US Immigration to start charging for the ESTA form!

[[TW]Fox]

If you've a large family then that will start to add up. I don't need to pay the fee but will need to pay for my wifre and 2 daughters

Thats terrible, thats a whole £27 on top of your £1000+ airfare.

 

[willhub]

That was kind of my point, it's not something you expect from the richest country in the world.

They've also got more debt than any country on earth.

 

[meghatronic]

They've also got more debt than any country on earth.

Granted, so when will they STFU and act like it?

 

[antran]

Thats terrible, thats a whole £27 on top of your £1000+ airfare.

£27 is not much for me

 

[[TW]Fox]

£27 is not much for me

£27 is not much for anyone who choses America as a holiday destination. It is not a cheap place to go on holiday, never has been never will be. It'll now cost 9 quid a person more, (£4.50 a year if you go every year) big deal, oh no.

I'm being stiffed more than that ($18!!!) for a nights parking at the hotel, now THAT is a con and puts this charge into perspective.

 

[Dark_Angel]

£9?

I thought the news was going to be like 60 or 100 or something that actually... makes a difference?

 

[semi-pro waster]

I don't think it's the actual sum involved that bothers people so much but the idea that you're being charged extra for a compulsory security check which was previously free at point of entry. And while the sum itself is miniscule in comparison to the cost of the trip generally that doesn't mean that a belief in the principle that such a levy is wrong ceases to exist.

 

[PeterNem]

It's an optional check - you don't have to go and you therefore have a choice. It's a known up front cost.

I don't see the problem with having tourists contribute to the costs of running the additional screening requirements they bring and also putting something extra back into the industry to promote itself.

We should do something similar.

 

[[TW]Fox]

I don't think it's the actual sum involved that bothers people so much but the idea that you're being charged extra for a compulsory security check which was previously free at point of entry. And while the sum itself is miniscule in comparison to the cost of the trip generally that doesn't mean that a belief in the principle that such a levy is wrong ceases to exist.

They dont have to offer us a Visa waiver. We could be forced to apply for a Visa like MOST other countries in the world! That would cost much more.

 

[Killerkebab]

I'm with Fox, after reading up on this a little more - they could easily turn around and scrap Visa waivers, forcing us to pay $140 per person for a Visa

 

[Goliath]

It's an optional check - you don't have to go and you therefore have a choice. It's a known up front cost.

Not really optional; a number of carriers have stated that they will not permit you onto the flight without an approved ESTA application.

 

[knowledge123]

It's an optional check - you don't have to go and you therefore have a choice. It's a known up front cost.

I don't see the problem with having tourists contribute to the costs of running the additional screening requirements they bring and also putting something extra back into the industry to promote itself.

We should do something similar.

No, it's not optional.

The compulsory Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (Esta) is free at present, but from 9 September visitors to the US will have to pay for it.

But British Airways and American Airlines are advising travellers to apply at least 72 hours in advance.

Both airlines have said people without valid Esta forms or visas will not be allowed to board flights to the US.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10899968

edit: beaten by a minute! But mine has a source!

 

[[TW]Fox]

No, it's not optional.

It is optional - you don't have to travel to the USA.

 

[knowledge123]

It is optional - you don't have to travel to the USA.

Which is what the whingers in this thread obviously won't be doing

 

[Jimbeam3678]

Another reason not to go to that god forsaken place! Do people really think its going to stay at 9GBP ?

Good job I have no urge to go to that place again what so ever

 

[meghatronic]

They dont have to offer us a Visa waiver. We could be forced to apply for a Visa like MOST other countries in the world! That would cost much more.

Well that would be great for the US economy wouldn't it, people would just not bother

It is optional - you don't have to travel to the USA.

To be fair, that attitude ****** me off chief. It's the same as the "well you don't have to fly if you don't want to bare your genitals to those new scanners". Some people *have* to travel for their work... so it's far too an abstraction for my liking .

 

[semi-pro waster]

It's an optional check - you don't have to go and you therefore have a choice. It's a known up front cost.

I don't see the problem with having tourists contribute to the costs of running the additional screening requirements they bring and also putting something extra back into the industry to promote itself.

We should do something similar.

You're right in that it's a choice most people make in going to the USA but it looks very much like profiteering from something that is compulsory to do so. If the fee was simply to cover the cost of processing the application then that is one thing but it's not, over 2/3 of the cost is apparently to go to promoting tourism in America - a random idea that occurs in terms of making it more appealing is not levy a charge above and beyond the necessary (arguably none is necessary) and to not make the process so onerous when it's probably not aiding safety.

They dont have to offer us a Visa waiver. We could be forced to apply for a Visa like MOST other countries in the world! That would cost much more.

Again, they don't have to offer a visa waiver but since we've got a reciprocal visa waiver for them in place then it would be ever so slightly hypocritical for them to rescind the matching arrangement - still it wouldn't be the first time America expected something from others they weren't willing to have for their own citizens.

This probably looks like an anti-American rant now, it's not intended that way as in the majority of cases I've got no problems with Americans or their Government. I do however have occasional problems with their foreign policy and the way they conduct themselves in international matters.

 

[Killerkebab]

Well that would be great for the US economy wouldn't it, people would just not bother

People went to the USA all the time before Visa waiver existed

People wanted to go there so much they paid the £50+ for the chance (you're not certain to get one of course) of a Visa

To be fair, that attitude ****** me off chief. It's the same as the "well you don't have to fly if you don't want to bare your genitals to those new scanners". Some people *have* to travel for their work... so it's far too an abstraction for my liking .

Their employer could always foot the bill for ESTA

 

[meghatronic]

People went to the USA all the time before Visa waiver existed

People wanted to go there so much they paid the £50+ for the chance (you're not certain to get one of course) of a Visa

Same numbers? Unlikely.

 

[Killerkebab]

Same numbers? Unlikely.

Why not? If you want to go to the USA, £9 for a two year pass isn't going to stop you. People pay $140 for Visas.

They can't increase the price of ESTA too much anyway. As it stands, ESTA is roughly half as much (per year) as a Visa (assuming you get a 10 year Visa, still). If they make ESTA more than $28 then suddenly Visas become better value for money.

I don't see the problem, personally. £9 barely gets you a taxi ride from the airport to the hotel you're staying at over there, if you're that short of cash for a US holiday you're better off saving for another year.