ESTA: The New DHS Pre-Boarding Requirement for 90-Day Visitors to U.S.

August 2008 - International travelers who wish to travel to the United States, including Hawai‘i, under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are now subject to enhanced Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requirements. All eligible travelers who wish to travel under the VWP must apply for authorization using the DHS/CBP Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) Web Site. The VWP allows visitors from 27 countries, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and most Western European countries, to visit the U.S. without a visa. The establishment of ESTA implements a recommendation of the 9/11 Commission to create a fully automated electronic travel authorization system to collect such information as DHS deems necessary to evaluate, in advance of travel, the eligibility of the person to travel to the United States, and whether such travel poses a law enforcement or security risk. More