Beware Rogue US Visa Websites
Published: 01 April 2009
On 12 January 2009 new procedures came into effect requiring all nationals or citizens participating in the Visa Waiver Programme (which includes British citizens) who plan on travelling to the usa to apply for Electronic System of Travel Authorisation (esta). It is free to apply and is only available at the official website, https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
But beware, official looking websites offering assistance with esta are making a fortune charging unsuspecting travellers upwards of us$50 (£35) per visa to process the application on their behalf. “These businesses and websites are not endorsed by, associated with or affiliated in any way with dhs [Department of Homeland Security] or the United States Government,” commented the us Embassy in London.
WEXAS recommends that all travellers to the US obtain esta approval prior to ticket purchase and no later than 72 hours before departure. May we also remind you that even travellers transiting through the usa must still obtain authorisation through esta. ‘In transit’ should be entered as the address in the us when completing the esta application.
Editor: Pete Mathers
Go back
Back to the top
