ESTA to the USA

01 Dec 2008

To all our esteemed clients,

Greetings from UNIGLOBE Skylink Travel Team

RE : Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) to the USA Mandatory from 12 January 2009

Please be informed that from 12 January 2009 British Airways will be required to comply with the mandatory Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), introduced by the U.S. government for all customers flying into the United States under the Visa Waiver scheme.

The USA government will enforce changes to its visa-waiver programme meaning travellers will be required to apply for authorisation to travel under the scheme before arriving at the airport.

The changes, which came into effect in August 2008 on a voluntary basis will become mandatory from 12 January 2009 and will affect all passport holders from 34 countries currently participating in the visa-waiver scheme, including UK passport holders.

Travellers will be required to obtain authorisation (known as ESTA) before arriving at the airport and can apply online at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov

The application process may take up to approximately 15-20 minutes and authorisation is normally granted immediately but may take up to 72 hours. We recommend that you apply for authorisation at the time of booking or at least 72 hours before your flight to ensure that you are able to travel.

Once granted, authorisation is valid for two years. Travellers do not need to have firm plans to travel to apply for authorisation.

This requirement for approved authorisation is in addition to the requirement for all customers to submit Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) data.

Until further notice, travellers will still need to complete the green I-94W non-immigrant visa waiver form onboard their flight.

Travellers with a resident permit ?green card? or travelling on a visa will not need to apply for authorisation as they are not travelling under the visa-waiver programme.

For more information visit ba.com or speedbirdclub.com or you can visit the following sites; https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov or visit usa.org.uk
Kindly be informed accordingly.