traveling to US - I have a valid ESTA linked to my passport from a year and a half ago. About to travel in a months time again. When reading about the requirements for re-application, I saw that change of civil status is one of the requirements. Back in the day I lived with my partner - now we split and I live alone - so I decided it would be safer to re-apply (no changes in name). However Later I realized there is not even a field for civil status in the application, so now I have 2 valid ESTAs linked to one passport. Would this be a problem?
2
-
Have you actually confirmed that your first ESTA is still valid (esta.cbp.dhs.gov)? I would expect that it was automatically cancelled by your application for a subsequent ESTA on the same passport.– phoogCommented Dec 26, 2018 at 15:45
-
Many thanks - it looks like it is actually what happened. I must have been checking it too soon / old window. But now when I check it is expired.– TomCommented Dec 26, 2018 at 23:34
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
Your first ESTA is probably no longer valid. You can check at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
See for example When my ESTA expires how do I renew my application?
You do not need to wait until your ESTA expires to re-apply. You may do so at any time before, on or after the expiration date of your existing ESTA. Should you receive the message "A valid, approved application with more than 30 days remaining has been found for this passport. Submitting this application will require payment for this application and will then cancel the existing application." you will simply continue with the application to begin your new application. Your prior ESTA will be cancelled and replaced with your new application.
Even if your first ESTA was not cancelled because of some error in the system, it isn't your fault, and you should expect no problems to result from it.
-
1The USA government is grateful for the extra $14. Every bit counts these days as USCIS is run on user fees. Commented Dec 26, 2018 at 17:19
-
@RoboKaren USCIS does not administer ESTA. Do ESTA fees go into the USCIS budget?– phoogCommented Dec 26, 2018 at 17:21
-
Hahahaha. You’re right. Was making a bad joke given the USA government is currently shut down. Commented Dec 26, 2018 at 17:21
-
@RoboKaren aha. In fact, at 8 CFR 217.5(h) one can learn that $10 of the $14 fee goes to the Corporation for Travel Promotion, whereas the rest is an "operational fee" to cover the cost of "providing and administering the system." Interestingly, the travel promotion portion of the fee is authorized only through September 30, 2020.– phoogCommented Dec 26, 2018 at 17:25
-
ha. I wonder which lobbyist or congressperson got that bit of pork into the bill. Commented Dec 26, 2018 at 17:39