ESTA Approved Then after Update It Says Not Authorised

ekstrabraket on 16/07/2023 - 13:48

Urgent advise needed please,

Thank you all in advance, I really need some urgent advice guys, a couple month back I have applied for ESTA to US and it was approved, then I booked my flight which is due next week. So two days ago, while doing my final pre flight check, I reviewed my esta approval form and there was list of countries that I traveled that I didn't tick yes in my initial form, so then I filled out a new esta after few mintues is says NOT authorised, they want me to go throught visitor Visa, I thought Aussie passport don't need visa to US and Canada.
I am really gutted and don't wanna lose my qantas ticket which I got it for good sale price.

What should I do please ?

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Comments

  • mbck on 16/07/2023 - 13:56

    Esta isn't technically a visa, hence you don't need a visa to go there if you have an Australian passport. A visa normally requires you to lodge more information and a longer wait time to be approved,while an esta is usually instant-a few days.

    https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-…

    You can try applying for an interview waiver? You could potentially get it within 4 days. However:
    "The wait time estimate does not account for the time required for a consular officer to adjudicate the application nor mailing time of passports or other documents"

    It's better you know now that you're not going, as opposed to getting there, getting kicked out and black listed.

  • Hybroid on 16/07/2023 - 14:00

    I thought Aussie passport don't need visa to US and Canada.

    IF you meet certain criteria then yes, you can get an ESTA which is a visa waiver.

    If, however, there are some conditions you meet (for example having been born or travelled to Iraq, North Korea, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, or Yemen etc.) then you will need to apply for a visa at embassy. This includes an interview and being questioned on whatever criteria they deem as "higher risk" to verify your intent for travel.

    This is why: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_13769 - While the total ban has been revoked, they still scrutinise heavily and make it much more difficult to get approval.

  • upended on 16/07/2023 - 14:02
    +4

    there was list of countries that I traveled that I didn't tick yes in my initial form

    Is there a reason why you didn't tick yes when you should have? They are not wrong in cancelling your ESTA because you did not answer the question honestly.

    Check if there is a hotline you can call to discuss this. Else, call the consulate tomorrow to discuss your situation.

    • ekstrabraket on 16/07/2023 - 14:05

      I honestly didn't see my country in the list of question, luckily I found out early, who knows they would have put me on the next flight back.

      • upended on 16/07/2023 - 14:11

        Good luck, mate! I hope you are able to get this resolved asap.

        • ekstrabraket on 16/07/2023 - 14:12
          +1

          Thank you mate, I will call the consulate tomorrow

        • ekstrabraket on 25/07/2023 - 22:43
          +1

          got my passport back with approved Visa :)

      • WreckTangle on 16/07/2023 - 14:42

        Might have had a nice stay in an immigration detention jail first.

    • Almost Banned on 16/07/2023 - 14:05

      This is a good lesson in making sure you fill in the form correctly the first time.
      If you failed to declare your previous travel you should not be surprised when they knock you back.

  • Cluster on 16/07/2023 - 17:18
    +2

    I have visited many countries around the world, and the thoroughness of questioning I received on arrival at LAX with an ESTA was something beyond every other country. It's good that you filled out the ESTA again, because if you landed in the USA and they found out about your other travel you would expect to receive free overnight accomodation in a detention cell.

    Good luck with your enquiries tomorrow.

    • ekstrabraket on 25/07/2023 - 22:45

      Thank you mate, got me passport back.

  • Sweet3st on 16/07/2023 - 18:21

    Yeah apparently Homeland Security detained and interrogated Mem Fox, the elderly Australian childrens author, for many hours. She eventually received an apology from the diplomatic service here but has sworn to never revisit the US.
    They grill everyone but if they catch you out on something, watch out.

  • Meridianz on 17/07/2023 - 16:44
    +1

    In hindsight, you probably should have just continued to not have realised, low chance of them picking it up, its not like the places they ban are sharing Data with them so long as you dont have a passport stamp you would have been alright most like.

    From what I have heard from others. If your ESTA is declined - you are a bit screwed. You now need to get a visa - which means an appointment at the consulate and a lot of time and cost. Im not sure the timeline but historically it was quite a while to get it , not a week.

    A lot of people are being caught out by travelling to Cuba - and they reinstated the ban on Cuba which is unfair as some people went in a period when it was ok, then they said it wasnt and backdated it! and now are caught out.

    • Sweet3st on 17/07/2023 - 17:03

      Good to know. Don't travel to Cuba if you want to visit the US…

      • Meridianz on 17/07/2023 - 19:18
        +3

        Well you can but ESTA is automatically ruled out its Visa only for the US if you visit there . Even people who visited on a day trip from a cruise ship like 5 years ago are being screwed.

  • ekstrabraket on 25/07/2023 - 22:43
    +1

    Hey Guys to follow up..

    I received my passport back today, I had to fly to Sydney to attend emergency visa ($295) appointment with US embassy, it was quickly approved on spot, although it took longer enter the inside than embassy with the strict security procedures.

    Lesson learned never assume government processes work as they should. There are always caveats.

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