Charge for permission to enter the US

[Helen]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20100807/tuk-charge-for-permission-to-enter-us-6323e80.html

Here's another snippet I've copied:

The US is to start charging UK travellers nearly £10 to apply for permission to enter the country. From September 8, people will have to pay 14 dollars (£9) to use the compulsory Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (Esta). Of the fee, 10 dollars will apparently go to a fund to promote US tourism with four dollars covering administration.

The Esta form takes up to 72 hours to be approved and gives air passengers prior approval for entry to the US. It is currently free to obtain, and lasts for two years. People who already have a valid form will not have to pay until their current one expires.

Martin Lewis, creator of MoneySavingExpert.com, has urged anyone even considering a trip to the US to apply for a form now in order to avoid the charge.

He said: "The security authorisation lasts for two years, so do it now and it'll be free if you travel in that time. Yet leave it for a month and you'll have to pay for it.

He added: "It is rather strange that this fee is mainly going to promote US tourism. You would have thought keeping it cheaper to get in would help more - after all, it's free for most Americans to come here."

The Esta scheme was introduced in January 2009 but made mandatory from January 2010.

It applies to 35 countries with US "visa waiver" status, and replaced the green I-94 card which passengers used to fill in on their flight to the US.

An estimated four million Britons visit the US each year.

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/(Esta)

[byegad]

Good idea!

Better yet save $14 and don't go!

[bikefish]

Also applies to transit. I just phoned Air New Zealand as they had (post payment) changed my flight schedules - to make sure still via Hong Kong...

[andrew_s]

Better yet save $14 and don't go!

Indeed.

It sends a message "not really wanted here", hence the extra $10 to try and offset the fact that Immigration has a louder voice than the US Tourism people.

[scottg]

Send a letter to the US Embassy, "No Taxation without Representation".

[mill4six]

Now, I'd pay to LEAVE!!! But not to get in.

[Penfold]

So why dont 'we' (the UK) do the same for visitors from the USA?

I'm off to Turkey next month and I have to put a £10:00 note in my passport when I enter that country....Just how much would the UK make if every passenger (apart from UK citizens) had to pay £10:00 or similar to enter The Greatest of Britons.??

[hubgearfreak]

The US is to start charging UK travellers nearly £10 to apply for permission to enter the country.

if it reduces the number of flying tourists, and increase the number of staying at home tourists, i'm all for it. as i'm sure are

1. future generations
2. the 1bn people who are going to lose their homes/ food supply/ life from climate change
3. people living near heathrow & etc.

hoorah to the us for (unwittingly) introducing a pollution tax

[thirdcrank]

Penfold

Churchill also said this:

The British Empire and the United States will have to be somewhat mixed up together in some of their affairs for the mutual and general advantage. For my own part, looking out upon the future, I do not view the process with any misgivings. I could not stop it if I wished; no one can stop it. Like the Mississippi, it just keeps rolling along. Let it roll. Let it roll on full flood, inexorable, irrestistible, benignant, to broader lands and better days. (House of Commons 20 August 1940)

And a topical one:

There is no finer investment for any community than putting milk into babies. (Radio broadcast 21 March 1943)

[rbrian]

Well said hubgearfreak, I was thinking much the same myself.

[simonhill]

Firstly - Penfold, many citizens of other countries pay far more than £10 to enter the UK. Some visas are well over £100 and we (ie the Brits) are now sometimes also charging a visa processing agents fee which adds to the cost and then becomes tit for tat (ie they then charge Brits the same). For example, if you try to get a Chinese visa in London you will find that you have to use a visa processing centre which charges about £35 before you pay for your visa. This is purely reciprocal as the UK started it by charging the Chinese. If, however, I apply in Bangkok, no front end charge and the visa is about £50 cheaper overall (no extortionate postage charges).

Back to the post.... it is interesting re the US charges - I don't really care as I don't go, but in these tough times for attracting tourists....Thailand has yet again extended its free tourist visa offer (should be £28) and Oz recently dropped the handling charge when applying for an ETA (electronic tourist visa). So its up to you - vote with your feet, or come with me to Thailand and Oz!