Visiting the US?

[ejb]

Just read on SMH online...

"Australians and other travellers who do not need visas to enter the United States will be required to register online with the US government at least three days before they visit, a security regulation set to begin next year.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will announce the rule tomorrow, according to a government official who asked not to be identified because the announcement had not yet been made.
The rule was first reported by the Financial Times today.
Required online registration will begin in January and will be valid for a two-year period.
Those needing to register will be travellers from the 27 countries whose citizens are not required to obtain visas for US entry. The counties include those in most of western Europe as well as Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore. Eight other countries - the Czech Republic, Hungary and South Korea among them - are expected to be admitted to the visa waiver program.
When the Homeland Security Department began discussing the online registration rule last year, European businesses worried that business travel could be impeded.
AP"

 

[simongr]

Personally I don't have an issue with this. On one occasion I have been asked to fly to the US "tomorrow" but I guess anyone who is in the position of very short notice trips to the US will register once and be good for 2 years.

I wonder whether this in any way will make the immigration process faster or slower as more people will be booted out of the queue. Wouldnt it be wonderful if they had 4 queues: Nationals, APEC, VWP and "others"...

 

[Fluid-Flyer]

...travellers who do not need visas to enter the United States will be required to register online with the US government at least three days before they visit...

Very sensible. Sounds like a similar system to our own ETA!

 

[NM]

Personally I don't have an issue with this. On one occasion I have been asked to fly to the US "tomorrow" but I guess anyone who is in the position of very short notice trips to the US will register once and be good for 2 years.

I once had the "tomorrow" directive - and that was before the Visa Waiver program existed. And of course I did not have the required B1/B2 Visa. And the "tomorrow" was a Saturday and I was told about 4pm on the Friday. And US Visas were only issued in SYD and I was in BNE.

Well, the very large and influential US-based multi-national company that needed me to travel was able to arrange the Visa to be stamped in my passport (in SYD) and delivered to me for collect at BNE airport for the Saturday afternoon departure! Amazing the strings they managed to pull for that one :shock:.

 

[Mal]

Doesn't really worry me (and as has been commented, not too different from the ETA that we expect from visitors).

Where it could worry me is what questions are asked, and what creep the program ends up gaining.

It also concerns me to a degree that all Credit Cards I own have a US parent, so there could be information gleamed and accumulated from those cards that gives the US a different impression of who I am than if they didn't trawl through my previous travel expenses. This doesn't mean I spend my money on nefarious expenses, but more certain travel patterns I make and countries I spend money in.

 

[Hugo-R]

Hi All,

This is my first post.

The new registrations requirements for entry into USA seem to be a quasi-visa, in that it appears to serve the same purpose of the old visa. The only difference I can see is the method (electronic and speedier) of application.
Can anyone tell what if there are any other differences?

Hugo-R

 

[NM]

Hi All,

This is my first post.

The new registrations requirements for entry into USA seem to be a quasi-visa, in that it appears to serve the same purpose of the old visa. The only difference I can see is the method (electronic and speedier) of application.
Can anyone tell what if there are any other differences?

Hugo-R

Welcome to AFF.

Its not a visa and does not replace the need for a visa. It provides the same details as the current Visa Waiver Program form I94W - the green form that is filled out on the aircraft. If you do not qualify for access to the USA under the Visa Waiver Program, then you still need to apply for a Visa as before.

The idea behind the on-line registration process is to provide the US government more time to do background checks etc and to ensure people don't board the flight unless they meet the requirements for the Visa Waiver Program (or hold a valid visa).

 

[MelUser]

Does anyone know how the system will actually work.

My next trip to the US is early August so on the first I'll register on line and print off the confirmation.

I'm sure on the plane I will still be handed a green form.

Do I:

(a) tell the stewardess I don't need the green form as I've pre registered my entry to the USA?

or

(b) get another, shorter form from the stewardess (who perhaps won't know what I'm talking about)?

or

(c) just turn up at US Passport Control with my pre registration print out with passport and nothing else?


any thought s?

 

[NM]

Does anyone know how the system will actually work.

no idea. Please report back after your experience.

 

[Mal]

Does anyone know how the system will actually work.

My guess is that you'll still need the green form. It's a pre-clearance to allow you onboard the aircraft, not actually a waiver application I believe.

 

[Dave Noble]

ESTA will still require you to fill in the same arrival form; if wishing to enter on the VWP , then you will still need to fill in the I94W

Dave

 

[MelUser]

I dislike the green form and was hoping it would become easier.

I will report back in August (unless someone beats me to it).

 

[clifford]

This new requirement doesn't concern me a bit (I don't think I've got anything to hide).

But I also don't think it will speed up the US Immigration entry process from what it is now (it can be quite fast if your flight hasn't arrived just behind a flight from PEK or somewhere similar).

It will just give you a better chance of not being put in the brig, manacled of course, and then put on the next flight home.

 

[Dave Noble]

I dislike the green form and was hoping it would become easier.

I will report back in August (unless someone beats me to it).

The I94 is hardly any easier than the I94W other than not having to ticket the NO box to 5 or 6 questions and sign/date

Dave

 

[NM]

The I94 is hardly any easier than the I94W other than not having to ticket the NO box to 5 or 6 questions and sign/date

Dave

And have to write in the Visa number on the I94 form