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Press Release

ESTA : New Requirements for British Citizens Traveling to the United States

24 November 2008

Updated September 2010:  please note that ESTA is not free any more and a small fee (currently U$14) is charged.

 

Beginning January 12, 2009, all nationals and citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries - including the UK - will be required by law to obtain a travel authorization prior to traveling to the United States under the VWP. Travelers can register for authorization online through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTATM), an Internet application administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through a U.S. government Web site. This web site is available today and all UK citizens planning to travel to the US in the future are encouraged to apply now.

DHS does not charge VWP travelers a fee for completion of an ESTATM application. Eligible visitors seeking to travel to the United States under the VWP may apply for travel authorization via the ESTATM Web site at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

VWP travelers should be aware that unauthorized third-parties have established Web sites, which charge visitors seeking to travel to the United States under the VWP, for information about ESTATM and for submitting ESTATM applications to DHS on behalf of the traveler. These businesses and Web sites are not endorsed by, associated with, or affiliated in any way with DHS or the United States Government. Again, the United States Government does not charge a fee to obtain information about, apply for, or obtain a travel authorization through the ESTATM Web site. Use of a private service to apply for travel authorization via ESTATM will not expedite the granting of approval.

The ESTATM application Web site is available in 16 languages and includes a help section that provides additional information for VWP travelers to guide them through the application process. Additional information about ESTATM may be found at http://www.cbp.gov/esta.

For more information, contact:
U.S. Embassy Public Affairs, at 020-7499-5261 or presslon@state.gov .