New Regulations for entry to the USA
The US Department of Homeland Security announced on June 3, 2008 that they were introducing a pre-travel authorisation process for visitors from visa waiver program countries, known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
This will allow the US Government to further tighten law enforcement and security measures when vetting people wishing to visit the USA.
If you do not hold a valid visa and wish to enter the USA on the visa waiver program, then you will be able to register online before making your trip. The idea is that instead of filling in the green I-94W form that will be familiar to anyone flying or taking a ship to the US, you will now enter your travel and personal details electronically.
The intention is to make the scheme mandatory from January 12, 2009 but it will be voluntary from August 1, 2008. During the interim voluntary period, visitors will still need to complete an I-94W, even if they register online.
All children will need to obtain an ESTA and a third party will be able to apply on their behalf.
The electronic application will be valid for a period of two years or until your passport expires, which ever occurs first. This will allow you to make multiple entries on the one application but you will need to update your travel details such as flight number, address, point of arrival, online before each trip.
You must make your online application at least 72 hours before departure but you can apply as soon as you like and then update the details when the arrangements are finalised.
Like a visa, the ESTA does not guarantee admittance to the USA; it merely allows you to board the plane or ship before departing for the USA. You will still need to go through the normal immigration controls on arrival in the US but in theory it will speed things up.
If for any reason, your ESTA is not approve, then you will need to apply for a visa through a US Embassy.
If you hold a valid visa, then you do not need to apply for an ESTA. ESTA is also not applicable for land crossings; e.g. arriving by road from Canada or Mexico.
Online registrations should be made at the ESTA web site. In 2007, some 15 million people entered the USA under the visa waiver program.
The following countries are currently in the visa waiver program:
Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
