Flagpole on ESTA (For info)

[jc94]

This is just a for information post for those planning on landing soon, most specifically with an ESTA. There are possibly other posts I've missed, but the ESTA form has been updated, it wants tons more details now including a point of contact in the US - apparently one can enter Unknown or a hotel, but this is a big update from the optional address - parental details, employment details and an increased list of questions.

This is one: Have you ever been denied a U.S. visa you applied for with your current or previous passport, or have you ever been refused admission to the United States or withdrawn your application for admission at a U.S. port of entry?

To me... this reads as "Do not flagpole". So I just wanted to share.

 

[kateg]

Administrative refusals are different from actual refusals. They are for things like flag poling or forgetting a document, and don't count for ESTA purposes.

 

[Bs65]

Also note an ESTA like an ETA is designed for air travel not for land border crossings where if visa exempt generally an I 94 is still required.

Agree the wording is misleading but believe it is specific to being refused entry for immigration purposes either as an involuntary refusal or a voluntary withdrawl of application to enter as result of immigration issue. So one is not by choice the other by choice.

An administrative refusal is simply an administrative way of dealing with in effect a uturn at the US border where not seeking entry or immigration clearance but because have left Canada still need to be processed by the US side to achieve a uturn without actually entering the US.

At least this is how i would interpret anyway, might be talking garbage but hey.