Category: ESTA

The U.S. Embassy in London recently released a notification of limited nonimmigrant visa services during the Olympics and an expansion of the Visa Reissuance Program to include H-1 and H-4 visa applicants. The embassy noted that visa services will be limited during July and August for all nonimmigrant visa categories. The embassy encourages applicants “to… Read More

The Department of State released a cable (PDF) to the field in August 2010 that provides information on implementation of the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 (TPA), signed into law on March 4, 2010, and fee collection for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Under the TPA, fees collected from international travelers from Visa… Read More

On May 20, 2010, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the elimination of the paper arrival/departure form (Form I-94W) for authorized travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries. Following a seven-month pilot program on Air New Zealand flights from Auckland to Los Angeles International Airport, the use of paper I-94W forms will be eliminated… Read More

The Department of State has taken the position that those who have applied for a visa that cannot be granted due to a need for further security clearances, or additional documents or information, have been effectively “denied” a visa and must disclose this when completing their ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) application should they… Read More

Those seeking to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program are now subject to enhanced security requirements as of January 12, 2009. All eligible travelers who wish to travel under the Visa Waiver Program must apply for authorization using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), available at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/. All VWP travelers applying… Read More