US ESTA to cost £10 from September

[SLacKer]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/A...

So now we pay for permission to go to the US. Wouldn't mind so much if they got rid of those green forms.

[F i F]

As a nation we are skint, I expect to see cabin crew selling landing cards along with the duty free.

:Parkinson:
And why not?
:/Parky:

[zippo]

This goverment ought to repay the USA by charging Americans the same to enter the UK

[Lost_BMW]

zippo said:

This goverment ought to repay the USA by charging Americans the same to enter the UK

Too bloody true.

"Of the fee, 10 dollars will apparently go to a fund to promote US tourism with four dollars covering administration"

So $10 of our money isn't for the running of a better, quicker, safer system but to directly help their tourism industry at our (extra - if we're already going there as holidaymakers) expense.

bds. Let's do the same - charge them and use it to support our industry. Special relationship my arse.

[iAlex]

They still managed to fk up our entry into the country this year. Esta not found on the system. Got taken to a holding area with a load of Mexican immigrants. I'll happily pay £10 if I don't have to go through that again!

[sawman]

they have always (well for as long as i can remember) charged 6 bucks, you just dont see it if you fly in as its part of your flight ticket price.

[Deva Link]

SLacKer said:

Wouldn't mind so much if they got rid of those green forms.

They have.

[GreigM]

Deva Link said:

SLacKer said:

Wouldn't mind so much if they got rid of those green forms.

They have.

No, they haven't - unless its changed in the last fortnight.

[spdpug98]

GreigM said:

Deva Link said:

SLacKer said:

Wouldn't mind so much if they got rid of those green forms.

They have.

No, they haven't - unless its changed in the last fortnight.

I was under the impression that the ESTA replaced the 'green forms', I filled our ESTA's in last week and was sure it stated on the website that the ESTA replaced the green form

[F i F]

spdpug98 said:

GreigM said:

Deva Link said:

SLacKer said:

Wouldn't mind so much if they got rid of those green forms.

They have.

No, they haven't - unless its changed in the last fortnight.

I was under the impression that the ESTA replaced the 'green forms', I filled our ESTA's in last week and was sure it stated on the website that the ESTA replaced the green form

In time it is supposed to replace it but not yet.
No idea when it will be replaced.
aiui you will still, even then have to complete the customs form.

[Deva Link]

spdpug98 said:

GreigM said:

Deva Link said:

SLacKer said:

Wouldn't mind so much if they got rid of those green forms.

They have.

No, they haven't - unless its changed in the last fortnight.

I was under the impression that the ESTA replaced the 'green forms', I filled our ESTA's in last week and was sure it stated on the website that the ESTA replaced the green form

It was always supposed to replace the entry forms but then it all went a bit vague. I've seen several reports over the last few months that people haven't had to fill in the entry forms - perhaps it depends on the point of entry?

ETA: This announcement says there's a rolling program to eliminate them: http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1274366942074...

Edited by Deva Link on Saturday 7th August 17:47

[rfsteel]

US immigration charged me $6 usd to process my I-94 when entering by land from Canada 2 weeks ago, so looks like this has been happening for some time.

[iAlex]

F i F said:

spdpug98 said:

GreigM said:

Deva Link said:

SLacKer said:

Wouldn't mind so much if they got rid of those green forms.

They have.

No, they haven't - unless its changed in the last fortnight.

I was under the impression that the ESTA replaced the 'green forms', I filled our ESTA's in last week and was sure it stated on the website that the ESTA replaced the green form

In time it is supposed to replace it but not yet.
No idea when it will be replaced.
aiui you will still, even then have to complete the customs form.

Did esta online and had to fill in one white customs form as head of party but the esta most definitely did replace the green forms of old in which each person had to fill in prior to clearing customs, usually on the plane.

As I understand it the esta is purely so customs can knock you back before you board the plane rather than dealing with you on arrival?

[n1ckt001]

iAlex said:

F i F said:

spdpug98 said:

GreigM said:

Deva Link said:

SLacKer said:

Wouldn't mind so much if they got rid of those green forms.

They have.

No, they haven't - unless its changed in the last fortnight.

I was under the impression that the ESTA replaced the 'green forms', I filled our ESTA's in last week and was sure it stated on the website that the ESTA replaced the green form

In time it is supposed to replace it but not yet.
No idea when it will be replaced.
aiui you will still, even then have to complete the customs form.

Did esta online and had to fill in one white customs form as head of party but the esta most definitely did replace the green forms of old in which each person had to fill in prior to clearing customs, usually on the plane.

As I understand it the esta is purely so customs can knock you back before you board the plane rather than dealing with you on arrival?

I flew to Chicago via Toronto... cheaper, Air Canada is better than United, and US customs in Canada is a much nicer experience...anyway, I digress... the border guard fella tore up my green form and said 'you don't need to fill this in'...
Ok, I thought, but what about when they ask for it when boarding for my flight home; but decided against arguing with the chap

Cue boarding for the flight home and woman on desk at United asking at the gate how on earth I am in the US without a visa waiver and demanding I fill one in before I could board!!! All at the top of her voice of course in front of a packed gate (after a 24 hour delay)!!

[iAlex]

Strange one... As I did esta online and nothing else and neither did anybody else on the flight. You couldn't even get green forms in English, they were all Spanish so I guess different rules depending on entry point?

[h0b0]

zippo said:

This goverment ought to repay the USA by charging Americans the same to enter the UK

Have you not seen the ridiculous tax the UK charges to land? I have not been to the UK since 2007 because of the extra cost instead I have met my family in Italy. I don't agree with the charge but to insinuate it's a bargain to get to the UK is a bit silly

[fluffnik]

Me, I go to Europe.

[Somewhatfoolish]

Cheers for head's up, just applied and instantly approved, not that I plan to go to such a godforsaken sthole any time soon but never know...

[SLacKer]

I went to Florida in early June and still needed the green form.

I hate those things and always need at least two as I always screw something up.

[LuS1fer]

I've just applied even though I'm not going until 2012 (perhaps).

Oddly enough, I'm "authorisation pending" as was my eldest daughter. Wife and 2 sons instantly approved. I forgot to note my daughter's application number (do make a note of it) to check back without which you are screwed (they don't e-mail apparently, it's all down to you) so I simply applied again and she was approved straight away so it's bit hit and miss to say the least.