The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is a requirement issued by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff which requires airline passengers from visa-waived countries (Western and Central Europe, Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore) to register with the U.S. government in advance of travel to the United States. The English site may be found at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/.
Passengers have been able to sign up since August 2008, but the travel authorization will not become mandatory until January 2009. Once screened, passengers are exempt from screening as their records will be kept on file for two years, although exactly the same card needs to be completed on the aircraft or ship.
The US government has recommended that travelers go online to make a filing a few days before traveling to the U.S. [3] This is not a requirement. Most applications are approved immediately. But if a traveler is not eligible for visa-free travel, the traveler will need to obtain a visa, and this could take some time. That is why the U.S. government recommends that travelers not wait until the last moment. This recommendation has been widely mischaracterized in the press as a requirement. As a result, opponents claim the new rules will delay last minute business travel. In fact, once a traveler obtains an authorization, it will be valid for two years or until the traveler's passport expires.
At the behest of the Spanish government, the name of the rule was change from ETA (electronic travel authorization) to ESTA because of concerns about the Basque separatist group who also goes by ETA.
The older Australian equivalent system is still called ETA.
The US version is not called a visa by the US, therefore still no visa is officially needed, but an approved application is required to visit the US.
As opposed to the $131 processing fee for a visa, ESTA is currently free of charge, but this may change. Some sites have sprung up that say they will obtain travel authorizations for travelers through ESTA for fees that range up to $250. Since an ESTA application can be filled out on line, travelers should ask first whether they can fill out the form themselves before incurring additional costs.
[WIKI]Electronic_System_for_Travel_Authorization[/WIKI]
Passengers have been able to sign up since August 2008, but the travel authorization will not become mandatory until January 2009. Once screened, passengers are exempt from screening as their records will be kept on file for two years, although exactly the same card needs to be completed on the aircraft or ship.
The US government has recommended that travelers go online to make a filing a few days before traveling to the U.S. [3] This is not a requirement. Most applications are approved immediately. But if a traveler is not eligible for visa-free travel, the traveler will need to obtain a visa, and this could take some time. That is why the U.S. government recommends that travelers not wait until the last moment. This recommendation has been widely mischaracterized in the press as a requirement. As a result, opponents claim the new rules will delay last minute business travel. In fact, once a traveler obtains an authorization, it will be valid for two years or until the traveler's passport expires.
At the behest of the Spanish government, the name of the rule was change from ETA (electronic travel authorization) to ESTA because of concerns about the Basque separatist group who also goes by ETA.
The older Australian equivalent system is still called ETA.
The US version is not called a visa by the US, therefore still no visa is officially needed, but an approved application is required to visit the US.
As opposed to the $131 processing fee for a visa, ESTA is currently free of charge, but this may change. Some sites have sprung up that say they will obtain travel authorizations for travelers through ESTA for fees that range up to $250. Since an ESTA application can be filled out on line, travelers should ask first whether they can fill out the form themselves before incurring additional costs.
[WIKI]Electronic_System_for_Travel_Authorization[/WIKI]
