?
Well be travelling with two youngsters so minimising other forms of stress is always welcome :-)
Aware this may be a stupid question but... do you need to do anything to make clear the situation? e.g Is being on the same PNR what is used?
Well be travelling with two youngsters so minimising other forms of stress is always welcome :-)
#36
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 140
I could indeed have been a lot clearer let me rephrase.
Is there anything I should/could do to avoid any issues of my ESTA being cancelled / hold ups at the airport while trying to travel to the US on a British passport. For example, do I need to ensure I am on the same booking as my US citizen wife.
Is there anything I should/could do to avoid any issues of my ESTA being cancelled / hold ups at the airport while trying to travel to the US on a British passport. For example, do I need to ensure I am on the same booking as my US citizen wife.
#37
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
I could indeed have been a lot clearer let me rephrase.
Is there anything I should/could do to avoid any issues of my ESTA being cancelled / hold ups at the airport while trying to travel to the US on a British passport. For example, do I need to ensure I am on the same booking as my US citizen wife.
Is there anything I should/could do to avoid any issues of my ESTA being cancelled / hold ups at the airport while trying to travel to the US on a British passport. For example, do I need to ensure I am on the same booking as my US citizen wife.
Sorry, just noticed that your wife is a US citizen.
#38
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: LON, between FAB and EGTD
Programs: OWE - AA Plat Pro, Lifetime Plat, BA nobody (blue)
Posts: 849
Im about to book a trip with the same situation.
Aware this may be a stupid question but... do you need to do anything to make clear the situation? e.g Is being on the same PNR what is used?
Well be travelling with two youngsters so minimising other forms of stress is always welcome :-)
Aware this may be a stupid question but... do you need to do anything to make clear the situation? e.g Is being on the same PNR what is used?
Well be travelling with two youngsters so minimising other forms of stress is always welcome :-)
#39
Join Date: Aug 2021
Programs: BA Executive Club
Posts: 7
I flew LHR-SFO on 28th August. My ESTA was automatically cancelled 5 hours before departure time. I was a little worried about entering the USA as I'm a UK citizen in a same-sex marriage with a US citizen. Thankfully, the process of getting my ESTA reinstatement was very smooth. I just needed to have my married certificate verified at the BA check-in desk. This took around 15 minutes and involved the BA calling the US Homeland security representative for the verification. The check-in staff then updated my details, and my boarding pass was printed with 'Homeland Approved ESTA' on the pass.
On arrival in SFO went through the normal passport check process at the booth. Was then politely escorted to a secondary area where my wedding certificate was checked and approved by another custom and border protection officer - all done in under 10 minutes.
On arrival in SFO went through the normal passport check process at the booth. Was then politely escorted to a secondary area where my wedding certificate was checked and approved by another custom and border protection officer - all done in under 10 minutes.
#40
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL / GfL
Posts: 3,209
I flew LHR-SFO on 28th August. My ESTA was automatically cancelled 5 hours before departure time. I was a little worried about entering the USA as I'm a UK citizen in a same-sex marriage with a US citizen. Thankfully, the process of getting my ESTA reinstatement was very smooth. I just needed to have my married certificate verified at the BA check-in desk. This took around 15 minutes and involved the BA calling the US Homeland security representative for the verification. The check-in staff then updated my details, and my boarding pass was printed with 'Homeland Approved ESTA' on the pass.
On arrival in SFO went through the normal passport check process at the booth. Was then politely escorted to a secondary area where my wedding certificate was checked and approved by another custom and border protection officer - all done in under 10 minutes.
On arrival in SFO went through the normal passport check process at the booth. Was then politely escorted to a secondary area where my wedding certificate was checked and approved by another custom and border protection officer - all done in under 10 minutes.
Glad to read this as I am due to travel tomorrow to MIA with my U.S spouse and have just had notification my ESTA has expired (it was valid through to Jan 2022). At this point am I correct in saying I should not apply for a new one and let the U.S. Homeland rep 'fix' it tomorrow at T5?
Pilot37
#41
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: LON, between FAB and EGTD
Programs: OWE - AA Plat Pro, Lifetime Plat, BA nobody (blue)
Posts: 849
Glad to read this as I am due to travel tomorrow to MIA with my U.S spouse and have just had notification my ESTA has expired (it was valid through to Jan 2022). At this point am I correct in saying I should not apply for a new one and let the U.S. Homeland rep 'fix' it tomorrow at T5?
Pilot37
Pilot37
You should find the ESTA back to the active state with its original expiry once it has been dealt with.
#42
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL / GfL
Posts: 3,209
Pilot37
#43
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: LON, between FAB and EGTD
Programs: OWE - AA Plat Pro, Lifetime Plat, BA nobody (blue)
Posts: 849
I always get what must be the standard question -- what is the purpose of your visit..? I always travel on ESTA WT so must look like a regular tourist. I answer to spend time with my wife, she lives here, she a U.S. citizen. Sometimes I'm asked to explain more. Occasionally there's a flash of humour -- one guy, after I explained we spent more time apart, said "where do I sign up?"
None of that has changed in the past year.
None of that has changed in the past year.
#44
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,676
All these reports about people's ESTA being canceled prior to travel got me worried. We are planning to, hopefully, finally visit family in the USA. As a spouse of a U.S. citizen, I fall within the exception and can transit the 'banned' countries. As a Ukrainian national, I require an actual visa rather than an ESTA. So, I will be flying on the B visa. Has anyone heard about any instances of the CBP canceling visas before travel due to travelling from/transiting the countries in the Proclamation? I understand that ESTA is easy to reapply for, but a visa can only be obtained at an Embassy. I don't think there is a way to advise the airline in advance about the exception. If I get to the check-in desk I can show all of the documents, but with people's ESTA being canceled hours before the flight, I am now worried.
#45
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,474
The process is very different, so no, your B visa won't be cancelled. That's a physical document, so while there are some circumstances when B and similar visas can get cancelled (e.g. due to another visa being issued in a newer passport) this would only happen after arrival in the USA, wouldn't happen in your case and isn't usually an adverse outcome. I have travelled to the USA on B-1 and A-2 visas without issue in recent months.
The reason for ESTA cancellation is about passenger flows and airline procedures in submitting API data to the DHS. Visas are different in terms of API data flow.
The reason for ESTA cancellation is about passenger flows and airline procedures in submitting API data to the DHS. Visas are different in terms of API data flow.