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Before any of my fellow citizens complain, take note: > This new system should not put American noses out of joint. The United States Customs and Border Prote

Before any of my fellow citizens complain, take note: > This new system should not put American noses out of joint. The United States Customs and Border Protection has run a similar visa-waiver program since 2008, called the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The U.S. visa-waiver program requires citizens from 40 countries in Europe and elsewhere to apply online for a visa waiver and pay $14 to enter the U.S. for short stays of less than 90 days.

piceas 5y ago
And don't let your parents/those willing to trust seach engines click on any official looking link they see. They might pay usd75 for a third party to 'help' make the application. Of those I know who have fallen for it most were able to get their money back. E.g. (not the first link for me but still up there on duckduckgo) "https://estaapplication.com.au https://estaapplication.com.au Official USA ESTA Application for UK & Australian Citizens ..."
tallanvor 5y ago
I complained to my senator when they created ESTA, not that it did any good. As much as I agree turnabout is fair play, I still want to see fewer barriers to travel, not more of them.
midasuni 5y ago
What’s hilarious about ESTa is that part of the fee is a “tourism tax” to attract more tourists. Want to attract more people- don’t put in silly things like esta.
- llampx 5y ago
  On the other hand, choosing where to go is an emotional argument. By the time someone has made the decision to go to the US because of advertising and marketing, the fee for ESTA or a visa are secondary concerns. Even more so if the decision maker and the accountant are not the same person, as can happen in families.
Fnoord 5y ago
Before I could enter USA as EU citizen, I had to register via VWP in 2005 and 2006, got interviewed/screened (including my fingerprints taken) by airline as well as border control (fingerprints only by border control). As part of VWP, I had to state I did not take part in WWII on the Axis side, etc etc (I was born in the 80s...). I'm not sure what the requirements of Americans entering Europe were or are, can't imagine they were/are as strict. Going back, guy looked at my face 2 times, and I was allowed in. Its nice living in a free country like The Netherlands, I thought. And yes, we did have terrorism threat back then (Muslim extremists).

piceas 5y ago

And don't let your parents/those willing to trust seach engines click on any official looking link they see. They might pay usd75 for a third party to 'help' make the application. Of those I know who have fallen for it most were able to get their money back. E.g. (not the first link for me but still up there on duckduckgo) "https://estaapplication.com.au https://estaapplication.com.au Official USA ESTA Application for UK & Australian Citizens ..."

tallanvor 5y ago

I complained to my senator when they created ESTA, not that it did any good. As much as I agree turnabout is fair play, I still want to see fewer barriers to travel, not more of them.

midasuni 5y ago

What’s hilarious about ESTa is that part of the fee is a “tourism tax” to attract more tourists. Want to attract more people- don’t put in silly things like esta.

llampx 5y ago
On the other hand, choosing where to go is an emotional argument. By the time someone has made the decision to go to the US because of advertising and marketing, the fee for ESTA or a visa are secondary concerns. Even more so if the decision maker and the accountant are not the same person, as can happen in families.

Fnoord 5y ago

Before I could enter USA as EU citizen, I had to register via VWP in 2005 and 2006, got interviewed/screened (including my fingerprints taken) by airline as well as border control (fingerprints only by border control). As part of VWP, I had to state I did not take part in WWII on the Axis side, etc etc (I was born in the 80s...). I'm not sure what the requirements of Americans entering Europe were or are, can't imagine they were/are as strict. Going back, guy looked at my face 2 times, and I was allowed in. Its nice living in a free country like The Netherlands, I thought. And yes, we did have terrorism threat back then (Muslim extremists).