CWT - Government/Legislation

Government/Legislation

ESTA—now-mandatory—is a FREE service for VWP travelers to the U.S.
Beginning on January 12, international travelers to the United States from the 27 countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) need to receive an electronic travel authorization before departing to the United States. The application should be submitted to https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/ at least 72 hours prior to travel. The authorization will be valid for multiple entries to the United States for up to two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

Alert: Travelers should be aware that there is no fee to submit an ESTA application. Some Websites, unaffiliated with the U.S. government, offer to assist travelers with their applications for a charge of anywhere from USD $50 to $250. Travelers visiting Websites that require payment for this service should be aware that they are not at the official ESTA Website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Sources: Travel Weekly, www.dhs.gov