ESTA still pending

[Alexander]

I applied for my ESTA last week Wednesday with turnaround time supposedly 72 hours. Application is still saying pending nearly a week later.
I’ve called the contact number and they have now escalated my ticket with turnaround time being 5-10 business days and my travel date is in 7 days.
Anyone have any experience with this and how I can get this resolved? Should I send a new application?

[PeteM]

I suspect all you can do is wait – I wouldn’t submit another application.

[Stairali]

Can you log into the account from which you made the application? Rather than checking the status elsewhere online that is.

In my experience, this can sometimes cause the system to update and show the outcome.

[Alexander]

Stairali wrote:

Can you log into the account from which you made the application? Rather than checking the status elsewhere online that is.

How do you log into the account? Do I have an account? I just went onto the esta website and submitted an application. TIA for your help

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

You don’t have an ESTA account you have an application. Things like Global Entry have an account but not ESTAS

You can check the status here https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/individualStatusLookup

[Alexander]

Thanks, that’s where I’ve been checking daily but still pending after 6 days and travel is is 7 days.

[NorthernLass]

Let’s hope Trump hasn’t decided to suspend all U.K. ESTA applications 😱

[Gordon]

NorthernLass wrote:

Let’s hope Trump hasn’t decided to suspend all U.K. ESTA applications 😱

Let’s hope he has not, as there would be something seriously wrong, as he’s not in power until the 20th!

[masaccio]

Most likely by my guess, you match the name of somebody dodgy so humans are investigating. You could try calling CBP. There is a number and an online link here:

https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/visa-waiver-program/

[Andrew.]

Thursday 9th January was a national day of mourning for President Carter, so Federal offices were closed.

[Man of Kent]

@Alexander hopefully you’re getting authorised. I’m sorry I can’t offer any advice other that what has already been suggested.

For reference for others though we applied for our ESTAs yesterday morning and they were both authorised in less than 12 hours. Our applications were very plain vanilla and we are both members of the Global Entry programme.

[points_worrier]

Andrew. wrote:

Thursday 9th January was a national day of mourning for President Carter, so Federal offices were closed.

Are they genuinely manually checking these things??

[Rui N.]

If you don’t get the results very quickly (as most people get), yes of course it is manual.

[Alexander]

Thanks all for your responses. Just to update, I called the ESTA helpline again yesterday (having previously called on Monday) and my application is still in the queue. I was told applications are prioritised by travel date and they are currently prioritising applications for “people travelling tomorrow”. Something to note for anyone else in this situation in future.

[Skywalker]

@Alexander fingers crossed all will be processed on time for your trip. I imagine the ‘people travelling tomorrow’ are a bit nervous right now.

As an ESTA lasts for two years, it is probably prudent to apply for it a couple of months in advance – almost certainly avoids this nailbiting last-minute situation! 😬

[Alexander]

Good news to report. My ESTA was approved yesterday evening so a total wait of approx 8 days.
Although there is a way of escalating if necessary (I think only after 72 hours) better to plan ahead where possible and apply before you need it.
Lesson learnt.
Thanks everyone for all your help.

[Rui N.]

Great to know Alexander, and glad it worked all right for you in the end.
I’m travelling to the US around Easter time, so I’ll make sure to get mine early March at the latest.

[Andrew.]

Alexander wrote:

Good news to report. My ESTA was approved yesterday evening so a total wait of approx 8 days.
Although there is a way of escalating if necessary (I think only after 72 hours) better to plan ahead where possible and apply before you need it.
Lesson learnt.
Thanks everyone for all your help.

It was 4 days. You had a weekend and a Federal Holiday, and there was bound to be a backlog from an unplanned Federal Holiday.

[Jess]

I am travelling to Palm Springs in 3 weeks time but having read your post I thought I had better apply in plenty of time. I filled in my application earlier and had my ESTA approved within an hour so hopefully the backlog has been cleared now.

[John]

Jess wrote:

I am travelling to Palm Springs in 3 weeks time but having read your post I thought I had better apply in plenty of time. I filled in my application earlier and had my ESTA approved within an hour so hopefully the backlog has been cleared now.

You were likely approved automatically and didn’t get added to any backlog

[ABA]

Same here, applied earlier in the week and was approved within about an hour.

[ed_fly]

Having had a total nightmare getting passports a few years ago, culminating in a 5.30am visit to the Victoria passport office queue, I now get these things as soon as possible after booking. Would rather lose a few quid on having a passport / esta earlier than needed, than going through a situation like that again.