Revin Kevin

Do i need an ESTA to drive from Canada into the US or just my British passport?

Former Lancastrian

No but it is advised if you already have one to use it. UK citizens driving private vehicles can still use the VWP.
All eligible nationals or citizens of VWP countries who plan to travel to the United States for temporary business or pleasure under VWP are required to receive an authorization through ESTA prior to boarding a U.S.-bound airplane or vessel.

Links below

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/internati...-system-travel

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/internati...waiver-program

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors

Revin Kevin

​​​​​​That's very helpful, thanks

christmasoompa

Depends on when you’re going - rules change on 1st Oct. https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/nationa...tent_entity=en

HTH.

Revin Kevin

I thought I'd heard something somewhere along those lines. Our trip is this weekend so we are good to go.

printer

Just travelled into US from Canada today via land border we had ESTA and was a breeze. Old green card now gone they just add stamp to passport which is valid for 3 months. Nobody was interested in our vaccination status either.

Revin Kevin

Ok so we travelled to the US border and this is how it went.

The US Border officer checked our passports and asked to see the hire car rental agreement. He then asked if we had ESTAs, I said no and we were asked to park up and go in the office and wait. After 15 minutes he came back and gave us a sheet of paper saying we were being refused entry and that that was because we didn't have an ESTA. I told him I heard on a forum ( this one) that we didn't actually need an ESTA until October, he just scoffed and said they make the rules about US entry not the folks on some forum! At this point I was worried that was that and we were being turned around but he then said he could "process" us for admission. The processing involved us filling in a questionnaire each, having our dabs / photos taken and paying $6 each, after this our passports were stamped for 3 months and we were on our way. The whole process ended up delaying us for about an hour but a lot of that was because they were having some IT issues.

So yes, the advice is, get an ESTA if your planning to cross the US border it should make life much easier!!

btar

Did you also have an I94W which https://www.cbp.gov/travel/internati...-system-travel states is still required for entry at a land border.

I also wonder if anyone is using the CBP One app and with what result?

Former Lancastrian

So the US officer said they make the rules and not people on a forum however they processed you and let you in. USCBP 0 BE 1.

newacct

People on a forum don't make the rules. It's CBP (the agency the officer is working for) that said October 1. You can bring that press release to show him.

Granted, the press release is pretty confusing, as it says "now" in one place ("travelers intending to enter the United States by land will now have the same requirements as those traveling by air and sea") and "Beginning Oct. 1, 2022" in another place. So is it required "now"? And the regulation itself, which took effect May 2, doesn't mention October 1 or any delayed implementation date. So perhaps the officer could argue that the rule is technically in effect already, and the press release doesn't actually say that ESTA is not required before October 1. I don't know.

Former Lancastrian

Beginning Oct. 1, 2022, in accordance with an Interim Final Rule (IFR), travelers entering the United States, whether by land, sea, or air will now be required to obtain an approved ESTA authorization.

Seems pretty straightforward to me Beginning Oct 1 2022. So from today until 30 September you can still enter under the current rules but as of 1 Oct 2022 you will need ESTA.