Hi everyone,
I’m traveling in April with a layover in the United States.
I filled out the ESTA form but made a mistake by checking the wrong boxes, so my authorization was denied.
I tried again a few days later, this time checking the right boxes, but the application seemed stuck ("AUTHORIZATION DENIED").
I tried one last time a few days ago, and—oh, miracle—"AUTHORIZATION APPROVED".
However, I’m still worried because my first request was denied. Could I still be turned away at immigration?!
Will there be a record of my first application?
Thanks for your help....
I called the U.S. Embassy in Paris, and the person I spoke to told me there’s no problem if the second request was approved.
However, based on what I’ve read in various online documents, all requests after approval are kept for their validity period and then archived for 12 years!!!!
http://french.france.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/esta.pdf
On page 2 of that link: "Once the form is completed and submitted online for approval, it will be compared to the appropriate government databases. From the moment the data is submitted online, it remains active for the entire period the ESTA authorization is valid. The Department of Homeland Security will retain this information for an additional year and then archive it for 12 years to allow for
information searches related to security or investigative matters."
Or here: http://www.expatriation.com/etats-unis-formulaire-esta-probleme-erreur.html
"Retention of data collected after an ESTA request
The authorization is valid for two years. The data provided in the initial request remains active for one year after expiration. If there’s no renewal, the data is no longer active but remains archived for 12 years."
So, I’m still in the dark but plan to go anyway since I already have my flight tickets. But if someone can reassure me by confirming the validity of my second request... I’d be less stressed when I arrive at immigration!
I just had a similar issue.
I filled out the ESTA form for each member of my family. I got approval for myself, my wife, one of my sons, but my eldest son was denied.
I contacted the embassy in Paris, who told me they couldn’t do anything except apply for a temporary visa. But it was too late to make the request given my imminent departure.
They told me my son would be turned away by immigration if we left anyway.
So, a huge hassle with non-refundable tickets. 🙁
I still called 00 1 2023443710, the number the Embassy gave me, which is an immigration service.
I called this U.S. number, spoke in English, and with his passport number, they told me to reset the form.
It’ll need to be filled out again within 24 hours.
Hi,
Just checking in about your trip—did you end up going and returning without any issues?
Did you run into any problems with the ESTA application?
Mine was denied because I checked the wrong box.
I’m waiting 24 hours to reset the form and hoping it works this time.
Please keep me posted!
Hi there,
Just checking in about your trip—did you end up going and returning without any issues?
Did you run into any problems with the ESTA application?
Mine was denied because I checked the wrong box.
I’m waiting 24 hours to reset the form and hoping it works this time.
Keep me posted, thanks!
Hi,
Just checking in about your trip—did you end up going and returning without any issues?
Did you run into any problems with the ESTA application?
Mine was denied because I checked the wrong box.
I’m waiting 24 hours to reset the form and hoping it works this time.
Please keep me posted!
hi lolokarello
I actually went to Roatan (island in Honduras), but I won’t lie—I really thought I’d be making an express round trip!!!
When I arrived at Newark (first layover), the immigration officer set my passport aside and asked me to follow him. I did, and he took me down to some basement area where I waited for over 40 minutes. He called me back and had me explain the situation... for over 30 minutes!!! He then wrote up a long report and stamped my ESTA... phew!
At first, he told me I’d be sent back on the next flight to France, but luckily, my negotiation worked!!
Just so you know, you still have to wait 10 days (I think... maybe even 15) to reapply for an ESTA if it’s been denied...
I was only in transit, so I think he was a bit more understanding... but if it’s to stay in the US, they keep records of all ESTAs, whether denied or approved!!!
So the risk can be taken—they’re human... not very cool, the vibe was pretty tense, and they don’t joke around, but they *can* be understanding!!!
Hope this helps, and safe travels... if you decide to go....
I just arrived in the USA.
Just a little note about the immigration services—they asked me to go to the office "over there on the right."
But once inside, with the new ESTA number approved this time, everything went perfectly.
I just wanted to thank you because, without meaning to, you helped me out!!
So, I filled out the ESTA form two days ago and it was denied! My best friend filled it out right after me and—boom—hers was approved! We were shocked! We figured I must’ve made a mistake... Anyway, since we did this in the evening, it was impossible to call the embassy. So we looked for solutions online and came across your post. We called the number for the U.S., and within two hours, everything was sorted. I redid the form, and it was approved!!!
So thank you for sharing that number—since we’re leaving on October 5th, I was sure they wouldn’t give me a visa, and I already saw myself stuck in France 🙁!!
Thanks again!
I’m leaving on the 5th with my best friend—we’re heading to New York but only for 2 days, then we’re off to Mexico to work in an orphanage!!
We’re going for several months, 6, 9... or more, we don’t know yet!!!
thanks again!
Hi,
After calling the immigration services in Washington and an agent resetting his file, it worked 24 hours later.
But ever since, every time my son goes to the US, it takes a long time to get through immigration.
A huge thank you for sharing this number!!!! I just had the same issue—my ESTA was denied (I actually answered "yes" by mistake, obviously, to the last question about diplomatic immunity). I called the number, the person canceled my first ESTA, and I was able to reapply within the hour, and it was approved! I also sent an email (there’s a questions section at the bottom of the ESTA application): they were kind enough to reply the next day, pointing out the mistake I’d made, telling me to cancel my request, and saying I could reapply—which was accepted!!!! Phew, phew, phew, because otherwise, it would’ve meant a visa application in Paris with non-refundable tickets!
Thanks again!
My wife and I are leaving next week with our two kids. I applied for the ESTA this morning, and now I’m panicking—my wife’s application was refused, and we have no idea why?!!!
I called the number you provided, but all I got was a voicemail saying the service won’t be available until January 2011?!!
Hi there,
I just got back from New York and I want to thank GBELISSA so much for sharing the immigration phone number 00 1 2023443710, which lets you reset your ESTA.
I’d made a mistake by answering YES to the third question when filling out my ESTA application. After my request was denied, I called the US Embassy in Paris, and they told me there was nothing they could do—it wasn’t their responsibility. So, I called that number (just a heads-up, they only speak English) and explained why I’d made the mistake. They reset my ESTA, and two days later, I had "ESTA APPROVED." Still, I left for New York with a bit of apprehension.
When I arrived, there was no issue with the agent who stamped my passport—but he didn’t give it back. He just handed back my wife’s and kids’ passports. Then he asked me to follow him to the immigration offices. I spent 20 minutes explaining why I’d answered YES, and afterward, they gave me permission to enter the country—not without a smile that said a lot about what he was thinking.
hi there
I’m married to a US resident (green card holder) and it’ll be 2 years in July. My husband filed for a green card for me. I’m French, and during my last trip to the US I was 5 months pregnant. At 6 months, I was rushed to the hospital because I was losing amniotic fluid and bleeding, so they decided to hospitalize me to avoid losing my babies. The problem is I stayed in the hospital for a month and had a C-section. The babies were immediately put on respiratory support, etc.—the whole works. So I ended up staying in the US for over 3 months because of that, about 4 and a half months total. After that, I went back to France with my little ones. Then, a week ago, I tried to go to the US to spend the holidays with my husband, but the airline refused to let me board because my ESTA application was denied. They told me to apply for a visa, but I don’t know which type of visa to ask for.
What should I do?? Can anyone help me, please??
Thanks for reading—it was a bit long.
Hi fellow travelers,
I need some info.
Landing in Mumbai on the 16th at 11:55 PM, so immigration will be on the 17th.
On the e-arrival card form, which date should I put—16th or 17th?
Thanks for your answers.
Hi everyone,
I have to leave for Perth, Australia in a week, for 7 days, and I couldn’t get my international driver’s permit due to processing and delivery delays.
The information I’ve found about whether an international permit is required is contradictory. Some sources say you need one, others say you don’t.
Could anyone let me know if an international driver’s permit is necessary to rent a car in Australia (Perth), or if a French license is enough for a 7-day rental?
Hi there,
I’m explaining our situation—my daughter and her young family have just moved to Polynesia, specifically to the island of Raiatea. That’s great, of course, and my wife and I are planning to visit them. However, flights that go through the United States are causing us a problem because we’ve been to Cuba. I think we’ll need a visa because of that.
Has anyone else dealt with this situation before? Any advice on flights and visas would be really helpful.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
I have two questions about applying for a Non-Immigrant O Visa at the Thai embassy in France for someone over 50:
- - Do I need to provide the address(es) of stay in Thailand (hotels, staying with a Thai friend)?
- - Financial proof: Is a retirement statement showing over 2,000 € per month sufficient, or are bank statements also required?
I know there’s already a lot of information about the visa requirements on the embassy’s website, but from my experience—having dealt with embassies in other countries in previous years—I know that the information is sometimes (!) incomplete or inconsistent. So, I’d rather hear from people who’ve recently gone through this process to avoid any surprises after submitting my application, which could cause unpleasant delays.
Hi there,
I’m heading to Senegal in January for a month and was wondering if I just need my French driver’s license or if I should get an international permit?
Thanks!
JL
I’m heading to Laos next spring, but I have a question about the Thai arrival/departure form. I’ll be flying PAR-BKK, then taking the train to Laos (so exiting Thailand), and later re-entering Thailand by train to catch my return flight. Do I need to fill out two forms in this case?
Hi,
I’m writing to ask for some info—I’ve heard that you **must** have travel insurance to land in Zanzibar.
What’s the process, and which insurance should I get?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Best,
Seb
Hi,
I’m planning a trip to Laos from France with a transit through Thailand involving 2 entries. I might spend up to 7 days max in Thailand (round trip).
The flight I’ve spotted: arrival at BKK and return to France 31 days later.
With the new regulations/visa:
"Starting September 15, 2026, French nationals holding an ordinary passport will be able to stay in Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism purposes only, down from the previous 60 days."
How do you think the counting is done?
- Number of days spent in Thai territory?
- Entry and exit dates: number of days between the two?
I’m leaning toward the first option, but to avoid any administrative hassles with Thailand (fines, etc.) and before booking my ticket, your input would really help.
Hi there,
we’re planning our trip to the North Cape this summer. We bought a new vehicle for it. Unfortunately, the registration document is still being processed, and the delay seems long—I don’t think I’ll have it in time for our departure...
I have the transfer documents, insurance in my name, and all the supporting paperwork, but not the registration document. So my question is: does the ferry company require the registration document *mandatorily* when boarding in Denmark or not?
Thanks for any insights...
Hi everyone,
I bought a new apartment in Pattaya that will be finished at the end of 2013, and I’d like to buy more later...
I think it’s a good investment idea, but I’d love to hear from those of you with experience—what do you think? I’d also like to know how to handle rentals... Should I go through agencies, or are they usually rented out directly by the building management companies?
Thanks in advance for your replies! 🙂
hi everyone,
I need to apply for a new eTA for Canada.
do I need the number from my old eTA or not?
because I can’t find my old eTA number anymore.
thanks for your replies, have a great weekend
Hi there,
I know there are similar topics here and elsewhere, but they’re a few years old, and I need an up-to-date answer to make sure I don’t throw over 1000 € out the window. Thanks for your patience.
I’m planning a trip from France to Alberta/British Columbia, and I’m unsure about which bank card to use for the security deposit with the rental company (I’m thinking of going with AVIS).
I contacted Avis Canada, and they told me a credit card is absolutely required. I asked my bank for a credit card (a *real* credit card), but they only offered me a deferred debit card.
My question: For a rental with Avis Canada, is a Gold International Mastercard deferred debit card usable for the security deposit needed to finalize the rental? Is the "CREDIT" label enough? (Some cards say "CREDIT" and others say "CARTE DE CREDIT"—seems minor, but it’s actually a big deal in how the card works.)
I’ve seen conflicting info everywhere I look... My bank says it’s *usually* okay (the deferred debit card), while Avis Canada insists it *must* be a credit card, not debit—even when I mention the deferred debit card.
I know the whole credit card concept is already confusing, and on top of that, some sites say a deferred debit card counts as a credit card, while others say it doesn’t.
Thanks to anyone who can share a recent experience!
Have a great day
Hi,
I’m bringing Seresta, an anxiolytic (tranquilizer) from the benzodiazepine family,
to help me sleep.
I’ll have the prescription with me.
Will this be a problem at customs, and do I need to declare it?
Same question for antibiotics?
Thanks a bunch!
Hi everyone,
I’ll explain my situation.
Unfortunately, I lost my passport, and I only realized it two weeks before my departure for a humanitarian mission in Libya. I’m a nurse, and this mission really means a lot to me.
First, I applied for an emergency passport, but it was denied by the Val-d'Oise prefecture on the grounds that a planned humanitarian mission wasn’t considered an urgent reason.
So, I submitted a biometric passport application on July 20th. Since then, the tracking has been stuck, and the town hall can’t (or won’t) give me any clear information. Every time I call, I get a different story. The last update I received was that the passport had been produced since July 23rd with a status of "about to be shipped," but nothing since then.
I’ve managed to push my departure back to next Tuesday at the latest, but I’m starting to really panic.
Have any of you submitted an application around July 20th, especially in Val-d'Oise (95)? How long did you wait between the passport being produced and it being available at the town hall? Is it normal for this step to take this long?
This mission means so much to me. I had everything organized, and I’m also supposed to attend a friend’s wedding right after near the border.
Thanks so much to those who take the time to respond or share their experience. 😔
Can anyone tell me exactly if a passport "valid for the duration of the stay" is enough, or does it need to be valid for 6 months after the trip?
I checked the embassy’s website, but that info is missing.
Hi there,
I’ll be arriving in Seoul on November 18th after spending about a month in India.
Do you know if I’ll need to fill out any additional documents besides the e-arrival card?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
I’m a bit embarrassed because I need to travel to Quebec from February 27th to March 13th. I’m a regular visitor to Canada—this will be my 10th trip since 1997, plus a year as a permanent resident (2000–2001) and a cross-country run from Vancouver to Halifax in 2011. So, I’m definitely not a terrorist!
But since our last trip in July 2015, they’ve introduced this eTA thing. Seems more like a way to make money than to actually secure Canada, if you ask me, but anyway, that’s not the point.
I applied for an eTA for myself, my wife, and our two kids. They all got approved within hours, but not me! I was asked to create a GC key and then an IRCC account, which I did. Normally, you get news within 72 hours, but since Monday, January 15th, nothing!
In the "message" section of the account, it says "explanation letter (required)" with a deadline of January 25th, but I can’t find any explanation anywhere—despite searching the Canadian government website and Google. No links, nothing!
I’ve emailed them but haven’t heard back yet. I’m thinking of calling the Canadian embassy in Paris tomorrow. Even though I’m not stressing yet, it’d be a bummer if everyone else got to go without me!
If anyone’s had this issue before or knows what this explanation letter is about, I’d love to hear more.
hi there
I’m heading to Seoul in September, and to do that I need to get a travel authorization that we apply for through K-ETA....... turns out I can (barely, I admit) fill out the form up to the address of our "stay location," but every address I’ve entered has been rejected by the system. I’ve tried my hotel, the Lotte Hotel (which is well-known in Seoul), the airport—basically, I’ve entered at least 20 addresses, all rejected....
So, to anyone who’s successfully gotten the authorization, could you tell me which address you used to get that "elusive" approval?...
Hi there,
I have a 9-seater passenger vehicle that I use for my business in Paris, transporting people.
I’m planning to go to Algeria with my family.
The vehicle registration lists my company as the owner.
Can I get a TPD (Temporary Admission Document)?
Will I need a KBis extract or a power of attorney?!?
Thanks for your help.
Worst case, I can add my personal name as a co-owner on the registration, but that would be a real shame!
Hi, are there any travelers who’ve recently crossed the border between Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan) and Beineu in Kazakhstan?
It was closed for a while.
Thanks for any info!
I bought a one-way flight (Ryanair) and a return flight (EasyJet) to spend a week in Morocco in April.
My passport expires 3 weeks after the return date.
Some websites say the passport must be valid for 3 months at the time of entry.
However, it will still be valid both on entry and return, but its validity will only be 1 month at the time of entry (and 3 weeks on the return date, everything prepaid).
It's an individual family trip.
The consulate can't give me an answer—they're still looking into it (really!)
Last year, we stayed for 3 months in Thailand, north of Khao Lak, and were able to benefit from the 2-month visa exemption, renewable for one month by going to Takua Pa to validate a 1-month extension (1,900 baht).
This year, it’s a disaster for us—not only were we planning a 4-month stay, adding a visa run in between (which some say is quite risky), but the law is apparently changing in the coming months with the return of the 1-month exemption (plus the usual 1-month option). So, we looked into applying for a 6-month multiple-entry visa, allowing a maximum of 60 consecutive days in Thailand. However, I can’t find anywhere the minimum time required outside Thailand between two stays—do any of you have an idea?
Thanks for the info! If you’d like tips on Khao Lak and the surrounding areas, we’ve got some experience, though things change fast!
Cheers,
Bruno.
My partner, our 8-year-old daughter, and I are going on vacation to Gex.
We’ve decided to spend one day in Switzerland and another in Italy. Will we need ID (national ID card or passport)? Do we also need ID for our daughter?
Hello,
We’ll soon be moving to Madagascar long-term.
As a French national, I need to obtain a short-stay visa that can be converted to a long-stay one. To do this, I have to send the required documents to the Madagascar embassy in Paris.
No issues with that procedure so far.
If I get this visa, once I arrive in Madagascar, I’ll need to provide the same documents to the Ministry of the Interior in Anosy. I’m trying to find an email address or website for the Ministry to check which documents I need to submit (I think they ask for additional ones).
If you have any info on this, I’d appreciate your replies.
Best regards,
M. Buisson Eric
I’d like to know if anyone has already applied for a private visa to Russia with an invitation from a Russian resident.
I traveled earlier this year with an e-visa, but since I want to stay longer, I’ll be visiting my friend who lives in eastern Russia.
For the visa application, does the invitation need to be on an official paper form issued by the Russian ministry? And most importantly, do I need to present the original for the application, or is there an electronic version that can be sent directly to the consulate in France?
Thanks for any info if you’ve gone through this process before!
I filled out the B2 form to apply for a visa, created an account on Atvis to pay the visa fees and schedule a meet-up, but every time I try to pay with my Boursobank Visa 1st card, they refuse the payment with a message telling me to check my details (address), even though everything is correct. Does anyone know why this is happening, or maybe they don’t accept Visa cards? Are you aware of this?
Thanks for your feedback!
Elisabeth
There are rumors going around about the ETA: it must absolutely be on your smartphone in the "ETA" app.
Paper documents might not be accepted.
Is this real or just a hoax?
Thanks, I’m leaving in 3 weeks. My passport is good to go and my ETA is still valid for a year, but I only printed the email I received.
Thanks everyone.
