Michael229

I am hoping the wise forum can help me with a query.

In 2005, my wife and I visited the USA for a couple of days while holidaying in Canada. When we returned to Canada over the land border we forgot to hand in our visa waiver permits. I realised this when I got home to England so mailed them off to US customs with proof of my departure from Canada back to England. Unfortunately, they don't confirm if you have been logged as exiting the country or not.

Fast forward to now and my wife and I want to visit New York. I just completed the ESTA online for us both and we had our application approved. However it does say that this allows you to travel to the USA but does not necessarily permit entry.

My question is, if I had been classed as an overstay from before, would my ESTA application have been denied? Or is there still a chance I could get there and be refused entry?

Appreciate any help!

Zoe Bell

As people here will tell you , there's always a chance you'll be denied !
Only citizens can " guarantee" they'll be allowed in

However I don't reckon you've much to worry about fro
The I 94w thingy
I've had to mail several of the damn things back because I've left them in my passport
As you say they don't acknowledge receiPt of them. But they must work there way through the system as I've never had a problem

civilservant

+1 to the above.

ian-mstm

No, they don't... however the airline has proof of your departure.


Only a US citizen has the right of entry to the US; everyone else takes their chances. From what you've written, yours is a non-issue. Enjoy the holiday.

Ian

Zoe Bell

This was at a land border so technically you do need to mail it bac k or return it , no Passenger manifest!

ian-mstm

Quite right... missed that bit! Still, it seems they were returned... which fulfills the requirement. It's a non-issue for them.

Now that I'm thinking about it, the airline would have proof of their departure from Canada... which, in turn, demonstrates they did indeed leave the US - although, to be fair, it doesn't prove they left within their alloted 90 days. The airline should still have a record of that departure and dates can be reconciled after the fact. It's still a non-issue for them.

Ian