A change in the Visa Waiver Program from 12th Jan 2009

I have just discovered that there has been a change in the Visa Waiver Program for entry into the States. You now have to apply online prior to arival in the States. Basically you have to fill out that little green form I-94 (the one I always mess up) electronically in the same way as you apply for a visa for entry to Australia. I have not read the main forum for a while, of course, so it may be something that has been covered but it is worth brushing up on if not as it will be important advice for anyone planning a trip to the US

Hi Craig,

It's the first I had heard of it so I done a search and that is the case from Jan 2009.

A report I found here

Thanks for the heads up.

I am off to Florida in a couple of weeks so will report back on how simple (or otherwise) the procedure is...

This query comes up about once a week -- so I'll look forward to your experiences and field report!

Mark

No worries
I wll actually be 'stress-testing' it to a degree as I will actually be using it as a multi-entry visa (for want of a better description): once to enter from the UK and once from Canada. This makes me a little nervous to be honest (I have crossed a number of borders and the USA border has always been the only one which makes me nervous!) so if anyone reading this has any experience of the new system I'd love to hear how it wnt!

I know it's been mentioned before but as it came into effect today (12 January 2009), it's probably worth highlighting a fairly major change in the way many visitors will now have to apply to get into America.

In the past, visitors from the 27 Visa Waiver Program countries (including most of Western Europe, New Zealand, Australia and Japan) had to complete a green I-94 form on the plane, which was then handed in on arrival. Assuming this was approved, you were then okay to stay for up to 90 days.

This paper-based system has now been replaced by an on-line process. The questions are the same, approval is reckoned to be virtually immediate and the new system has the added advantage (for frequent visitors) of only having to be carried out every two years. You can apply even if you have no immediate travel plans.

Visit the official ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization website for more advice and to work through the application process.

The advice is that you need to apply at least three days before you travel.

Thanks for the reminder Peter,

UK Craig also brought up this change a few weeks ago, but I didn't realise that today was the start date.

Hopefully the new system will be easy and have relatively few bugs (although what are the odds of that with a government, particularly homeland security, program?) and we'll have a few people report back on how easy or difficult this new program is.

Right then - first hand experience of applying for authorization via the ESTA website (you can apply at any time, you don't need travel dates or hotel details).

The forms are clear and easy to use, and the entire process takes less than five minutes. Click submit, complete one of those wonky word checks to prove you're not a robot and ... seconds later you have authorization to travel to the US at any time for the next two years.

Well, you do if you're my wife Carole.

I on the other hand received a message advising me that my "travel authorization is under review because an immediate determination could not be made for [my] application. This response does not indicate negative findings. A determination will be available within 72 hours."

As I am as clean as the driven snow, I'm presuming this is either a random check or more likely, one instigated because I ticked the "Male" box. This hopefully brief hiccup aside, it's a quick and pain-free process.

Update: I checked back on the site an hour later and - yes - I'm now "authorized" too.

Peter

I have applied online (same questions as were on the green paper form -I-94W ) and received clearance. Few key points - see below - taken from here.

*Allows travel but does not guarantee entry into the USA – CBP officer has final say.

*DHS recommends that an ESTA approval be obtained as soon as a VWP traveller begins to plan a trip to the United States.

* Travellers who do not fill in the forms will be barred from boarding an aircraft or vessel bound for the US.

*ESTA has been designed to allow for the accommodation of last minute and emergency travellers.

*Travellers are not required to have specific plans to travel to the United States under the VWP before they apply for an ESTA authorization.

*Online authority valid for up to two years or until the traveller’s passport expires.

*The green visa waiver form filled out on the aircraft has now gone.

Thanks to both of you for this very timely information!

Mark

Is anyone aware if there are any changes to the other visas?

My visa is due for renewal before my next trip. No idea what it was called, but it was for five years, and allowed for a 26 week stay per entry.

It is very hard to get any info from the local US Consulate... I find their website very confusing.

Perhaps I should write an old fashioned letter.

As far as I know, this particular change only affects those entering the US under the Visa Waiver Program. I'm not aware of any other specific changes to other visas.

If you are having trouble figuring things out, rather than writing a letter, I think I would be making phone calls or even traveling to the consulate's office so you can find someone who can answer your questions.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Midwest Michael

I would be making phone calls or even traveling to the consulate's office so you can find someone who can answer your questions.

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Michael, not sure if all US Consulates are the same, but the US Consulate in Melbourne cannot be contacted by telephone. There is a recorded message referring to the website. Calling in at the building, there is security at the front door (even though the Consulate is on the 12th floor), and if you do not have an appointment, are not allowed in, and are referred to the website.

I am just hoping that a letter will not be rejected and returned to me.

Lifey who finds them extremely frustrating

Perhaps you should be contacting the embassy in Canberra?

There is probably more chance getting inside a high security prison without an invite than getting inside the American Embassy in Canberra. I have not seen so many armed men since I watched Rambo. The British Embassy is the same and really goes to demonstrate the success of our foeign policy!

Lifey, you have probably seen it already but this site seems to answer most visa related questions (except where I find the money to pay my bil this month unfortunately!)

Thanks Craig... site looks familiar. LOL One thing I learned this time, that it actually gave me the name of the Consul General. Perhaps if I address a letter to him personally, I may get somewhere.

It is obvious if one can't get to a Consul in Melbourne, there is no way one could get to an Embassy in Canberra... and I am not even referring to a day's driving.

Been there, done that!

What frustrates me is that everything refers to 'applying' for a visa, I am looking for information on 'renewing' a visa. I was told there is a difference. But that's as far as I got.

And since it is now 100 days to departure, I better do something about it. They are not exactly known for speed and efficiency. And no way will I mail my passport to them.

Tomorrow......................

According to this site:

Quote:

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Q: What should the applicant do to renew a Visa?
A: There is no provision in the U.S. law, under which a U.S. visa can be renewed. The applicant should apply for a fresh visa.

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Official ESTA Website - Applications

Official US Government - FAQ’s

I’m a member of a consumer organisation and feedback from them points out there are unofficial sites – here for example - with similar names to the official site, who charge a fee which is unnecessary.

Not only are you charged a fee but there is the down side of providing them with your personal details which can have a down side.

Therefore just to emphasis, the ESTA process itself is free and comprehensively explained by the US government on its website which should be consumers’ first port of call.’

I wasn't suggesting that you should try to *visit* the US Embassy in Canberra - simply see if you can contact them by phone!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by glc

simply see if you can contact them by phone!

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Only possible with fax or post. And I do not have access to a fax.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eris

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Therefore just to emphasis, the ESTA process itself is free

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Eris, that is the visa waiver program. It only allows for a stay up to 90 days.

Last time it cost me just under $200 for my visa, which I paid straight over the counter when I collected my (Australian) passport - with the (US) visa in it -at the consulate.

I am expecting that charge to have increased..... considerably?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lifemagician

Only possible with fax or post. And I do not have access to a fax.

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I'm not trying to be cheeky - but if you are posting here, that tells me that you most likely have a computer. If your computer has a modem in it, and you have a telephone line, you can send a fax. All you need is fax software, and most versions of MS Windows either come with it, or it can be installed from your CD.

Can't you contact them via e-mail?

Hey, my computer man is coming on Friday, may ask if I can send a fax from here. I am totally clueless on that.

And no!! They neither give an email address, nor accept emails.

Well I am off tomorrow morning but cannot find my visa waiver confirmation number - do you think this will present any problems?? I am not sure if it ever emailed me or not - does anyone know if you receive confirmation and if so which email address it was sent from? If I wrote the number down at the time I can't find it now. Urgh! Help!

Craig,

I would give Peter a shout since he and Carole just went through this process and see what he knows.

Mark

I am hoping that I may have made a note of it on my little travel laptop as I recall I applied on there whilst away previously. Only problem is the battery is dead and I now have to go find a shop still open at this time of night which can sell me a new fuse so I can plug the damn charger in... :s Will update later!!

Hope this helps to points raised above.

Visa Waiver Program – it is easy to get confused but there are number of visa options in addition to the VWP. To avoid any confusion trying to keep my comments to the thread title. The VWP on ESTA online is for travellers who don’t need a visa.

Taken from message 18 (above) –
FAQ link.

Q: What is the cost to the traveler?
A: DHS is not currently collecting a fee for ESTA™ applications. If it is determined later that a fee will be charged, the fee would be implemented through the United States government’s rulemaking process.

Q: Do VWP travelers need to bring a paper printout of their ESTA™ approval to the airport?
A: No. However, DHS recommends that travelers print out the ESTA™ application response in order to maintain a record of their ESTA™ application number and to have confirmation of their ESTA™ status.

Excellent intel to the request for information above -- Thanks for looking that up!

mark

Finally found it... phew! Couldn't believe that I wouldn't have noted the confirmation number down (you may not need it but seeing they strongly advise it on the website I would have been scared to travel without it!) but thankfully it was there on my other laptop when I finally got it to work! I have now packed and am ready to go... probably my last vacation in quite a while so I am gonna make the most of it!!

Just checked in for my flight as LGW and was surprised to be handed the regular old fashioned green form. "Yes, sir, you have to fill that out as well still..." Genius!

Looks like the authorities are keeping the green 1-94W form a while longer before doing away with it.

From FAQ’s

Q: If a VWP traveler has received ESTA™ approval, does he or she also need to fill out an I-94W?

A: ESTA will allow DHS to eventually eliminate the requirement that VWP travelers complete a paper Form I-94W prior to being admitted to the United States. While DHS continues to work together with the airlines to fully automate the I-94W process, all VWP travelers applying for admission at a U.S. port of entry, including VWP travelers who have obtained travel authorization via ESTA, must present a completed Form I-94W to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

I have filled out the online questions and got approval for travel to the United States. Now is it just a matter of giving the airline your ESTA approval number before I fly? Or do you print it all out and take it with you? Apparently its not possible to even board the plane without the approval.

Shane

You have your approval so just print off a copy and keep it with you on your travels. Unlikely you will be asked to show it unless there is some query as everything is now computerised.

I read that the authorities are still asking for completion of the green 1-94W form on the plane for the initial stages of the scheme – there was mention of six months which would take it to June 09. Hopefully then it will only be the online form filling which is necessary.