Travel Tip: Electronic System of Travel Authorization (ESTA)

The Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection enforcement of the so-called Electronic System of Travel Authorization for visitors to the US. Visitors from the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Australia, and other countries that qualify for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program must register online before travelling to the United States. Beginning Monday, January 19, all these visitors must be registered and approved before travelling to the United States.

ESTA is an electronic version of the already in-place I-94W form but the department wants to have this information further in advance in order to compare to databases and prevent those who might pose a security threat from entering the United States. Previously, a traveller complete the I-94W while in transit and for trips lasting less than 90 days.

More details...CNET.com: U.S. visitors required to register online.

Several travel industry associations are greatly concerned with the new procedure. The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and the U.S. Travel Association (USTA--formerly the Travel Industry Association (TIA)) cite, among other things, the following concerns:

1. Lack of a procedure for those who do not have Internet access or are unable to use the Internet;
2. A provision to resolve a threat misidentification; and,
3. with more than 15 million travellers to the US from the identified nations alone, the lack of a procedure to handle those who have inadvertently failed to comply with the new regulation

The Homeland Security Administration cites the successful use of a similar program in Australia and the move to a paperless procedure.

Tom
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