ESTA: "Is your travel to the US occurring in transit to another country?" when going on a cruise

We're going on a cruise leaving from Texas in a couple of months, and I'm not sure what to respond to this question with - we're arriving and then staying in a hotel for one night before departing on the cruise and visiting 3 other countries before eventually returning and flying home.

Should we say "yes" to this question and enter the hotel we're staying at in Texas for one night as the point of contact?

Thanks

Best Answer

I don't think it matters much one way or the other. Strictly speaking, you could say that it is transit because you are arriving in the US and then the next day boarding a ship that will take you to another country. Your only purpose in the US is to get on that ship.

On the other hand, cruises get special treatment in immigration law. The fact that your cruise begins and ends in the US could be taken as an indication that your sole purpose in the US isn't to travel through it, but to partake of a travel service based in the US.

I would therefore follow the advice given in BritishSam's answer and answer no, because it seems safer, but it's certainly reasonable to answer yes.

If we assume that the US government has a definite position on which answer applies to your itinerary, what will happen if you give the other answer? Will the ESTA be denied as a result. Almost certainly not. Will you be denied entry to the US? Almost certainly not. Certainly, if you put "not transit" and the immigration officer believes you will be in transit, you will nonetheless be admitted. If you put "transit" and the IO believes that you are not in transit, you will still be admitted because (1) there's no separate VWP status for transit, and (2) you can't be blamed for putting the wrong answer to a question if you reasonably believed that it was correct.

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Is your travel to the US occurring in transit to another country meaning?

What is your travel to the US occurring in transit to another country meaning? If you are planning to stop for a short period in a country on the way to your destination, it means that you will be in transit. This can happen if your plan has to refuel or if you have to change flights.

Is your travel to the US occurring in transit to another country Yes?

If a traveler is only planning to transit through the United States en route to another country, when he or she completes the travel authorization application in ESTA, the traveler should select "Yes" to the question "Is your travel to the US occurring in transit to another country?".

What is a ESTA in transit?

ESTA to transit through the USA The Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA, is a travel document for travelers wishing to travel to the United States without the need for a traditional visa or a transit visa in the case of a stopover.

Can you use an ESTA to transit more than once?

There is no limit on the number of times you may enter the U.S. under either ESTA of a visa.

What if I travel in transit through the US to another country ?

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