theForum » Travel » Travelling to the USA » Travelling on an ESTA » Applying for ESTA while on SOR (irrespective of travelling)

Applying for ESTA while on SOR (irrespective of travelling)

Stersco83 — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:06:00 GMT

Leaving aside the question of actual travel, is being on the SOR a logical hindrance to ESTA application process?

What about being on the SOR while somewhere abroad? I.e. when notices may be up.

FYI I recently applied successfully for ETA for Canada.

RE: Applying for ESTA while on SOR (irrespective of travelling)

Stersco83 — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:06:00 GMT

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 15 Aug 26 10:15 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Worriedman - 8 Jul 26 9:41 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 7 Jul 26 9:30 PM[/b]

Hey, I've decided to chance it and go via Ireland pre-clearence. I have nothing to lose.

I'll be off the register. And there was simply no infliction of harm, I mean we can debate wrongness, but harm is something else.

I also have a clean CRB check in among my travel paperwork stash, going back to 2022.

[/quote]

Let us know how it goes

[/quote]

Well in 48 hours this forum will have its first recorded attempt to enter the USA having been on the SOR (days earlier).

Hopefully it's a good sign if you don't hear from me for a while as am going from Dublin.

[/quote]

I have been fully de-loused and onboarded and am on the USA side of the Dublin pre-clearence.

Once thing I noticed was, the automated gate into Dublin that scans the passport then takes the photo -- that began working for me again, whereas previously it always rejected and I always had to have recourse to the manned booth.

Then I Midnight Expressed my way through the simple pre-clearence. Perfectly pleasant guards.
And I did it all without telling any literal lies :Whistling:

This is 48 hours after coming off register.

RE: Applying for ESTA while on SOR (irrespective of travelling)

Stersco83 — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 22:15:10 GMT

[quote]

[b]Worriedman - 8 Jul 26 9:41 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 7 Jul 26 9:30 PM[/b]

[/quote]

Let us know how it goes

[/quote]

RE: Applying for ESTA while on SOR (irrespective of travelling)

Stersco83 — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:55:37 GMT

[quote]

[b]Lazarus - 28 Jul 26 11:18 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 8 Jul 26 1:22 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Worriedman - 8 Jul 26 9:41 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 7 Jul 26 9:30 PM[/b]

[/quote]

Let us know how it goes

[/quote]

I actually will - I'm keen to leave some data behind for posterity.

[/quote]

Did you get into Ireland?

[/quote]

I got into Ireland regardless on a recent occasion.

On the morning of the 17th I fly to Dublin and thence to the USA, same morning.

On the 15th, I will be off the Register.

I'm only sorry I couldn't test the principle of going to USA while ON the register as a spontaneous 2nd port of call -- as that has been a point of curiosity for me. But I have reasons not for burning my relationship with USA.

RE: Applying for ESTA while on SOR (irrespective of travelling)

maxcaddy — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 01:57:51 GMT

[quote]

[b]punter99 - 6 Jul 26 11:17 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 5 Jul 26 9:11 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 24 May 26 10:25 PM[/b]

[/quote]

Answer is yes! I applied for ESTA while currently on SOR, it was approved.

I will be travelling while finally off though.

And I didn't lie anyway. Mine was a damageless crime.

[/quote]

You may wish to read the unlock guidance on this. https://unlock.org.uk/advice/travelling-us-need-visa/

The immigration rules have not changed, but the wording has. Things that used to be referred to as crimes of moral turpitude were replaced by offences causing serious damage or harm. The test is subjective, but any sexual offence would be a crime of moral turpitude, therefore it is also a crime causing serious damage and/or harm. Psychological harm and damage to victims also counts BTW.

Unlock suggests that if you use the online wizard to complete the ESTA form you will be asked about being arrested, but if you do not use the online wizard, you will only be asked about drugs,serious harm and fraud. As Unlock themselves noted "There is an anomaly here between the ESTA and the on-line guidance. We’ve highlighted this to the Embassy but we would suggest that you work from the questions on the ESTA form."

Whether you get caught though, depends on whether you show up on any databases, not how you answer the questions.

[/quote]

I was arrested and accepted a simple caution for common assault, and was under the impression that I would forever be barred from ESTA. But considering my offence would arguably not be considered "causing serious harm" (like ABH or GBH) I may well actually be eligible.

RE: Applying for ESTA while on SOR (irrespective of travelling)

JASB — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:35:18 GMT

[quote]

[b]punter99 - 6 Jul 26 11:17 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 5 Jul 26 9:11 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 24 May 26 10:25 PM[/b]

[/quote]

Answer is yes! I applied for ESTA while currently on SOR, it was approved.

I will be travelling while finally off though.

And I didn't lie anyway. Mine was a damageless crime.

[/quote]

Hi

I fully agree no offence is "damageless".

If you do not believe it has damaged a person by whatever act you was convicted of offending, then consider the damage it has certainly done to you.

Not being offensive just realistic.

RE: Applying for ESTA while on SOR (irrespective of travelling)

Lazarus — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 23:18:58 GMT

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 8 Jul 26 1:22 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Worriedman - 8 Jul 26 9:41 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 7 Jul 26 9:30 PM[/b]

[/quote]

Let us know how it goes

[/quote]

I actually will - I'm keen to leave some data behind for posterity.

[/quote]

Did you get into Ireland?

RE: Applying for ESTA while on SOR (irrespective of travelling)

Stersco83 — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 13:22:08 GMT

[quote]

[b]Worriedman - 8 Jul 26 9:41 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 7 Jul 26 9:30 PM[/b]

[/quote]

Let us know how it goes

[/quote]

I actually will - I'm keen to leave some data behind for posterity.

RE: Applying for ESTA while on SOR (irrespective of travelling)

Worriedman — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 09:41:32 GMT

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 7 Jul 26 9:30 PM[/b]

[/quote]

Let us know how it goes

RE: Applying for ESTA while on SOR (irrespective of travelling)

Stersco83 — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:30:38 GMT

RE: Applying for ESTA while on SOR (irrespective of travelling)

punter99 — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 11:17:55 GMT

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 5 Jul 26 9:11 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 24 May 26 10:25 PM[/b]

[/quote]

Answer is yes! I applied for ESTA while currently on SOR, it was approved.

I will be travelling while finally off though.

And I didn't lie anyway. Mine was a damageless crime.

[/quote]

RE: Applying for ESTA while on SOR (irrespective of travelling)

Stersco83 — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 21:11:20 GMT

[quote]

[b]Stersco83 - 24 May 26 10:25 PM[/b]

[/quote]

Answer is yes! I applied for ESTA while currently on SOR, it was approved.

I will be travelling while finally off though.

And I didn't lie anyway. Mine was a damageless crime.