Travelling to the US after 12 Jan?

[Zen.]

According to Money Saving expert.

You must apply ONLINE to enter America first!

The days of filling out a green I-94 piece of paper (commonly thought of as the Visa Waiver form) on a plane for entry into the US are about to end. If you're travelling after 12 Jan '09 you'll need to fill in an online request to enter the States, at least three days before travelling, otherwise you'll be turned away at US immigration.

[satchbot]

I think Virgin let you do this online already. I think

[V8mate]

That's harsh.
How will people comply with their boss's wishes when he barks "You need to be in the New York office tomorrow!"?

[2something]

V8mate said:

That's harsh.
How will people comply with their boss's wishes when he barks "You need to be in the New York office tomorrow!"?

Just put in a rolling request on the off chance that you need to use it

[Olivero]

It has been this way for a bit. I flew over with Virgin a few months ago and had to sign up online. You also end up filling in paper forms on the plane (guess they just like paper) and can't say the security seems any better.

[neilsfishing]

Olivero said:

It has been this way for a bit. I flew over with Virgin a few months ago and had to sign up online. You also end up filling in paper forms on the plane (guess they just like paper) and can't say the security seems any better.

Just longer

[Olivero]

Oh, the eye scan thing is quite good and only takes 2 minutes to sign up. Would be good if they used a Robocop type voice for the barrier though.

[satchbot]

neilsfishing said:

Olivero said:

It has been this way for a bit. I flew over with Virgin a few months ago and had to sign up online. You also end up filling in paper forms on the plane (guess they just like paper) and can't say the security seems any better.

Just longer

I'm off to NY in March so will have to keep my eye on the development on this.

[bobthemonkey]

V8mate said:

That's harsh.
How will people comply with their boss's wishes when he barks "You need to be in the New York office tomorrow!"?

It's valid for two years. It's going to be something annoying people are going to have to remember to do. I bet they bring out a 12 hour system, for a $100 fee of course.

Edited by bobthemonkey on Thursday 4th December 18:01

[f13ldy]

Olivero said:

It has been this way for a bit. I flew over with Virgin a few months ago and had to sign up online. You also end up filling in paper forms on the plane (guess they just like paper) and can't say the security seems any better.

I went last Thursday and only had to fill out the green visa waiver form.

That was with Virgin (spit) as well.

The security was a little different to the last time I went, this time I had to record all my fingerprints and not just the index fingers.

Whoopy doo.

[bobthemonkey]

f13ldy said:

Olivero said:

It has been this way for a bit. I flew over with Virgin a few months ago and had to sign up online. You also end up filling in paper forms on the plane (guess they just like paper) and can't say the security seems any better.

I went last Thursday and only had to fill out the green visa waiver form.

That was with Virgin (spit) as well.

The security was a little different to the last time I went, this time I had to record all my fingerprints and not just the index fingers.

Whoopy doo.

The ESTA scheme is no operational, hence the different security, but only for new WVP countries. Rollout to exisitng members is on 12/1.

Edited by bobthemonkey on Thursday 4th December 18:06

[A1GOY]

As it stands you still need to fill in the green and white forms, but the new one promises to be quite good.
Getting in through passport control is wierd. Thy take prints from both hands and take a picture. Which I was asked not to smile for. Apparently drudgery is in...

Will this online thingy be a fill in once and it'll work for tweo years (as insinuated) or will I have to do it every time? 'Cos the missus lives here and I'm easily confused!

[chrisj_abz]

from what i can gather you may have to do it every time if you are staying somewhere different each time.

they will ask for an address you will be staying at (they already do this on the I-94 form)

[satchbot]

I think they just ask for the address of your first night. If they're scanning every finger I'd hate to see the queues

[GCH]

This ESTA is simply an electronic version of the visa waiver form- same questions, same restrictions. No big deal.
Can still be refused entry when you land though as you still have the same formalities with an immigration person.

satchbot said:

If they're scanning every finger I'd hate to see the queues

It reads all the fingers one one hand at once... its a large scanner. Then you do your thumb seperately. Takes a few seconds longer than before.

[satchbot]

That's okay then. Bit like livescan.