What to do if your ESTA application is on “pending” status?

When does an ESTA application show as pending?

• On my last trip to New York, I got an unexpected surprise: my previous ESTA had expired just two months earlier, so I reapplied for a new authorization. But this time, things didn’t go as usual.
• The form itself was straightforward—I’ve covered the process in detail in my article on how to fill out your ESTA application. Normally, ESTA approval is instant. But this time, a different message appeared on my screen: “Application pending.”
• And it seems this pending status is becoming more common. Based on posts in the New York Forum, more and more travelers are seeing this message instead of getting immediate approval.

How to retrieve a pending ESTA

What should you do if your ESTA is pending? Don’t worry. A pending status doesn’t mean your application was denied. The message is clear: “this response does not indicate a negative result.” It also states that “a decision will be available within 72 hours.” So you have one option: wait three days.
But there’s a way to speed things up. I learned this trick from Patricia, one of the moderators on the New York Forum. 🙂

• Instead of waiting, she suggested I go back to the ESTA website (always use the official site—scams are everywhere!). Once there, click on “Check existing application.”
• Next, click “Check individual status” if you submitted one ESTA for yourself, or “Check group status” if you submitted multiple ESTAs for family members at the same time.
• A security notification will appear. Click “Confirm and continue.”
• On the next screen, enter your passport number, date of birth, and ESTA application number. Click “Retrieve application.”
• You’ll then see your application status. And here’s the surprise: in my case and many others’, simply checking the status was enough to clear the pending hold. Within minutes, I was able to retrieve and print my ESTA. Off to New York! 🙂

One last question: why are more ESTAs being placed on pending status? The U.S. government website doesn’t explain this, but it’s likely due to stricter security checks. In any case, if your ESTA is pending, you now know what to do to move things along! 🙂