Brits must register online for travel to US

By Simon Alford

Britons travelling to the US could be detained and sent home by immigration officials if they do not register online before their trip, the Foreign Office has warned.

From Monday, UK nationals will need to complete an electronic authorisation form 72-hours before they fly, which has to be approved by the US Department of Homeland Security.

Travellers do not have to specify exactly when they are travelling and the electronic authorisation lasts for two years.

It applies to all travellers using the Visa Waiver Program, which allows British passport holders who intend to stay in America for less than 90 days to enter the country without a visa.

The scheme, known as ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation), had been voluntary since it was first introduced in August last year. Previously, travellers would fill out a paper form during their flight an option which is being dispensed with on Monday.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “From January 12, thousands of Britons could potentially be turned away by immigration at US airports if they fail to register on ESTA 72 hours prior to their departure.

“British travellers who have not registered before their trip are likely to be detained and sent home.

“This may affect a wide range of British nationals and the Foreign Office is particularly concerned that people who may not have heard of ESTA and booked their trip before enforcement of the new rule may be caught out.”

In the winter months of last year more than 500,000 Britons visited the US.

A report on travel trends by the Foreign Office and The Travel Association (ABTA), which represents more than 6,000 UK travel agencies and tour operators, predicted 13 per cent of British travellers are more likely to visit the America in 2009 following Barack Obama's election as President.

Andrew Spice, from Post Office Travel Services, said the new scheme could prove a problem to people who like to travel spontaneously and book last-minute weekend breaks to cities like New York and Boston.

“Problems may also occur if UK tourists travel to the USA via another country - like Canada or the Caribbean Islands - and don’t realise that they will need the ESTA to gain entry,” he added.

Despite the concerns raise, the US Embassy in London said that 99.6 per cent of those registered have been approved - most within four seconds.

US ambassador Robert Tuttle said: “As I have travelled around the UK during the past three-and-a-half years, I have seen time and again how important person-to-person contact is.

“ESTA is one way that we are trying to make travel to the United States even easier. I urge everyone thinking about a trip to the United States to complete an ESTA application to ensure a smooth trip.”

British Airways said they would be sending e-mail reminders to customers to make them aware of the new scheme.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article5487551.ece