With my upcoming trip to the USA in November, I took the time to look into any changes in regards to entry requirements etc. At the present you can still enter the U.S. with a valid passport until Jan 11, 2009. As of Jan 12, 2009 all international travelers who are seeking to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program will be subject to enhanced security requirements.

Visiting the U.S. embassy site, you will be advised that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) computer system and any related equipment is subject to monitoring for administrative oversight, law enforcement, criminal investigative purposes, inquiries into alleged wrongdoing… Don’t let it scare you off. Once you are on the page, you have to click “OK” anyway.

All eligible travelers who wish to travel under the Visa Waiver Program must apply for authorization (U.S. embassy) using the following process:

Complete your application – Submit your application -Receive and record your application number – Receive response to your application

From the time of this new form’s implementation of travel authorization on August 25, 08 until Jan 12, 2009 when it becomes obligatory, all registrations are voluntary and free of charge (which might be likely to change in the new year).

For more information in German visit:

Diplomatische Vertretungen der USA Deutschland

The board of Airline Representatives in Germany e.V. (BARIG) recommends the usage of the new system. As stated in a press release, this new visa-waiver program was initiated early August and is supposed to improve travel conditions. The application can be filed as late as 72 hours before the departing flight to the U.S. This new application will replace the green I-94 W which passengers had to fill out on board a flight to the U.S.

This application can also be submitted by parents for their child/children and travel agencies. Passengers with a valid visa do not need an ESTA permit. Once the Department of Homeland Security has issued an ESTA permit, then it is valid for two years or until the passport expires.

Important: This new travel authorization process also applies to all transits – wether you change planes in Florida to travel to South America, are British and accompany your spouse on a business trip to the U.S.A., or you just visit a tiny spot in the States while touring Canada – you must apply for this authorization in a timely manner for any touch-down on American soil happening after January 11, 2009.

Tags: ESTA, travel authorization for the U.S.A.

Some other posts on this topic that you might like to read:

• Free ESTA Application for the USA
• New U.S.A. travel authorization effective 12 Jan 2009
• A Modern U.S.A Travel Authorization Tale

This entry was posted on Monday, September 15th, 2008 at 8:32 pm and is filed under General, New York. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.