Corporate Travel Services

18/01/2010 - Travel to the USA - ESTA System
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) The Department of Homeland Security has implemented a new program known as ESTA - Electronic System for Travel Authorization. ESTA requires all Visa Waiver Program (VWP) nationals to have an electronic travel authorization on file prior to boarding card issuance, unless holding a valid U.S. visa. Children and infants must have their own ESTA. Effective 20 January 2010, all American Airlines and American Eagle passengers travelling to the United States under the VWP will be required to hold a travel authorization from the ESTA. This must be applied for at least 72 hours prior to departure. In addition to an ESTA approval it will still be necessary to complete the I-94W form until further notice. Implementation Q&A What is the Electronic System for Travel Authorization? The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is an automated system that assists in determining eligibility to travel to the United States under the VWP, and whether such travel poses any law enforcement or security risk. Upon completion of an ESTA application, a VWP traveler is notified of his or her eligibility to travel to the United States under the VWP. When will ESTA be implemented? The ESTA process for AA/AE will be implemented on 20 January 2010. What will happen if passengers arrive at the airport without an ESTA after 20 January 2010? The passenger can attempt to apply for an ESTA using an available internet port in the airport, or must delay travel until an ESTA or U.S. visa can be obtained. Must Form I-94W still be completed? All passengers must still complete the green I-94W Arrival/Departure record even if they have received an ESTA. For now, the I-94W is the only record of when a passenger leaves the U.S. When to apply for an ESTA? ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel to the United States and a third party, such as a travel agent, will be permitted to submit an ESTA application on behalf of a VWP traveler. VWP travelers are encouraged to apply for authorization as soon as they begin to plan a trip to the United States, and no later than 72 hours before departure. How to apply for an ESTA? VWP travelers may apply for an ESTA online through the U.S. government web site <https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta> The online ESTA application primarily consists of submission of passport data, country of residence, U.S. visiting address and answering certain questions (as currently listed on Form I-94W). Once the ESTA is approved (in most cases instantaneously), the applicant will receive an application number and expiration date of the ESTA. The traveler is NOT required to present a copy of the application neither can it be used for boarding pass issuance. An electronic ESTA must be on file prior to boarding pass issuance. An approved ESTA travel authorization is: � Valid for up to two years, or until the traveler's passport expires, whichever comes first � Valid for multiple entries into the U.S. � NOT a guarantee of admissibility into the United States What language versions are available for the ESTA application? Currently the ESTA website provides the following language versions: Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, and
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