esta visa requirement to states for aussie

[parsonstrish]

I will be travelling with my Aussie friend to States later this year. Because I have dual citizenship I didn't pay attention when the new requirement for visa started.

Her passport was issued Aug. 2005, I'm confused from the reading of information, does she need a new passport to meet the requirement for esta?

I realize she needs to electronically fill in the required application to meet the information, just confused re. her passport.
cheers,
trish

 

[mick]

Her passport was issued Aug. 2005, I'm confused from the reading of information, does she need a new passport to meet the requirement for esta?

I realize she needs to electronically fill in the required application to meet the information, just confused re. her passport.

Hi Trish,

My passport was issued before your friend's and I used that to have my ESTA application processed. I've just returned from a trip to the States and had no problems, whatsoever.

Although, I did notice that they didn't remove my green U.S. departure record from my passport - I was sure they're meant to remove this when leaving the U.S. - I got the Australian Customs official to stamp my passport at entry into Australia - just in case I get grief from the U.S. when next I visit!

 

[Voyages]

Although, I did notice that they didn't remove my green U.S. departure record from my passport - I was sure they're meant to remove this when leaving the U.S. - I got the Australian Customs official to stamp my passport at entry into Australia - just in case I get grief from the U.S. when next I visit!

Smart idea. A friend of mine had the green departure card in his passport for 5 years. He came back to the States last month and was given all sorts of trouble (and had to subsequently fill in all these forms etc.) ... at LAX.

 

[Mal]

Your friend's passport should be fine, but make sure you get them to go through the chart here:

DHS | Visa Waiver Program: Passport Requirements Timeline

 

[kiwi2768]

As I understand it, as long as the passport is machine-readable it will be fine. There should be two rows at the bottom of the page where your friends details and photo are. The two lines will have lots of <<<<<.



Visa Waiver Program (VWP) requirements are:

• 
  The passport must have a machine-readable zone.
• October 26, 2005 – Each VWP passport issued on or after this date must have a digital photo.
• October 26, 2006 – Each VWP passport issued on or after this date must be an electronic passport with a digital chip containing biometric information about the passport owner.

Mick - it tells you what to do here U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Travel in the event that they haven't removed the I-94W departure record from your passport.

 

[mick]

Mick - it tells you what to do here U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Travel in the event that they haven't removed the I-94W departure record from your passport.

Thanks heaps for the tip - have kept my return boarding pass with my passport, just in case. I intend to return to the U.S. later this year and so I'd rather not be hassled!

 

[kiwi2768]

I was reading about the I-94W a couple of weeks ago, and remembered seeing something about what happens if they don't remove it from your passport. Have you still got the I-94W in your passport?

 

[mick]

I was reading about the I-94W a couple of weeks ago, and remembered seeing something about what happens if they don't remove it from your passport. Have you still got the I-94W in your passport?

Yep, it's still stapled to a page in my passport. As I said in a previous post, my passport is stamped on entry back to Australia and I have the boarding pass that proves that I left the U.S. as well. Hopefully, that'll be enough to appease U.S. Customs when next I enter the U.S.

 

[NYCguy]

Yep, it's still stapled to a page in my passport. As I said in a previous post, my passport is stamped on entry back to Australia and I have the boarding pass that proves that I left the U.S. as well. Hopefully, that'll be enough to appease U.S. Customs when next I enter the U.S.

The advice given here is as follows:

Q: I forgot to hand in my green departure record (form I-94W) when I departed the United States. What should I do with it?

A: Please mail your I-94 Departure Record and proof of when you departed the United States to the following address:
DHS-CBP SBU
1084 South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744
U.S.A. Please keep a copy of what you sent and take it with you next time when you enter the U.S. For more information see the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.


The CBP site outlines a process only slightly less complicated than actually applying for permanent residency, but it's probably worth it to be 100% sure. Having said that, it might not be an issue... However... If you arrive at LAX and get Captain America at the immigration desk; who genuinely believes that he/she has been personally appointed by the Almighty to defend the borders of the USA; then you could be in a spot of bother if they have forgotten to take their Zyprexa that morning and the vitriolic patriotism is boiling over.