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JohnSheridan
Doesn't have much of a life
Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:10 pm Posts: 1057
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Has anyone done this from the UK?
I understand I need to get a visa from US Embassey and looks like you have to go down to London to be interviewed?
How hard was the process?
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Wed Jul 10, 2013 9:42 pm |
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jonbwfc
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:26 pm Posts: 17040
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A visa? For a holiday? Christ no. You don't need a visa for that. In fact the US has a long established Visa Waiver Program. I've been to the US for holidays at least half a dozen times, last time was a couple of years ago. I've never bothered getting a visa. Update - here ya go, according to British Airways you need If you've renewed your passports at all recently (I'd be really surprised if you didn't at least have a machine readable one), all you'll have to do is fill in an ESTA form online a clear week or so before you leave.
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Wed Jul 10, 2013 9:55 pm |
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big_D
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:25 pm Posts: 10691 Location: Bramsche
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Yep, ESTA is all you need.
Check with you doctor about vaccinations, polio should be up to date, for example.
_________________ "Do you know what this is? Hmm? No, I can see you do not. You have that vacant look in your eyes, which says hold my head to your ear, you will hear the sea!" - Londo Molari
Executive Producer No Agenda Show 246
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Thu Jul 11, 2013 5:39 am |
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oceanicitl
Official forum cat lady
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:04 am Posts: 11039 Location: London
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I got my ESTA in January. They cost around £60 and valid for 2 years. You get a quick response if you have been accepted or not.
Carolyn
_________________Still the official cheeky one 
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Thu Jul 11, 2013 7:50 am |
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oceanicitl
Official forum cat lady
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:04 am Posts: 11039 Location: London
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Really? Never done that and I've been to the States many times.
_________________Still the official cheeky one 
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Thu Jul 11, 2013 7:50 am |
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JohnSheridan
Doesn't have much of a life
Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:10 pm Posts: 1057
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Thanks for your replies I'll get my passport sorted and then hopefully go and see my cousin over in Boston - a cousin, who until this year I didn't know I had!
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Thu Jul 11, 2013 8:25 am |
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oceanicitl
Official forum cat lady
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:04 am Posts: 11039 Location: London
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Are you planning on going anywhere else? You should try and get to NY at least (3 hours away)
_________________Still the official cheeky one 
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Thu Jul 11, 2013 8:28 am |
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big_D
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:25 pm Posts: 10691 Location: Bramsche
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I got my boosters at the end of last year, and they asked if I was going abroad. I said, that I was supposed to be going to America and the doctor said that I should also get polio.
_________________ "Do you know what this is? Hmm? No, I can see you do not. You have that vacant look in your eyes, which says hold my head to your ear, you will hear the sea!" - Londo Molari
Executive Producer No Agenda Show 246
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Thu Jul 11, 2013 9:38 am |
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hifidelity2
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 1:03 pm Posts: 5041 Location: London
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I have been to the US a few times in the past years and never worried about any vaccinations
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Thu Jul 11, 2013 11:20 am |
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oceanicitl
Official forum cat lady
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:04 am Posts: 11039 Location: London
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Must be a German thing then 
_________________Still the official cheeky one 
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Thu Jul 11, 2013 11:22 am |
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jonbwfc
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:26 pm Posts: 17040
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One thing - immigration is generally a trial. Both entering the US and returning to the UK (Heathrow T5 entry is incredibly shambolic). You are going to get off the plane and about the first hour you're going to be thinking 'jesus, why am I bothering going on holiday at all?' It doesn't last. It's pretty tedious at the time but just don't let it get to you.
Grin and bear it, answer the questions they ask you and get on with your holiday afterwards. You'll enjoy every minute of that.
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Thu Jul 11, 2013 12:00 pm |
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oceanicitl
Official forum cat lady
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:04 am Posts: 11039 Location: London
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I didn't have any problems either end and when I landed I was out of the airport pretty quickly. When did you travel?
_________________Still the official cheeky one 
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Thu Jul 11, 2013 12:10 pm |
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jonbwfc
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:26 pm Posts: 17040
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Last time I went brought the US was I think three years ago. The DoHS types were so unpleasant I vowed not to bother in future. I went through Heathrow T5 about two weeks ago and the queues were pretty crazy. That was late on a Friday.
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Thu Jul 11, 2013 2:16 pm |
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l3v1ck
What's a life?
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 10:21 am Posts: 12700 Location: The Right Side of the Pennines (metaphorically & geographically)
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I think the last time I went they asked for proof I had a ticket out of America again. I'd printed my e-ticket before I went for that very reason.
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Thu Jul 11, 2013 2:32 pm |
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oceanicitl
Official forum cat lady
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:04 am Posts: 11039 Location: London
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I went through on a Saturday and recently a Wednesday and Friday and no problems either time. Maybe you're just lucky 
_________________Still the official cheeky one 
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Thu Jul 11, 2013 3:31 pm |
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