US Customs and Border Protection have advised that with effect from January 20, 2010 it will be mandatory for all passengers travelling to the USA under the Visa Waiver Program to receive approval to travel using the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) scheme. All passengers travelling to or transferring through the US from this date are advised to apply for an ESTA at least 72 hours in advance of their journey.
The ESTA is very similar to the automated visa that you purchase to enter Australia and is completely paperless.
ESTA can be obtained free of charge by visiting https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov where further information on the scheme can also be found. Once completed & approved, the ESTA application is valid for two years and allows multiple visits without the need to reapply. Travellers can apply for an ESTA even if they have no firm plans to travel to the US.
Some points to remember are:
- The green I-94 forms will continue indefinitely and will be handed out on all flights as usual
- If you are having difficulties in logging onto the ESTA website, then try again as the site often has delays – this is why a minimum of 72hrs is recommended to complete it.
- Once you’ve entered your details, you’ll see a confirmation screen and then receive an approval number once the application is successful.
- Once approved, print this off and take with you when you travel. It’s strongly recommended that you keep a note of your approval code so that you can update your information in the future, should anything change.
Your ESTA will usually be valid for up to 2 years from issue and any changes to the application during this timeframe should be updated online.
Under the new regulations, US Customs and Border Protection will not now be able to accept US-bound customers for their flight if they have not received ESTA approval or if they do not hold a valid visa or Green Card. Although not fully implemented during the past year, most UK-USA travellers are already familiar with the ESTA requirement.
Please note this is not in place of a visa and should you be declined or have required a visa in the past, then you must contact the US embassy and apply for a visa as usual. You can find them at www.usembassy.org.uk
The APIS information you provide to the airline (Advance Passenger Information System) is separate and you will need to provide information for both services. They are run by two different government bodies and run separately.
