FlyerTalk Forums - ESTA problem USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by ro2124 (Post 35464393)

Got a bit of a weird problem. I will be flying from Colombia to Berlin. But flying via Florida USA. Normally I try to avoid US with all ESTA hassle, most countries don't do all that just for Transit. Well, anyway I made a mistake during booking and the return flight is via Florida so I had to apply for an ESTA. Second mistake, as I was in a rush I was directed to one of these third party rip off ESTA sites and didn't realise until it was too late. You can get ESTA through them, but they charge you like double or more. Anyway after a couple of days I did receive confirmation that ESTA is authorised. I double checked with the actual real ESTA site and it seems it's genuine. But yesterday I looked at my bank account and it looks like the fee I paid to that third party site was returned for some reason. So with the fee being returned which includes the 21 actual ESTA fee, I was afraid that it was canceled for some reason. However I checked the real ESTA site and it seems my ESTA is still valid. I also contacted the third party site and they said- No we did not go through any refund procedure. So ESTA is still valid, but my money was returned, so I am afraid that I'm going to have some kind of hassle or refused entry. What actually happens if you are refused entry if you're in transit, will they still let you go to catch flight? All seems rather unnecessary just for transit, I mean I don't want to stay in US, I just want to catch my flight to Berlin. Well, a friend told me years ago ,do not go via America is just nothing but hassle- looks like he was right.

If you want a random stranger to comment (me), I'll say "Bank error in your favor, collect $200" (to quote from a Community Chest card in the board game Monopoly).

You inadvertently used a third party site to submit an ESTA application to the US government. The US government is not in the business of working with "third party rip off ESTA sites" to issue ESTAs - the US government require irrevocable payment and does not offer refunds. If the US government web site (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/individualStatusLookup) says your ESTA is valid, it is valid. No third party is going to change the US government's decision, even if the "third party ripoff ESTA site"s own payment from you was rescinded somehow. For reassurance, just keep checking the status of the ESTA before your trip.

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/faq?lang=en

Quote:

I've been charged more than US $21.00 for ESTA, why?

There are a number of third parties that have established websites that charge a fee for submitting your application on your behalf. If you have used one of these third party sites, we strongly suggest you use your application number to confirm with the official U.S. government site to ensure that your ESTA is in our system. We recommend you do this because we have no way of knowing if the information passed through the third party website to us is accurate. If it is not, you may have a problem when you arrive in the U.S.

For instructions on how to look up your ESTA, see the help topic "Checking Your ESTA Status".

CBP cannot refund the money you paid to a third party website.

and

How do I check my ESTA status?

You can check the status of your ESTA as listed below: Individual Application: To check your ESTA status, go to the ESTA homepage, select "Check ESTA Status ", and then click "Check Individual Status". You will need to enter either your Passport Number, Date of Birth, and Application Number OR the Country of Citizenship, Passport Issuance Date and Passport Expiration Date. Group Application: To check your ESTA Group status, go to the ESTA homepage, select "Check ESTA Status", and then click "Check Group Status". You will need to enter Group ID, Family Name, First (Given) Name, Email Address, and Date of Birth for Group Point of Contact. If you do not know the Group ID, select the link "I do not know my Group ID" to retrieve your Group ID. The three possible responses to an ESTA application are:

Authorization Approved. Your travel authorization has been approved and you are authorized to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. The system displays confirmation of the application approval and a payment receipt notice showing the amount or your payment. A travel authorization does not guarantee admission to the United States as a Customs and Border Protection officer at a port of entry will have the final determination.
Travel Not Authorized. You are not authorized to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. You may apply for a visa from the Department of State for your travel. Please visit the U.S. Department of State Web site at http://www.travel.state.gov for additional information about applying for a visa. This response does not deny entry into the United States. This response only prohibits you from traveling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. The system also displays a payment receipt notice showing the amount of your payment for the processing of the ESTA application.
Authorization Pending. Your travel authorization is under review because an immediate determination could not be made for your application. This response does not indicate negative findings. A determination will usually be available within 72 hours. Please return to this Web site and choose "Check ESTA Status," and then "Individual Application." Your application number, passport number, and birth date will be required to check the status of your application.

NOTE: Details entered to retrieve an application must exactly match the information entered in the ESTA application. Any discrepancy between information entered to retrieve an application and the information entered in the application itself will result in a No Application Found or Application Expired message.