Last week the US Department of Homeland Security introduced an electronic system for travel authorisation (ESTA), a new on-line web service designed to bring its existing visa waiver programme (VWP ” the familiar I-94 green form) into the 21st century.
ESTA is a major step forward designed to eliminate, where possible, the huge immigration queues sometimes found at US gateways. It is initially on trial, and not compulsory, but will become a legal part of air travellers' entry into the US from Monday 12 January 2009.
In very simple terms ESTA is an on-line visa waiver system. It requires airline passengers to mainland US, not requiring a full visa, to register at least 72 hours before travel.
That is the theory. In practice if you turn up at an airport without ESTA, and your flight booking will note this fact, you can still apply for an ESTA. However you will have to find a computer facility landside at the airport (an opportunity for another killing by BAA). Each ESTA is good for two years with no flight details required, only the address of your American destination for your first journey. Once issued (you just get a number), you do not have to re-validate for each trip although where you are staying may differ.
The US immigration authorities have, for the most part, been very effective in recent times in speeding up the airport process, even at Miami, once notorious. Citizens of some 27 countries are currently eligible under the VWP process, including most (but not all) of the EU, Australia, Japan and New Zealand. The catch is that if you are inbound to the United States and your plane lands behind say an Indian or Chinese 747 you are going to be stuck in the same queue as every other foreign passenger. The authorities need to sort this one out quickly in order for appropriately entitled persons to make the best use of the scheme. Three streams would be a good idea, US nationals, ESTA, Others, instead of the present two.
Should you be in transit, say to New Zealand or South America from Europe, the same ESTA rules apply. You will still need to undertake the process.
Australia has a similar procedure already in operation, but where the American system scores is that it is free. Generally speaking, within a few seconds you are passed, rejected, or made pending. If for some reason you are turned down the next step is to apply for a visa in the normal way.
Whilst improved security is part of the scenario, the main reason behind the whole project is to make life easier for the mass of tourists who come to the US every year including 4.5 million from the United Kingdom said to spend ”10bn annually.
Compare this to the latest contribution from the British government.
The Home Office and the UK Border Agency (UKBA) has announced that in early 2009 they intend to re-introduce visas for 11 countries which currently have visa waiver agreements with the UK Government.
This, they say, is due to those nations not meeting the "strict criteria to determine the level of risk they pose to the UK in terms of illegal immigration, crime and security standards set by the UK Government”. It will introduce visa requirements for short-term visitors from these countries unless they significantly reduce the risk they pose to the UK by the end of the year. A threat or a fact?
This important change was made without consultation with the tourism industry and announced on the very day that the latest House of Commons Select Committee report on tourism was published, critical on government policy.
The 11 countries named by the Home Office are Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.
Such a move is unprecedented and, if implemented, is likely to result in reciprocal action from the countries concerned. Brazil, Malaysia and South Africa, are key emerging markets. If they decide to respond in a negative manner, which is more than likely ” countries are like that ” it might well mean a huge increase in cost and inconvenience for business trips (and tourists) wishing to develop markets in some of the world”s fastest growing economies. All this at a time when citizens from questionable East European countries can seemingly come and go as they please.
For the inbound industry the consequences will be even more dramatic.
It is difficult enough to sell a very expensive United Kingdom (due to the exchange rate) let alone a visa application process at ”65 per person. And whilst complaining about these new restrictions UKBA needs to sort out long lines trying to go through the non-EU passport controls. BA has enough problems attempting to promote T5 without the added aggravation provided by the British border police, only obeying the rules of their political masters.
It is essential for the UKBA to be vigilant in very carefully monitoring our borders and be seen to be tough on illegal immigration. However we are a welcoming nation and have been so since the beginning of time.
The Americans for once have got it right. The United States, at political level, is clearly not the most popular of nations, but when it comes to voting with their feet, that country wins hands down. Millions want to come.
Last Friday the Olympics got under way and even China has seen a relaxation of border controls and police scrutiny. Our British Olympics are not until 2012. But over the next four years we need to exploit the opportunity that is available. More and more complexity for business and leisure visitors is not the way to go about it. If the Americans can do it why not us?
Malcolm Ginsberg
US visa waiver system goes electronic (1 August 2008)
US border controls: paper forms will remain for now (9 August 2008)