I think all American travel has to now go via the ESTA system - you can no longer travel with our ESTA clearance. What you can do to make your trip a bit easier is get cleared for US entry at ports of entry such as Dublin - that way, you enter as if you're an American returning home as you'll already have your ESTA acceptance and you'll have been cleared in Dublin by us immigration.

The other benefit is, heaven forbid you're declined entry, you will only have to travel back from Dublin, not the US.

I believe there are other European pre clearance ports too but can't remember them.

Thanks
To be honest it's driving me mad!
Envisaging my fingerprints matching when scanned and then being sent home!
Reading the US official stats of so many thousand prints drawing matches of criminal history doesn't sit easy with me.
Although I kind of don't have any option this late in the day.

Hi
I have been before but back in 2004, a decade ago!

Hi
I had no choice but to travel on ESTA.
It was approved.
Flew into LAX last Wednesday, had a two hour queue at Immigration, I had never felt so nervous in my life!
Finally had the call to come over to a desk.
A stern looking guy took my passport, asked me to place my fingers on a scanner.
Despite them shaking he smiled at me, paused...and then said welcome to the USA!
thanks for all the advice/comments guys it did help me put my mind at rest a little before my flight!

Hi
I appreciate any help possible.
I have booked to travel to the US at the end of October, although I was given a caution in Nov 2007 for class A possession (my only offence).
Although I understand that the US have potentially tightened the approval of visas for caution offences recently would the fact that I received this caution in Nov 2007
help?
I am considering applying for a visa although not sure if I have enough time if it went to waiver approval stage.
A second question , has anyone had experience of the embassy calling your place of employment ?
(I understand you give employer details although I wouldn't be happy with them potentially giving away my caution details to my employer.

Thanks in advance.

Hi
Thanks for the response, very greatful.
I have possibly fallen into the trap of scouring the net and becoming ever increasingly paranoid of me being stopped upon cbp inspection!
As my biometric details had been taken at the police station and the US OBIM system apparently matches thousands of foreigners with criminal histories each year - I am Nervous!!

It does seem likely that some prints are shared given they have a database of 7.2m 'watchlisted'.
I am hoping that this is made up of mostly canadian criminals (they acknowledge that they have direct access to canadian law enforcement systems)
and known terrorist/sexual offenders.
I wouldn't normally consider breaking US immigration 'law' although given the relative minority of my offence and that it was supposedly a warning as you point out,
I don't feel that this should make me a marked criminal.

Hi
Would anyone else have any thoughts/info?

your not really breaking any law though the question on the US visa ask for convictions you got a warning so ignore and enjoy

Don't see how the fingerprinting match ups are possible, people would have discussed it non stop on that USA travel thread non stop....

unlocks guide to us travel also confirms the US have no hook ups to the UK police databases, I would imagine its done so due to data protection acts and privacy laws and perhaps only reserved for serious criminals or if you flag up as a serious offender.

Again can't be 100% sure but that thread is very up to date especially if you go to the last page.

One thing that would be nice which most people ignore or don't bother with is actually pop back and say if it went well or not.... but some people on that US thread have and said its fine.