US Visa Waiver/ESTA

If only they'd go that one step further tho, and make it full blown, so if for some reason entry is denied, it could be decided before the flight, not after the long haul.

That is exactly what they are doing.  For those that are likely to get bounced they won't be able to board the plane.  While it won't cover everyone, anyone who should head off to the US Consulate for a proper visa will be notified.  That is in part why they suggest filling it out at least 72 hours before hand.

From the ESTA Site:

It also means that travellers will know before they leave their country of origin / arrival in the US, that they should be OK for entry (but not guaranteed).

We did one for my husband thinking it would take processing time, but we had an immediate response on the site. I think there is something that may need to be printed off, or a number of reference or something, but we're glad we have it on hand as it doesn't expire too quickly.

We did one for my husband thinking it would take processing time, but we had an immediate response on the site. I think there is something that may need to be printed off, or a number of reference or something, but we're glad we have it on hand as it doesn't expire too quickly.

I am pretty sure it is tied to the passport number you entered when filling it out.  It doesn't hurt to keep the reference number, which you can use to update the information, but if it is anything like Australia, they won't need it.  I did run into an issue where because I was travelling on an emergency passport, the number in the Australian ETA didn't match with my passport and they had to do a manual search based on my name and ETA number and they sorted everything out.  I was worried for a moment because it is a long way back from Australia to the UK! 

I am not travelling to the US in the foreseeable future but, out of interest, I have just looked at the online form, to see what is involved.

Excuse me, what is "moral turpitude" as in :-

B) Have you ever been arrested or convicted for an offense or crime involving moral turpitude or a violation related to a controlled substance; or have been arrested or convicted for two or more offenses for which the aggregate sentence to confinement was five years or more; or have been a controlled substance trafficker; or are you seeking entry to engage in criminal or immoral activities?

Turpitude is not exactly a word in common usage in the English language!

Excuse me, what is "moral turpitude"

Turpitude is not exactly a word in common usage in the English language!

I think it is a phrase from old-fashioned legal language that has carried over into today, basically it means being a bad person. 

Here's the wiki link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_turpitude

I am not travelling to the US in the foreseeable future but, out of interest, I have just looked at the online form, to see what is involved.

Excuse me, what is "moral turpitude" as in :-

Turpitude is not exactly a word in common usage in the English language!

That's funny! I've seen this phrase on pretty much every employment or reference form I've ever filled out in the U.S.

Well, they don't ask those questions to get honest answers.  They ask those questions to catch you out, so they can more easily kick you out.  The "Al Capone" principle, if you can't get them for a real crime get them for a small one.

I'm laughing more at the "are you seeking entry to engage in criminal or immoral activities?"  By whose standards do we judge immoral activities?  I mean, if I'm coming for the "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" experience, I might have to say yes and get banned, but I don't think that's what they mean.  

I think it is a phrase from old-fashioned legal language that has carried over into today, basically it means being a bad person. 

Here's the wiki link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_turpitude

I'm laughing more at the "are you seeking entry to engage in criminal or immoral activities?"  By whose standards do we judge immoral activities?  I mean, if I'm coming for the "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" experience, I might have to say yes and get banned, but I don't think that's what they mean.  

In this case, just narrow it down to two questions...

1) Are you a bad guy (person)?
2) Do you plan to be a bad guy (person)?

It did make my husband and I laugh when I was reading the questions out loud for his. But it's the same on the visa apps when asked if you are involved in terrorist activity, or something like that. :-P

I'm laughing more at the "are you seeking entry to engage in criminal or immoral activities?"  By whose standards do we judge immoral activities?  I mean, if I'm coming for the "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" experience, I might have to say yes and get banned, but I don't think that's what they mean.  

what i find humorous is the fact that they put it on the form, makes you think that they think if you WERE going to engage in these acts, that you would somehow slip up and put yes.

what i find humorous is the fact that they put it on the form, makes you think that they think if you WERE going to engage in these acts, that you would somehow slip up and put yes.

Again, it is to catch you out... If you were to answer "no" to being an immoral person, but you had ties to the mob, then they could more easily remove you from the country or deny you entry because you lied on an official government form.  If you got arrested for a "Stays in Vegas" incident, again, they could easily bounce you because you engaged in an immoral act.

Again, it is to catch you out... If you were to answer "no" to being an immoral person, but you had ties to the mob, then they could more easily remove you from the country or deny you entry because you lied on an official government form.  If you got arrested for a "Stays in Vegas" incident, again, they could easily bounce you because you engaged in an immoral act.

Wow, that's devious...

That is in part why they suggest filling it out at least 72 hours before hand.

This bugs me. My family is coming to US to attend our wedding, leaving on the 14th. One of them is still waiting for her new passport, on emergency channel, but it should be ready on the 12th. So she'll be out of the time limit...
Besides, well, unless US embassies have improved IMMENSELY from the time I applied for my Visitor Visa to US two years ago, it does NOT take ONLY 72 hours to get a visa, if you are refused authorization! This means that actually if you are refused authorization you are more or less prevented to leave... But I guess they don't care, they would not give you a visa anyway, if you were flagged up following your answers...

Again, when they booked their flight they were not told about this with enough details to make it evident it was something on which to act urgently...

Regarding "moral turpitude" :-

That's funny! I've seen this phrase on pretty much every employment or reference form I've ever filled out in the U.S.

But here in the UK the expression is totally meaningless, to the general population.

Edit : I have just emailed the BBC's Breakfast programme and pointed out this change, and even suggested they do one of their "stop people in the street" surveys and ask if people know the meaning of "moral turpitude". Whether they take up this suggestion remains to be seen, but clearly this need to register online needs to be given much wider publicity.

Besides, well, unless US embassies have improved IMMENSELY from the time I applied for my Visitor Visa to US two years ago, it does NOT take ONLY 72 hours to get a visa, if you are refused authorization! This means that actually if you are refused authorization you are more or less prevented to leave... But I guess they don't care, they would not give you a visa anyway, if you were flagged up following your answers...

But this isn't a visa, it is just a landing card in advance.  I would go as far as to suggest that completing this and not getting it bounced is still no guarantee of admission to the US, it is just so that they know who it trying to get in.

Again, when they booked their flight they were not told about this with enough details to make it evident it was something on which to act urgently...

This is strange.  I booked flights to the US in November, for travel next June, and I got an automated e-mail telling me I needed to do this. The e-mail came within the hour.

Vicky

Yes, it is a landing card in advance, but if you are refused, they say you should either give up your trip or apply for a visa. But as visas take longer, you end up having to give up your trip, at least for this time around.

And you are right, they did say clearly that getting this authorization is no guarantee of entry in the country, and also, by filling in that form you give up all sort of rights and more or less they can use that information you provide as they want, keep it forever, pass it around etc...

I meant that in the email they received there was not written what information they would have had to provide, and they didn't bother to go and see the instructions, as it said 72 hours in advance, they thought they were fine to go back to it later on. It's only when I was told she didn't yet had her passport (I didn't know she didn't) that I told them that was necessary in order to fill in this form and caused panic because it would not be ready in time. That was not a comment on a bad service from the airline, just a rant on how annoying this thing is... It was all a last minute thing, their decision to come to the wedding, they decided to come only 2 weeks ago, for a departure date of next week, and it has increased my stress level exponentially...

Actually, I am wondering, how about people who have to just jump on a plane and go, I am thinking in case of sudden illness or death of family members, or for work etc., what would they do, will they HAVE to postpone their flight 72 hours later, if it is the first time they fly under this new system? Especially in this first phase, when the necessity of this authorization is new. I can imagine that they can always say they had an interim period in which it was not compulsory... Sigh... I just wish things were simpler, it's an added thing to take care of when I already have so much to think about, with the wedding and all...