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Pre-Travel Authorization Program for US-Bound Travellers from Visa Waiver Countries

US-bound customers from visa waiver countries will soon be required to obtain pre-travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

This new online system is expected to be added to the Visa Waiver Program on 12 January 2009.

With ESTA, citizens from countries under the Visa Waiver Program will no longer be required to complete a written form (I-94) providing basic person, travel and eligibility information while en-route to the US. Instead, these information will have to be provided online under ESTA, at least 72 hours before departure for the US.

Once approved, ESTA applications will be valid for up to two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Authorizations are valid for multiple entries into the US.

Accompanied and unaccompanied children, regardless of age, will also be required to obtain an independent ESTA authorization.

Travellers from countries under the Visa Waiver Program who fail to obtain ESTA authorization after the system comes into effect, may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing, or be denied admission at a US port of entry.

[u]Voluntary Applications[/u]

US authorities have started to accept voluntary applications through the ESTA website, at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov

However, until ESTA is made mandatory in January 2009, all US-bound travellers from countries under the Visa Waiver Program will still be required to complete a written form for presentation at a US port of entry.

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Any other mistakes, e-mail address, telephone number, carrier, flight number, city of embarkation, and address while in the United States may be corrected or updated by using the ESTA™ update function.