Didn't get a free ESTA? Too late now....

Yes, indeed it is too late for a free ESTA now, and that in order to process your ESTA, you have to hand your Credit Card details over to the United States Government (but they already have it as it's in the information packet that's transmitted to them when you book your flight).

And yes, the ESTA site still looks like it's been designed for a 6th Form (High School) project.

Of course it goes without saying if you need an ESTA, don't get ripped off going to 3rd party web sites. If you're applying for an ESTA, head to https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta. And smile as you pay your $14 for authorisation to travel to the USA - but not guarantee entry into it.

(Clip-art: Microsoft Clip-art Library)

ESTA: $14 is the price to visit the Land of the Free

Disapointingly, the ESTA fee will become live after 8th September to apply for permission (not guarentee permission, but merely ask for it) for travel to the United States of America under the Visa Waiver system.

The Visa Waiver system is valid for 36 countries, and will allegedly dump the old I-94W's. 

For UK viewers, that's £9 every two years.  The fee is $10, but of course there is an "administration fee" of $4 to handle it.

So what to do?

• Don't try and avoid it. Whilst in theory you could get it at an airport, it's not a good idea to risk that you will get it. British Airways and American Airlines recommend 72 hours to process.  If you attempt to travel without an ESTA, you will be denied boarding and off-loaded.
• Thinking of travelling to the USA in the next two years? Apply NOW at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta. It costs nothing at the moment
• Got an ESTA Number already? GO AND RENEW IT. NOW. You can apply again at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta and a replacement number will cover you for another 2 years. It might take 24-72 hours to process. 
• Got a new passport, and yet to register for ESTA?  Apply NOW at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta.
• If you're unsure, consult Money Saving Expert for advice - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/esta-usa-visa

The US Government and it's associated departments continue to spout out the junk that this is to boost tourism attract foreign spending. Although how ripping people off to fill in a form is going to attract spending is way beyond me. 

Prehaps some US Senetor who voted for this or the CBP Press relations officer who is reading this might like to explain it to me in dollar benefits how this will

1. Benifit visitors,
2. Other than line the pockets of the US Goverment promote local cities and 
3. How long this program will go for
4. The net benefits of to all concerned.
5. Explain if it looks like a visa and smells like a visa, it isn't a visa, but a "wavier"

Personally, I am looking forward to ESTA affected countries to apply a reciprocal fee to US Citizens, as a reminder that the US cannot act unilaterally like this, and expect to not face the consequences.


Links:

• US CBP - http://cbp.dhs.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/national/08062010_2.xml
• BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10899968
• Money Saving Expert - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/travel/2010/08/esta-applications-to-cost-from-september
• Money Saving Expert Guide to ESTA Fees - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/esta-usa-visa

So the ESTA Fee (US Visitors Fee) is pretty much go.

Well the land of the taxed is hell bend on charging a fee for ESTA now as the law has been passed in the US Congress.

Apparently Congress is unware that taxing people is a way of putting them off visiting the United States. 

CNN has the scoop, but this is truly insulting to visitors. who now face a $10 fee to go into the USA to "Promote the United States as a travel destination and explain travel and security policies to international visitors".

Which as a consumer of US Immigration procedures is quite frankly (and to use the US colloquium) a fat load of baloney.  It is nothing but forms (and awfully laid out ones at that), and this is squarely targeted at Visa Waiver Program countries. The fact that 3-1-1 is pretty much universal (or 100ml in the civilised world) and it's never a good idea to take sharps through security is besides the point.

IATA is clearly annoyed, stating:

"We don't want foreigners to have to jump through so many hoops that they just give up and don't bother coming to the U.S" 

 It is estimated that charging for ESTA will bring in  US$4 Billion, with the US Travel Association cock-a-hoot about it saying:

"This is a historic victory for the U.S. economy and one in eight American workers whose jobs depend on travel" 

That's fine then, and impact on the spend of the visiting consumer. Excellent move there. And the EU is considering responding in kind, charging $10 for entry into the European Union for US visitors (a move I would welcome now as I have a reduced intention to vistit the USA even more sadly).

Martin Lewis's Money Saving Expert has a guide on how to "dodge" the cost - it could be wise to follow it.

Colour me very unimpressed. 

Coverage: 
CNN - http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/02/26/travel.promotion.act/index.html?hpt=T2
Glading - http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/04/travel-promotion-act-signed-into-law-visitors-to-u-s-who-dont/
Money Saving Expert - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/esta-usa-visa

USA: Want to come in? That's $10 please.

Oh dear. It seems that Ombama didn't read the Travel Promotion Act 2009 that has been signed into law today.

Specificialy the bit how it is to be funded - a $10 charge for visitors entering the USA. The act is likely to come into force by the end of the year to help fund tourism marketing campaigns and "to explain US Security Protocols"

Of course, this has to be paid online, so watch those fees rack up a bit more.

Whilst it is a small charge, it's still $10. And $10 is $10.


With the USA still quite frankly not paying attention to its image in the wider world, IATA is concerned enough to note that it has fears that other countries could introduce similar schemes, enough to stilfle small trade.

You're darn tooting straight there.

And Bill Marriott thinks this is a good thing. Oh well, if it saves his little hotel chain a few pennies advertising the USA...

However, there is some travel advice that I will repeat until this thing goes live.

IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT VISITING THE USA, GET YOUR ESTA IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

You can get your ESTA FREE OF CHARGE at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

And the sooner you do it, the sooner you don't have to fund this STUPID tax.

Links:
The Guardian - http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2010/mar/05/us-charge-tourists-to-enter 
Daily Mail - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1255655/Barack-Obama-signs-Travel-Promotion-Act-start-taxing-tourists.html
Bill Marriott's take - http://www.blogs.marriott.com/marriott-on-the-move/2010/03/great-news-president-obama-signs-the-travel-promotion-act.html
Cranky's Thought's at BNET - http://industry.bnet.com/travel/10005117/travel-promotion-act-is-government-gone-wild/

Watch out fake or "processed" ESTA's scams!

*Advice updated  - Now includes the mandatory $14 ESTA charge. But pay the US Government, not a 3rd party please?*
 
I've seen a bit of this since ESTA  (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) came online, but there has been a reminder from the SANS Institute (they do a lot of computer related security) about the fake sites on the rise.

For hells teeth sake the correct site for ESTA is https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html

I repeat in large letters:

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html

At best you're being conned out of something that is currently $14 to get from the US Government. 

At worst, you are opening yourself to major identity fraud, and the risk of compromising your credit file AND your passport. 

If you've done your ESTA on any other site bar the US Customs and Border Patrol ESTA Site, contact your Bank and Passport agency now, and report that your identity has been compromised. 

Soapbox: Want to enter the USA? That's $10 please.

In an effort to show how caring the USA is wanting to educate us how great it is to visit the country, for online Visa Waivers, there is a planned charge of $10 to use to the tool.

The US Consulate calls this "A storm in a teacup".  I alas - don't. Where as a fare to the USA is made up of many things (including security charges, inspection charges, etc), this represents yet another cost when going to the states for filling out what I'm sorry to say is a form based system that looks like it's been knocked out of a 9th Grader/Year 9 student for homework. 

And considering this was meant to do away with the I-94/I-94W forms, I'm not exactly impressed to be honest.

Whilst I accept some countries require visas, or e-visas, I fail to see how the cost they're proposing is nothing but going into the Department of Homeland Security's back pocket to fund other projects. In other words, Education my backside. A nice easy tax to collect is more like it.

Whilst ESTA isn't a visa per say, this system has been implement by Australia for travel.. except it's called an E-Visa.  Notice the difference in terms of form filling? Correct - None at all.

My advice is simple: If you're even thinking about travelling to the USA in the next two years - get your ESTA's in as soon as possible. That or demonstrate with the Pound/Euro/other currency and simply don't visit the USA.


And my soapbox comment: Go ahead America - be my guest and implement this. The EU and the UK will reciprocate in kind.



Source: BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8241255.stm
Additional reporting:-
Gadling - http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/05/united-states-considering-10-tourist-fee-to-pay-for-promoting/

 AP: http://news.google.co.uk/news/url?sa=t&ct2=uk%2F0_0_s_1_0_t&usg=AFQjCNFfRC_APbPQmqR4m63L-V9TdEOv8g&cid=1306897798&ei=RielSvC2J8bUjAeKxeBy&rt=MORE_COVERAGE&vm=STANDARD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhostednews%2Fap%2Farticle%2FALeqM5iiFRRE_sZBAuQOhP-yVpKSA1Rs6QD9AGPAL00