WEBSITE OF THE DAY - esta.cbp.dhs.gov Use this and getting into the US will be a lot less painless

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4 August 2008 0:00 GMT / By Ian Hughes

The Summer holidays are well and truly here and if you're one of those people lucky enough to heading off to the Good Ole US of A this year, here's an essential link for you.

Getting through US Customs and Immigration these days is not what it once was. Post 9/11 every aspect of security has been understandably stepped up and so there's a bit of bureaucracy to deal with.

This new site, launched last Friday, is provided by the Department of Homeland Security and it basically replaces the paperwork you'll be expected to complete before landing in the US.

Don't let the scary looking pop-up put you off, this is really useful and should save you some time and possible aggravation.

And after 12 January 2009 its going to be required so if your travelling to the US best get signing up now before everyone else finds out and brings the process to a halt.

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov

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Comments

  • Can't find the site, even removing the www. bit Posted by Adrian, UK
  • https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov Posted by L.Rawlins, UK
  • GOOD SYSTEM. WORKS FINE. DONT BOTHER APPLYING IF YOU HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF MORAL TURPITUDE Posted by JANET, UK
  • iF YOUR PASSPORT IS VALID FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS THE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. IN THE UK UNUSED MONTHS ARE ADDED ON TO THE 10 YEARS. Posted by JohnJ, Portugal
  • we e mailed esta regarding the problem with passports with more than 10 years 'life' and they have amended the site. we've now used it successfully Posted by colin, UK
  • Use this and getting into the US will be a lot less painless

    Do you really mean less painless or less painful?

    Or is that a freudian slip?
    Posted by Fred, UK
  • THE NEW SYSTEM THAT IS COMING IN JAN2009 ONE HAVE TO AUTHORISATION BEFORE ENTRY IS IT THE SAME AS THE AIRLINE GIVING OUR DETAILS TO THE US BEFORE WE ARRIVE Posted by ORPHA , uk
  • Have applied as instructed but not recieved any info of confirmation Posted by michelle huddleston, England UK
  • 5 of us are going to usa january I am only one with pc ,got on really well completed all forms and printed.then my friend told me I had put her surname
    in correctly.contacted a help line told me to wait ten days it will be ok.
    tried 14 days later.it will nopt accept because they have differents details on
    existing application. any advice please.
    Posted by Dennis UK, UK
  • cannot access the https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov site even from your link. Posted by Richard Rivett, England
  • Initally could not get Email address to work.
    Used Google to look for it and that worked OK
    Everything else was easy.
    Posted by Brian Garlinge, England
  • no comment Posted by pramesh datt, new zealand
  • I made a mistake when entering the passport expiration date - it should be 11 December 2009, not 2008.
    How can I get my ESTA approval amended?
    Posted by James Wilson, UK
  • $50 bucks before you even start just great Posted by gordo, australia
  • Just got all of my family approved on line in a matter of minutes was very easy and straight forward, not to mention quick! Posted by carli, scotland
  • made an error with passport expiry date . cant change it is this a REAL problem please Posted by EC , wales
  • Can not find the web site my travel agent gave me.
    https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov
    Posted by Phill, UK
  • I have tried to use google to find https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov 20 times so far.. and each time it says Problem or error finding website as it is taking too long to respond.......Please help!
    I'd like to use the free ESTA application form, from the official Homeland Protection site, and there is no email contact address to let them know I cannot download their ESTA Form to fill out and submit...
    Posted by anne, australia
  • no problem accessing the site and found it really easy to use, applied for both myself and also for my mate ( checked the 3rd party application box ) and both successfully approved for travel Posted by Barry Leonard Bunting, United Kingdom

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