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ESTA - Electronic System for Travel Authorisation

GOING TO THE USA - READ THIS IMPORTANT NOTICE

British citizens and others travelling to the USA on and from 12 January 2009 who do not have or do not require a visa will need to apply for permission three days beforehand under new security requirements known as ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation). Anyone denied permission or who has failed to apply will be barred from checking in for their flight at the airport. This system replaces the 'visa waiver' form that has been in use for many years.
More details about the scheme and its background can be found here
To apply for an ESTA click here.

Watch out for Bogus web sites about ESTA which claim to be able to obtain them on payment of a fee. There is currently no fee payable and the above links are the sites with official information.

HOW TO GET THROUGH U.S. IMMIGRATION MORE QUICKLY

Below are a few tips for avoiding the worst of the queues that can build up at U.S. Airports for non U.S. nationals entering the country. They are not fail safe but may help!!

Choose a less popular arrival airport:

Avoid New York JFK and Newark, Washington, Orlando, San Francisco, Miami and Los Angeles International if you can.
Consider smaller arrival hubs such as San Diego (for LA), Baltimore (for Washington), Fort Lauderdale (for Miami).

Travel early or late

If you have to go to New York, try to book the first (around 11.00) or last (around 2300) arrivals there when immigration is generally quietest.

Travel via Canada or Ireland

If you fly via Montreal or Toronto with Air Canada or via Dublin or Shannon with Aer Lingus, US officials process passengers at those en route airports and you are treated as a domestic arrival in the U.S. airport.

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