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Save $14 USD if Travelling to The US in The Next Couple of Years

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If you are travelling to the US from a visa waiver country like Australia you need to fill out a ESTA form online (has been like this for a couple of years I think). You do it once and you're good for the next couple of years and you don't need any specific details like flight numbers or whatever, just your passport numbers. If you do it from after the 8th (ie after tomorrow), they'll be charging $14 US, so really no reason not to quickly fill one out tonight!

Some links to new fees to be implemented:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1193/~/esta-fee…
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/theglobaltraveller/2010/08/us-…

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closed Comments

  • Thanks for the heads-up.

    However, looks like the site isn't coping too well :(

  • thanks zac! Very useful info

  • it will be 24 not 14 . extra 10 authorization charge on top of 14
    not sure if it was valid for two year though,but it is

    http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/business_pleasure/…

    • +1

      No, it's $10 on top of the $4 charge. US$ of course.

      • bugger read 4 as 14!

  • Great work zac. I forgot about this. Appreciate the effort

  • going to US on thursday :)

    • Then you NEED to fill in the ESTA request

      I am not sure what happens if you dont fill it in but it has been a requirement since 2009

  • +1

    Yanks must be short of cash these days… oh well anything to help out the less fortunate :)

    • +2

      The money raised goes toward advertising the USA in other countries

    • Are you kidding? Their national debt now exceeds the Gross Domestic Product of the entire world. The US is bankrupt!

  • -1

    it asks for carrier tho. does it matter if u put in one carrier airline but when i do book a trip happen to choose another airlines?

    • -1

      it also asked for vessel number! so description is very incorrect unless it is not mandatory to fill this in…please some1 review this!!

      • +1

        Click on the question mark mate:

        "Choose the carrier name for the carrier on which you will be traveling to the United States, if your travel information is available. The carrier name is optional to complete the application."

        • thanks mate..just read it cheers

    • You only need to fill in the information with a red star.
      You can leave everything else blank

  • +4

    "Have you ever been or are you now involved in espionage or sabotage; or in terrorist activities; or genocide; or between 1933 and 1945 were you involved, in any way, in persecutions associated with Nazi Germany or its allies?"

    What is this I don't even…

    • +4

      The answer is 'YES'

      • +1

        and although there's a very low probability we'll get asked about it, I'll clarify that lovedeals appears to be joking

    • you might be one of those twilight characters that lives across eras. ;)

      they just had to make sure so that they'll prepare a special welcome committee when you arrive.

  • Already got mine ages ago. Lucky I did it then….

    USA must be getting poor.

    • -1

      Already got mine ages ago. Lucky I did it then….

      You can reapply to extend it

      USA must be getting poor.

      Has nothing to do with it

  • Says my application cannot be authorized as this staged. authorization pending. check back in 72 hours. Does everyone get this same message? is it standard message?

    • When i have done the applications in the past they have been instant but now there is the pending message.
      I guess it has to do with the number of applicants.

    • It will most be probably be approved tomorrow. I applied for myself and some family members. Depending on the time of day I did them, they came as approved or pending.

      • I have a feeling that they go into "pending" if you complete the application for someone else and tick the last box to say that it's been read out to them.

  • this is a pretty good deal!
    I've got a 5 year visa tho :o)

    • If you have a Visa for the USA then ESTA does not apply.

      ESTA is only if you are entering the USA through the Visa Waiver Program

      • Yes, I know that.
        My 5 year visa is a different deal entirely.
        I've stayed in the US so long I may as well be a citizen, but I like this because it's a good deal for those who need the Waiver program.

        • Do you know what is the difference between travel on a visa and travel on a visa waiver?

          My girlfriend just asked me about going to the US :) and I don't know what this is about (plus I'm getting problems loading that page so I can't read what it's for)


          I'm in. There seems to be sufficient info there to answer my questions, thanks :)

          • @SomeGuyOnOzB: As you probably read, you need a visa if you are staying for more than 90 days.
            A visa is also needed if you have criminal convictions or are resident in a country which does not participate in the waiver programe.

          • @SomeGuyOnOzB: Thanks

            and a bunch of other reasons too, including:
            - staying for commercial purposes
            - doing work for the "foreign information media"

  • so how long exactly is the waiver valid for?

    • Visa waiver is for as long as the USA and Australia participate.

      ESTA has nothing to do with a Visa

      • i signed up with my passport today…does my visa waiver have an expiry date. would i have to re-apply if i dont go to usa by a certain time?

  • Thanks, heading there next year, this was on my todo list but didn't realise they were going to start charging for it!

  • Slow load times, but thanks!

  • One of the more unusual bargains. Big positive vote from me.

    Thanks for sharing this one!

  • thanks matey….may not use it, but can't hurt to register

  • Thanks for the heads up! Already have my ETSA though, and it looks like it's valid for multiple entries :)

    • +4

      that's what she said!

      • Haha love it.

    • It's valid for 2 years, but you can 'renew' at any time. I visit the US several times a year, but will 'renew' my ESTA today so I get another two years. I don't feel like paying money where I don't need to ;)

  • Your passport fees are also on the rise come Jan 1st 2011, so save a little more and get one before then if you need it.

  • And im reading this now?

  • ESTA is undergoing routine maintenance. Please check back later.

    • Yes, the spies figured out we were trying to rip the US off.

  • good find! the website was dog slow but managed to get it done. approved within a couple of hours

  • ITS still showing "ESTA is undergoing routine maintenance. Please check back later."
    gimme, At what time did you attempt to apply? I guess we should still be able to apply in australia as its not 8th sept yet in US?

    • Working for me now… slow.

      EDIT: Big big thankyou to the poster.

  • That website is driving me insane!

  • Do you think permanent resident of Aus but citizen of another country would require ESTA or proper travel visa?
    and yeah Thanks to the poster !!

    • It all depends on what country of passport you've got.

    • If you enter the USA using your Australian passport then you can enter under the visa waiver program (you still need to fill in the ESTA)

      The need for a visa/ESTA to enter using a passport from the country you hold citizenship in would depend if they are part of the visa waiver program.

  • It's still 7th in USA - just applied and got authorisation immediately.

  • Saved me 3x14/0.9 = AUD47.

    Thank you Zac and OzBargain!

  • Well this put me off going to the USA.

    • Did you miss out on the free ESTA? If you did, is a $15 fee really going to put you off visiting a country? It costs more to get into Bali!

    • old news ;)

  • can we still join it? coz 8th is going by USA date right?

    but i can't get in the site :(

  • Website seems to be overwhelmed at the moment… does not respond.

  • Can we still apply?

  • -3
    • "This website has no connection with the United States Government. "

    • oops double post

    • one word, SCAM.

  • yeh just realised :(

  • The website seems back, but it's too late - they want the $14!!

    • CONFIRMED, they want $14!! (&(#$&($&()#&#*$&#)#$
      unbeleivable
      so when it was down, i think they were upgrading for the payment option
      GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

      • +1

        awwww why didn't i read this earlier?!?!?! :(

  • -2

    probably a scam to collect information. now they have a database full of people's passport details and identity. yes i didn't read earlier either and now it's too late. details are already submitted. they have my details!!

    • It is not a scam.
      It is a requirment if you want to enter the USA under the visa waiver program

    • No scam if you visited https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html

      Before this new fee was introduced there were a number of sites offering the Visa Waiver Program but would also charge you. That was sort of a scam because you could do it yourself for nothing.

      You will still need to fill out all the required cards they hand out on the plane/ship before you pass thru immigration.

    • confused

      -> Dorothi

      Are you talking about the esta website or the australia-esta?

      Are you saying some unidentified group is trying to collect our info or the US government is trying to collect our info?

      When you say

      yes I didn't read earlier either

      It sounds like you are replying to littlemissbargain. But littlemissbargain is lamenting that she missed out on the deal, whereas it sounds like you think littlemissbargain was lamenting about reading a detail.

  • Does the visa waiver work with all passports or is it restricted to certain ones?

    eg e-Passports, smart Passports, the ones with RFID chips …

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