NEW ENTRY REQUIREMENTS TO THE US EFFECTIVE 12 JANUARY 09

[STAN THE MAN 0]

New Entry Requirements To The US Effective 12 January 2009

Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA)

Effective 12 January 2009, US government will require all passengers holding a passport from a country belonging to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to receive an electronic authorisation (ESTA) that needs to be applied on line prior to travelling to the US. This also applies to passengers in transit to a third country.

* Passengers travelling on a valid U.S. visa will not need to apply for an ESTA.

* Children and infants must have their own authorisation (ESTA).

* Travellers must apply online through the ESTA website.

* The U.S. Government strongly recommends to apply at least 72 hours before travel.

* The System will advise applicants whether travel to the US has been authorised, not authorised or authorisation is pending.

* Travellers will still be required to fill the green I-94 immigration form provided at check in or onboard on the day of travel which must be presented to customs upon arrival.

* An ESTA is valid for two years unless it is revoked or passport expires.

* For other specific details visit US Government site https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov

[yamashitariki 4]

Thanks. This is news to me.

[Stinky Monkey 1]

I did this voluntarily in December

I really dont see the point of it, even though it stated that I am ok on VWP it still states that final decision is at POE, so I was still stressing when I got to Texas.......

[Stinky Monkey 1]

sorry pressed the button twice by mistake, could not find a delete post button sorry

Edited February 8, 2009 by Stinky Monkey

[Ed+Cindy 1]

sorry pressed the button twice by mistake, could not find a delete post button sorry

What they are basically doing is turning the VWP into a visa program. The ESTA is essentially an electronic visa, but the US still wants to call it 'visa wavier', which is misleading.

Australia requires a similar electronic authorization prior to travel, but they at least have the sense to call it an 'electronic visa'.

The only way visa waiver is a visa free program is if you don't need prior approval to travel. If you need prior approval, then its a visa, regardless of the name the US wants to call it.

[Anonymous 57 0]

I think this whole thing is ridiculous. You're basically required to apply for a visa to travel on the visa waiver program?!

Somehow, I don't think that this is going to solve the problem that we have with illegal immigrants... Why don't they just prosecute all of the illegal people who are ALREADY HERE?

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

It's not a visa. It's 5 minutes filling in your adress details and passport details, essentially the same thing they used to input in the computer at check-in, except now you have to do it yourself a few days before travel. Even my mom, who doesn't speak good english and hates using the computer was able to do it

[Ed+Cindy 1]

It's not a visa. It's 5 minutes filling in your adress details and passport details, essentially the same thing they used to input in the computer at check-in, except now you have to do it yourself a few days before travel. Even my mom, who doesn't speak good english and hates using the computer was able to do it

It is an electronic visa, because you can be denied. Its not just information entry.

Australia has been doing the same thing for a while to USCs (and others traveling there), but they at least call it an electronic visa. The Australia one is nothing more than your address and passport number as well.

I have no problems with the ESTA, but they are misleading the world when they refer to it as 'Visa Waiver".

[ddartt1 2]

New Entry Requirements To The US Effective 12 January 2009

Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA)

Effective 12 January 2009, US government will require all passengers holding a passport from a country belonging to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to receive an electronic authorisation (ESTA) that needs to be applied on line prior to travelling to the US. This also applies to passengers in transit to a third country.

* Passengers travelling on a valid U.S. visa will not need to apply for an ESTA.

* Children and infants must have their own authorisation (ESTA).

* Travellers must apply online through the ESTA website.

* The U.S. Government strongly recommends to apply at least 72 hours before travel.

* The System will advise applicants whether travel to the US has been authorised, not authorised or authorisation is pending.

* Travellers will still be required to fill the green I-94 immigration form provided at check in or onboard on the day of travel which must be presented to customs upon arrival.

* An ESTA is valid for two years unless it is revoked or passport expires.

* For other specific details visit US Government site https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov

Thank you for sharing.