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My (German) perspective on this: I've traveled to the US (always to Boston) a few times over the recent years. While all of the "take your shoes off" stuff is
by rb2k_ 15y ago
My (German) perspective on this:
I've traveled to the US (always to Boston) a few times over the recent years. While all of the "take your shoes off" stuff is annoying, it's really not that big of a deal.
The ESTA process can be done online and you can pay with your credit card. It takes about 15 minutes and 15 minutes after that you get an email.
It's all a little bit annoying, but I don't feel personally insulted and so far it worked without a hassle. The border security people have always been nice to me and it felt more like a chit-chat rather than an interrogation.
A lot of the process seems useless, but seeing as it doesn't take away all that much time, I'm fine with it.
I've been treated way worse traveling to eastern european countries by car.
- yardie 15y agoPart of this may be your country of origin, part of it may be because you have ESTA clearance, and part of it may be because of the airport you fly into. As a US passport holder I'm pretty much done using LAX, MIA, and EWR.
- rb2k_ 15y agoI don't think you can actually enter at all without ESTA clearance
- DrJokepu 15y agoYou only need ESTA if you want a WT/WB (visa waiver) visa. If you already have another non-immigrant or immigrant visa and you meet the conditions of the visa, you don't need an ESTA. Also you don't need an ESTA for WT/WB if you're crossing the US border on land from Canada or Mexico.
- yardie 15y agoI didn't realize the ESTA was mandatory. I don't have to fill one out and thought, because you pay a fee, it gave you some sort of priority. I see now this is for travellers on the VFW visa.
- DrJokepu 15y agoI second this. I travel to America at least once a year with my EU passport and never really had a bad experience at the US border. The border control process never takes more than 30 seconds. I think the trick is carefully reading everything, filling out all the forms properly and not being too unlucky. Having a passport from a low profile unknown little EU country also helps.