VWP Travelers Need Electronic Authorization
News from Export News -- U. S. Department of Commerce

AS OF JANUARY 12, VWP TRAVELERS NEED ELECTRONIC AUTHORIZATION
Have plans to host an international visitor next year? Beginning January 12, 2009, all
Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers will be required to have an electronic travel authorization
to board a carrier and enter the US. The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is a new requirement implemented by the 9/11 Act to determine the eligibility of VWP visitors to travel to the U.S. The program affects all 27 VWP countries. Travelers must log on to the secure, web-based ESTA system and provide basic biographical and travel information. Each application is then checked against law enforcement databases, including the terrorist
watch-list, lost and stolen passport records, and visa revocation/ refusal files, to determine if the traveler poses any security risk. Applications must be submitted at least 72 hours prior to travel. For details, see www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/.