USA Imposes Visa Fee

[Frederick]

 This was sent to me by my travel insurers... Anybody planning a trip ? You may wish to do this now .

 

USA Imposes Visa Fee!

From 9th September, travellers to the USA will be required to pay $14 (£9) to use the compulsory Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). An ESTA application, mandatory from January 2010, can take up to 72 hours to be approved. It is currently free, lasts for two years and is an alternative to applying for a full visa, which is more complex. The UK is part of the USA's Visa Waiver Program which requires travellers to complete an ESTA application. The security authorisation lasts for two years, so do it now - leave it for a month and you'll have to pay for it. The EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, criticised the fee, saying it would "complicate travel". "It is strange that this fee is to be used to promote US tourism. You would've thought keeping it cheaper to get in would help more - after all, it's free for most Americans to come here" she said.

[Russethouse]

Yes, I'm off in the autumn, going to Savannah - I had better check to see if I'm in date !

[Mr Coeur de Lion]

You can update it anytime Russet. Each time I make the trip, I re-apply for it.

And there's no need to fill in those green forms either now. All you need when you get there is the customs declaration form.

[Russethouse]

 I'll get my passport out and do it tonight - if I remember rightly I'll need the number

[Sprogster]

That's the theory Mr Coeur de Lion, but when I flew to the US recently, they still required the Green Form to be completed. Apparently, the US authorities have yet to give a date when the green form can be discontinued, which I believe is reliant on their computer systems being sorted out!

[Mr Coeur de Lion]

I flew out here on 11th July and didn't need to fill one out.

I flew into Philly airport, so perhaps they are more advanced than other POE's.