Ascension : TRAVELLING TO AMERICA- CHANGE TO VISA WAIVER PROGRAM
Submitted by The Islander (Police Ascension) 15.01.2009 (Article Archived on 29.01.2009)

Please be advised that all international travellers who are seeking to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, are now subject to enhance security requirements and must apply for authorisation before arriving in the US.

Please be advised that all international travellers who are seeking to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, are now subject to enhance security requirements and must apply for authorisation before arriving in the US.

If you’re travelling to America and with immediate effect, you have to apply online for permission to enter the United States. 

The Visa Waiver Program includes persons (holiday makers) travelling from Ascension to enable qualifying citizens with a machine readable passport to visit the United States, for up to 90 days without applying for a visa. The new procedure will, be the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) a compulsory online travel permit.

All visa waiver travellers must pre-register on line at least 72 hours prior to travel to obtain an authorisation. Once obtained, visa waivers are valid for two years, or until your passport expires. Failure to do this and you will not be allowed into the country.

The official ESTA website is www.esta.cbp.dhs.gov, and all visa waiver applicants should submit their information through this site alone. Please be aware of rouge websites which have popped up alongside the official one, which offer assistance with the ESTA for a fee. Visa Waivers are completely free.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Reg Williams

Inspector of Police