US to charge £9 for Esta compulsory travel entry form
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- CarolineS
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The US government is to start charging UK travellers $14 (£9) to apply for permission to enter the country.
The compulsory Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (Esta) is free at present, but from 9 September visitors to the US will have to pay for it.
It lasts for two years; people who already have a valid form will not have to pay until their current one expires.
The scheme was introduced in January 2009 but was made mandatory from January 2010.
It applies to all 35 countries with US "visa waiver" status.
The Electronic System for Travel Authorisation form, which takes up to 72 hours to be approved, gives air passengers prior approval for entry to the US.
It replaced the green I-94 card which passengers have previously filled in on their flight into the US.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10899968
The compulsory Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (Esta) is free at present, but from 9 September visitors to the US will have to pay for it.
It lasts for two years; people who already have a valid form will not have to pay until their current one expires.
The scheme was introduced in January 2009 but was made mandatory from January 2010.
It applies to all 35 countries with US "visa waiver" status.
The Electronic System for Travel Authorisation form, which takes up to 72 hours to be approved, gives air passengers prior approval for entry to the US.
It replaced the green I-94 card which passengers have previously filled in on their flight into the US.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10899968
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