US to impose stricter visa rule

[mawilson 2,133]

Passengers travelling to the United States from countries whose citizens do not

need visas must register online with the US government at least 72 hours before

departure, in the latest measure to strengthen American security.

The new rule is expected to be announced on Tuesday by Michael Chertoff, the

Homeland Security secretary, and take effect in January.

European companies last year expressed concern after the Homeland Security

department floated the idea of requiring passengers to register 48 hours in advance,

believing it could complicate last-minute business travel. Although the new rule

requires 72 hours advance registration, it will be valid for multiple entries over a

two-year period.

The rule will only apply to citizens of the 27 visa waiver programme countries, which

includes most of western Europe, in addition to Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Japan,

New Zealand and Singapore. The US has also signed agreements with eight other

countries – including the Czech Republic, Hungary and South Korea – that puts them

on track to join the visa waiver programme.

A Homeland Security official said the new measure would require the same information

that passengers now have to include on the I-94 immigration form they must fill out

before entering the US. He said Australia has been using a similar system for several

years.

Passengers will be able to register in advance from August this year, but the rule will

become mandatory in January. Registration will be possible through travel agents,

airline websites or through a special US government website.

The US official said the system was created to make it more difficult for terrorists

who are nationals of visa waiver countries to enter the US, mentioning Richard Reid,

the UK “shoe bomber” convicted for trying to blow up an airliner. Zacarias Moussaoui,

the French national who was convicted of involvement in the 9/11 attacks, also entered

the US without a visa.

“History has shown that it is naive to assume a traveller from a [visa waiver] country

automatically constitutes a lesser threat than a visa applicant who has undergone

greater scrutiny prior to travel,” said the official. “There is also a concern about

radicalisation in Europe and that Europe could be a platform for striking at the US.”

Earlier this year, General Michael Hayden, director of the Central Intelligence Agency,

warned that al-Qaeda was trying to recruit westerners as potential attackers because

they would be able to blend into the US.

Mr Chertoff on Monday spoke to Jacques Barrot, the European Union justice

commissioner, ahead of Tuesday’s announcement. An EU official said Mr Barrot

requested further written information and documents, while the US official said he

appeared satisfied with the arrangement.

Franco Frattini, Mr Barrot’s predecessor, in February outlined plans for an EU pre-travel

electronic authorisation scheme for foreigners who do not need a visa for a short-term

stay in the union.

link

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Not good enough. They need to get rid of VWP completely!

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Carolina is in Brazil for a month, does this mean she has to do this BS? Brazil is not a vwp country! right?

Edited June 2, 2008 by ={Rogue}=

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Which countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)?

Currently, 27 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program, as shown below:

Andorra

Iceland

Norway

Australia

Ireland

Portugal

Austria

Italy

San Marino

Belgium

Japan

Singapore

Brunei

Liechtenstein

Slovenia

Denmark

Luxembourg

Spain

Finland

Monaco

Sweden

France

The Netherlands

Switzerland

Germany

New Zealand

United Kingdom

http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/with....html#countries

[Jenn! 918]

The US official said the system was created to make it more difficult for terrorists

who are nationals of visa waiver countries to enter the US, mentioning Richard Reid,

the UK "shoe bomber" convicted for trying to blow up an airliner. Zacarias Moussaoui,

the French national who was convicted of involvement in the 9/11 attacks, also entered

the US without a visa.

But how does registering in advance make it more difficult?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I guess it's not that different to the online visa you get for Australia. I can't remember how that worked, other than it was completeley painless.

[GaryC 7]

Carolina is in Brazil for a month, does this mean she has to do this BS? Brazil is not a vwp country! right?

Your wife has a green card. No registration needed in that case.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Which countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)?

Currently, 27 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program, as shown below:

Andorra

Iceland

Norway

Australia

Ireland

Portugal

Austria

Italy

San Marino

Belgium

Japan

Singapore

Brunei

Liechtenstein

Slovenia

Denmark

Luxembourg

Spain

Finland

Monaco

Sweden

France

The Netherlands

Switzerland

Germany

New Zealand

United Kingdom

http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/with....html#countries

Carolina is in Brazil for a month, does this mean she has to do this BS? Brazil is not a vwp country! right?

Your wife has a green card. No registration needed in that case.

Thanks Fellas!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

The US official said the system was created to make it more difficult for terrorists who are nationals of visa waiver countries to enter the US, mentioning Richard Reid,

the UK "shoe bomber" convicted for trying to blow up an airliner. Zacarias Moussaoui, the French national who was convicted of involvement in the 9/11 attacks, also entered the US without a visa.

But how does registering in advance make it more difficult?

USCIS "logic"--the same one which allows issuance of temporary visas based on citizenship-country but relegates permanent visas to birth-country!