Business concerned at new US visa rules

[mawilson 2,133]

The US government has reiterated advice that travellers to the US risk being turned

back at airports unless they have complied with new permit regulations, which came

into force on Monday.

The US is insisting that those visiting the country on the visa waiver programme must

complete an online travel authorization form and recommends they do so at least

72 hours prior to their trip.

Business leaders are worried that the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, which

requires the same information as green I-94 forms filled out on aircraft, will put off

executives who need to get to the US urgently. For the time being, passengers will still

fill in forms before landing.

The new system, which is free, was introduced on a voluntary basis in August but is

now compulsory. The measure has been introduced by the Department of Homeland

Security as an extra protection against terrorism.

"British travellers who have not registered before their trip are likely to be detained

and sent home," the Foreign Office said.

"This may affect a wide range of British nationals and we are particularly concerned that

people who may not have heard of ESTA and booked their trip before enforcement of

the new rule, may be caught out."

The Department of Homeland Security told the FT it would take "a reasonable approach"

as people travelling from the 35 countries on the visa waiver programme get accustomed

to the new requirements.

But it added that travellers without approved authorization "may experience delays, may

be denied boarding or may be denied port of entry into the US."

The US embassy in London said if passengers turned up at UK airports without having

complied, they would probably be unable to get past check-in and would be directed to

an internet cafe in the terminal to register with ESTA immediately.

Airlines that fail to comply with US customs regulations are liable for heavy fines.

The Association of British Travel Agents said all its members had been fully briefed on the

measures. "There has been plenty of notice and numerous meetings with them," ABTA said.

Once a traveller is registered on ESTA, subsequent trips over the following two years do

not require registration.

Last month, the US embassy in London said fewer than half the average 8,000 daily British

visitors to the US had registered, adding that "all else being equal, the registration rate for

travel [in January] could be somewhere around 50 per cent."

By January 7, the number of ESTA applications had risen to 14,000 a day, though many of

those would have been by travel agents acting for clients who were frequent travellers.

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[Reba 2]

What a stupid bloody idea! What if Gramma is coming to visit and has no clue how to use the internet to register? Is the aiport internet cafe going to have tutors?

sheesh

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

What a stupid bloody idea! What if Gramma is coming to visit and has no clue how to use the internet to register? Is the aiport internet cafe going to have tutors?

sheesh

sucks to be gramma

[NickD 203]

What a stupid bloody idea! What if Gramma is coming to visit and has no clue how to use the internet to register? Is the aiport internet cafe going to have tutors?

sheesh

sucks to be gramma

Seems likewise crazy to me since the USA wants foreign investors and tourism, and why just the crackdown on airlines? The terrorists that claim here for 9/11 were all hear legally and pulled a stunt really nobody expected, even though they were warned of this terrible thing happening. So just for a handful of guys, 3/4 of a million people are dead, and the rest of us have to put up with a great inconvenience. Still know how to get into Canada without a border check, and thousands are crossing the Mexican border daily. A terrorist would be a complete idiot to travel by air.

[aidan80 9]

The new system, which is free...

Free, being the word here.. like they'd want people to pay just to jump through yet another hoop to come visit the US? This will have to have a impact on tourists! What about those that have no idea about this, can't use the internet? It'll cost the economy yet more money..

[Niels Bohr 72]

For those who oppose, you need to step up if you want to make an impact. I don't mean stepping up to Captain Ewok, I meant to your congressman, Senator, etc...

[desert_fox 32]

What a stupid bloody idea! What if Gramma is coming to visit and has no clue how to use the internet to register? Is the aiport internet cafe going to have tutors?

sheesh

sucks to be gramma

Only thing wrong with being a gramma, is that you have to sleep with a grampa.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

My parents (that'd be gramma and grampa) are coming over next week and just did the online registration. It's fairly easy to do and you get a 2-year travel authorization instantly - i.e. you don't have to do it every time you travel. I'd prefer they had left things the way they were but I don't really see it as that big a deal.