LONDON – New rules went into effect yesterday requiring people travelling to the United States under the visa waiver programme to register online in advance, instead of filling out paper forms in flight or at the airport.
The new programme, designed to improve US security, has been voluntary since August but became mandatory yesterday. Travellers are being asked to fill out the forms at least 72 hours in advance of travel.
The rules cover the citizens of 35 countries who don’t require a visa to enter the United States.
Derwood Staeben, US consul general in London, said nearly all applications would be approved in less than 10 seconds. He said travellers would not be required to give any more information than is already requested on the paper immigration forms, which are being replaced.
‘The important change is that we’re automating the existing process and requiring it to be done in advance,’ he said. ‘The response time is generally about four seconds.’
Travellers filling out the online form will be told whether their request is authorised, denied or pending, he said. Those who are marked ‘pending’ must check back in 72 hours to see if they have been approved, he said.
People whose application is denied must apply to the US consulate for a visa, he said.
He said the US Congress mandated the change.
There is no fee for the service, he said, and the travel authorisation is valid for two years. He warned that operators of some unscrupulous Web sites are charging fees for this service, which is designed to be free of charge.
People can apply for travel authorisation at any time, and Staeben said about 14 000 applications per day are being received. – Nampa-AP
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