New Regulations announced for entry to the USA
On June 3, 2008, the US Department of Homeland Security announced that visitors from visa waiver program countries would have to comply with a pre-travel authorisation process, known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
This is all part of the ongoing tightening of law enforcement and security measures, for people wishing to visit the United States of America.
If you are flying into the USA to pick up a cruise ship, stopping at a USA port of call on a cruise or departing from the USA at the end of a cruise, then you will need to be aware of these changes.
If you wish to enter the USA on the visa waiver program and do not hold a valid visa, then it will be possible for you to register online before making your trip. Anyone who has recently travelled to the USA by plane or ship will be familiar with the green I-94W form. The ESTA will be an electronic version of the I-94W completed in advance of the travel where you can enter your travel and personal details electronically.
If everything goes to plan, the scheme will be mandatory from January 12, 2009 but voluntary from August 1, 2008. Note that during the interim voluntary period, even if you register online, you will still need to complete an I-94W.
Third parties will be able to obtain an ESTA for children, as everyone will need to register.
Once completed, the electronic application will be valid for a period of two years or until the passport expires, which ever occurs first.
One advantage of this is that if you will be able to make multiple entries on the one application, but you will need to update your travel details such as flight number, address and point of arrival before each trip.
All applications must be made at least 72 hours before departure but you can apply as soon as you like and then update the details as the the arrangements are finalised.
An ESTA, like a visa, does not guarantee admittance to the USA; it merely gives you permission to board the plane or ship before departing for the USA. On arrival in the US, you will still need to go through the normal immigration controls, but in theory it will speed things up.
If you ESTA is not approved, then you will need to visit a US Embassy and apply for a visa.
If you already hold a valid visa, then you do not need to apply for an ESTA. Likewise an ESTA is not applicable for land crossings from Canada or Mexico.
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.
Online registrations should be made at the ESTA web site.
