4 ms·

Here's some more anecdotal evidence about the nonsense of the ESTA form. My g/f is British, we live in Toronto. We flew to the US and her ESTA application from

Here's some more anecdotal evidence about the nonsense of the ESTA form. My g/f is British, we live in Toronto. We flew to the US and her ESTA application from a few years back had expired. (Every 3-4 years I think, you have to renew). So at the airline check in, we're informed she'll have to re-apply. We though we were screwed but no, she just had to apply right there on the spot using my iPad and the airport's free wi-fi. Went to the ESTA site, filled out some info, paid the fee with a credit card and then proceeded to US immigration (which in Toronto, is in the airport itself). How much security could that form be adding if you can apply for it literally minutes before travelling to the US.

CaptainZapp 15y ago
How much security could that form be adding if you can apply for it literally minutes before travelling to the US. I heard from an American work colleague that a main point is traceability. You pay with a credit card and can fairly easily be tracked by that, while you're in the country. I'm not sure how true this is and I'm not a believer in whacky conspiracy theories, but it seemed rather plausible.
btbuilder 15y ago
I think you might be looking at this the wrong way. Credit card authorization occurs in miliseconds but is still a good anti-fraud measure. If her ESTA application had been denied, she would not have been able to travel and would have to apply for a visa at a US embassy. The pre-board checks for ESTA were performed electronically. I believe there's also a state where an application has to be reviewed, and that can take days to reach a decision. I don't know anyone who has had that happen though.