Regulations for entry to the USA have changed
From January 12, 2009, the the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is now mandatory for visitors entering the United States of America by air or by sea, replacing the I-94W form.
The scheme was introduced on August 1, 2008 by the US Department of Homeland Security on an initially voluntary basis.
Originally announced on June 3, 2008, ESTA provides an online pre-travel authorisation process for visitors from visa waiver program countries. This will allow the US Government to improve 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 now have to register online before making your trip. Instead of filling in the green I-94W form that will be familiar to anyone flying or taking a ship to the US, you now enter your travel and personal details electronically.
Note that all children still need to obtain an ESTA but a third party is able to apply on their behalf.
The electronic application is only valid for a period of two years or until your passport expires, which ever occurs first. This allows you to make multiple entries on the one application but you do 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 need to apply for a visa through a US Embassy in the normal way.
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.
