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Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

R

ronnin

Registered Users (C)
HEYY!!

There is a new paperwork to do before traveling to the States:


dhs.gov

ESTA

Instead of filling up the green sheet before entering to the States, citizens from some countries will need to fill in the form, at least, 72h before they take off.

Will people who is doing the activation trip (first trip to get the Green Card) need to fill in this form? :S

THANKS
 
Thanks raevesky for your clear answer ;), but i would be more calm in my trip of you could tell me why I don't need it?

THANKS!!!
 
ronnin said:
Thanks raevesky for your clear answer ;), but i would be more calm in my trip of you could tell me why I don't need it?

THANKS!!!
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Simple answer, you already have a visa stamped into your passport, thus you are not using the visa waiver of your country to travel on. The requirement are for individuals traveling on a visa waiver status.
 
Johnkent said:
Because you are a US permanent resident. :D
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He's not a permanent resident until he enters the US with the immigrant visa. But that doesn't change anything the fact that he won't have to fill out the registration since he's traveling with a visa, not the visa waiver program.
 
Thanks guys.

Those are more complete answers ;). However, I read that:

"Once ESTA is mandatory, all travelers from VWP countries will be required to obtain an ESTA approval prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the United States under the VWP. "

from:
http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1212498415724.shtm

As a tourist, you would need ESTA before you take the plan, not when you enter to the States. Then I wonder: people at the airport from the States know what is a temporally Green Card and what the brown envelope means, but people on the airports of other coutries don't. Then, if they ask for the ESTA before entering the plane, as I haven't still submmited the brown envelope (in my activation trip), and I don't have the temporally stamp, wouldn't I be considered as a tourist?

Thanks
 
ronnin said:
Thanks guys.

Those are more complete answers ;). However, I read that:

"Once ESTA is mandatory, all travelers from VWP countries will be required to obtain an ESTA approval prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the United States under the VWP. "

from:
http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1212498415724.shtm

As a tourist, you would need ESTA before you take the plan, not when you enter to the States. Then I wonder: people at the airport from the States know what is a temporally Green Card and what the brown envelope means, but people on the airports of other coutries don't. Then, if they ask for the ESTA before entering the plane, as I haven't still submmited the brown envelope (in my activation trip), and I don't have the temporally stamp, wouldn't I be considered as a tourist?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I would just fill out the darn form and present it when boarding if asked. it won't hurt.
 
Johnkent, I don't know if it would hurt or wouldn't:

You go under VWP but at your entrance you submit your brown envelope. Then they have a duplicity in your submision, I mean, I don't know how their system works, but at your POE you will appear as a VWP submitant and Green Card submitan. I know it sounds wierd, but as I'm going one month before my expiration date I don't want any problem at POE :S
 
I would not register for ESTA if I were not traveling under VWP. Collision between your intents (immigrant intent vs. nonimmigrant one) could potentially lead to the officer at the border not allowing you to use your immigrant visa because of your nonimmigrant intent. Your entry could be denied.
 
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Exactly ravesky. That was the question I wondered. The problem is that you need the ESTA before you go there. I don't know if I could show your passport with my "pre" green card at the origin airport and they would let me pass :S

We will see by the end of January. Then people doing their activation trip will be able to tell us their experience in that.
 
ronnin said:
As a tourist, you would need ESTA before you take the plan, not when you enter to the States. Then I wonder: people at the airport from the States know what is a temporally Green Card and what the brown envelope means, but people on the airports of other coutries don't. Then, if they ask for the ESTA before entering the plane, as I haven't still submmited the brown envelope (in my activation trip), and I don't have the temporally stamp, wouldn't I be considered as a tourist?

Thanks
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Not all tourists need ESTA, only when you are NOT traveling with any kind of a visa. And you will have a visa in your passport.
 
Igmu said:
Not all tourists need ESTA, only when you are NOT traveling with any kind of a visa. And you will have a visa in your passport.
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Ok.
Then, even I haven't "activated" my green card (I haven't gone to the States yet), my passport with the temporal visa stamped at my Embassy will work. Isn't it?

The problem is people at the airport. I guess they are used to green cards o american passports, not temporally visa. I hope it won't be a problem.

I have also found:

When does a national of a VWP country need to apply for a visa instead of using the VWP?

"
Nationals of VWP countries must meet the conditions noted in the section above in order to seek admission to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. Travelers who do not meet these conditions must apply for a visa. In particular, a visa must be requested if the traveler:

Wants to remain in the United States for longer than 90 days, or envisions that they may wish to change their status (from tourism to student, etc.) once in the United States;
Wants to work or study in the United States, wants to travel as a working foreign media representative, wants to come to the United States for other purposes not allowed on a visitor visa, or intends to immigrate to the United States;
Does not have a machine-readable passport (MRP) issued or renewed/extended before 10/26/05, or is unable to meet other requirements outlined above for passports issued on or after October 26, 2005 or October 26, 2006.
Intends to travel by private aircraft or other non-signatory air or sea carriers to the United States;
Has been refused a visa or admission to the United States before, or did not comply with the conditions of previous VWP admissions (90 days or less stay for tourism or business, etc.); or
Has a criminal record or other condition making them ineligible for a visa (see Classes of Aliens Ineligible for Visas). "

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html

THANKS GUYS, but I think this question will be more common in 2 months and it's better to solve it in advance.
 
Airline people perfectly know that only VWP country people could go visa free. Being not a VWP country citizen is very common. That is why airline people are very aware of the situation a person does not go visa free.
 
One more time: You have a visa in your passport, therefore you are not traveling under the visa waiver program (VWP means that you don't need a visa). It doesn't matter what kind of visa you have. And btw: you don't have a temporary greencard yet: the immigrant visa BECOMES a temporary greencard once it gets stamped at the port of entry. So right now the sticker in your passport is just another visa and the people at all the airports in the world will be able to tell that it is a visa.
You already answered your own question regarding when a tourist from a VWP-country needs a visa: e.g. when they intend to stay longer than 3months, or they have been denied a visa before.
 
Igmu said:
One more time: You have a visa in your passport, therefore you are not traveling under the visa waiver program (VWP means that you don't need a visa). It doesn't matter what kind of visa you have. And btw: you don't have a temporary greencard yet: the immigrant visa BECOMES a temporary greencard once it gets stamped at the port of entry. So right now the sticker in your passport is just another visa and the people at all the airports in the world will be able to tell that it is a visa.
You already answered your own question regarding when a tourist from a VWP-country needs a visa: e.g. when they intend to stay longer than 3months, or they have been denied a visa before.
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Ok. Also they say you won't need VWP if you have a visa with redable characters, and my american stamp at my passport does.

Thank you guys!!!
 
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