USA Visa Waiver Program
New ESTA Visa Requirements for 35 Countries, including Australia
Jan 26, 2009
Thanks to the continuing threat of terrorism, the USA has been forced to tighten its tourist visa security, which has impacted on old traditional allies such as Australia, Britain, Ireland, New Zealand ,Singapore and Europe.
The three-month visa-free entry is still in place, but intending tourists from countries that have been included in the long-standing visa waiver program are now required to go online to the ESTA website of the Department of Homeland Security and complete a form.
The following details have been distilled from the ESTA website.
Which Countries are Involved in the Visa Waiver Program?
Intending vistors from Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Republic of Malta, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia or South Korea must register online first.
What is Involved in the USA Visa Waiver?
From 12 January 2009, new visa requirements for USA entry from the above counties involves completing an online form with the following broad categories of information:
- Personal details of address, citizenship, email, and telephone
- Information taken from applicant's passport
- Travel information - airline, flight number and departure point
- Address while in the US
- Communicable diseases including HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases
- Physical and mental disorders with a history of associated behaviour that might pose a threat to people or property
- Drug Abuse or addiction
- Crimes of moral turpitude - conduct which is base, vile or depraved
- Declaration that the applicant is not seeking work
- Statement to deny having ever detained, retained or withheld custody of a child
- Statement to deny that the applicant has ever asserted immunity from prosecution within the USA.
What if a Tourist Doesn't Have an ESTA Visa?
The airline is required to verify electronically with the United States Customs and Border Protection that each traveller has a travel authorization. No trasveller will be allowed to board without one. As well, most carriers have signed an agreement with the US to transport recalcitrants home if they are refused entry.
Many airlines expected chaos after January 12, as ill-equipped travellers turned up at their check-in counters. However, The Brisbane Times quotes Brad Niemann, vice-consul at the US consulate in Sydney, as reassuring travellers that the application process was instantaneous and could be done from an airport public computer, if necessary.
He asserted that 99 per cent of applicants get immediate approval. As the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals that more than 40,000 Australians travel to the US every month, a timely application would seem more prudent than than a last-ditch airport bid.
Important Additional Info about New Visa Rules for USA EntryTravellers must be aware that possession of a valid travel authority is a right to travel only, and not a right to entry. The Australian government Smart Traveller site reminds travellers that they must meet all entry requirents, supply fingerprints and have digital photos taken on arrival in the States.
There are no rights of appeal or review. However, someone can be denied a right to travel to the US but then be granted a right to enter. This is not as whimsical as it sounds. The Travel Authorization only applies to the Visa Waiver Program. An individual may have been refused because he or sheintend to stay longer than 90 days, or will be actively seeking work - both covered under other visas.
It is important to note that travellers who overstay their 90 day limit may be arrested and detained for up to seven weeks, will be deported, and are likely to be barred from re-entry for life.
It is essential that tourists and business people get a thorough understanding of the USA visa waver program, as the new visa requirements are now in place. Pleading ignorance won't help.
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