On November 10, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the launch of a pilot program to automate the arrival/departure form (CBP Form I-94W) for Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers from Auckland, New Zealand, to Los Angeles International Airport. The pilot will support the automation of the paper I-94W form for visitors to the United States who travel under the VWP with an approved travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

The pilot program is being tested on Air New Zealand Flight 6, beginning Thursday, November 12 and will last 30 days. Passengers traveling on this flight with an approved ESTA will not need to fill out the paper I-94W form. CBP will evaluate the success of the pilot program and consider expanding the pilot program to additional Air New Zealand flights to Los Angeles during the testing period.

“CBP has received more than 13 million ESTA applications from nationals of VWP countries and compliance continues to grow daily,” said CBP Acting Commissioner Jayson Ahern. “With the Form I-94W Automation Pilot Program, we are facilitating the travel and entry process for our VWP visitors from New Zealand and for VWP travelers arriving from other countries in the near future.”

Air New Zealand, with the support of the government of New Zealand, volunteered to test the process using their flights into Los Angeles. Air New Zealand Flight 6 was selected because it arrives as a stand-alone flight.

Congress required through the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 that DHS develop and implement an automated system to determine, in advance of travel, the eligibility of visitors to travel to the U.S. under the VWP, and whether such travel poses a law enforcement or security risk.

ESTA became mandatory on January 12 for all nationals of VWP countries prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the United States under the VWP. VWP travelers need to receive an ESTA approval prior to departing for the United States. This requirement does not affect U.S. citizens returning from overseas or citizens of VWP countries traveling on a valid U.S. visa.

The U.S. VWP currently enables the nationals of 35 countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. VWP travelers currently complete a written I-94W form providing basic biographical, travel, and eligibility information while en route to the United States. VWP travelers now provide this information online prior to departure for the United States with ESTA as well.

ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel, and once approved, generally will be valid for up to two years or until the applicant’s passport expires, whichever comes first. Authorizations will be valid for multiple entries into the U.S. CBP recommends ESTA applications be submitted as soon as an applicant begins making travel plans.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wants to reminded travelers from all Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries that they are now required to obtain approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to traveling to the United States. This requirement, effective January 12, 2009, applies to all eligible citizens or nationals traveling under the VWP.

“We have been collecting information from visa waiver travelers for decades, and establishing a program to get that same information in advance is one enhancement that allowed us to extend the valuable benefit of visa-free travel to eight new countries in 2008,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “In addition to building business and cultural ties with our partners overseas, this is a commonsense step into the 21^st century that will improve our efficiency in screening and welcoming international travelers at our ports of entry.”

ESTA is a web-based system, initially launched in August 2008, that determines the preliminary eligibility of visitors to travel under the VWP prior to boarding a carrier to the United States. To date, more than 1.2 million ESTA applications have been received, and more than 99.6% of applicants have been approved, most within seconds.

DHS will take a reasonable approach to travelers who have not obtained an approved travel authorization via ESTA, and will continue an aggressive advertising and outreach campaign throughout 2009. Travelers without an approved ESTA are advised, however, that they may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing, or be denied admission at a U.S. port of entry. Visitors may apply for travel authorization via the ESTA Web site.

DHS received authorization for VWP reforms through the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. The VWP is administered by the department and enables eligible citizens or nationals of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. To be admitted to the VWP, a country must meet various statutory requirements, such as more enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the U.S. and timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports. VWP members are also required to maintain high counter-terrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security standards.

The citizens or nationals of the following countries are currently eligible to travel to the United States under the VWP: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Eight of these countries joined the VWP in 2008, and their citizens and nationals have been required to comply with an ESTA since their designation as VWP participants: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Malta.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will designate Malta as a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) country on December 30, 2009. Maltese nationals will be able to travel visa-free to the United States effective December 30th.

“I commend Malta’s commitment to meeting all of the security requirements for joining the Visa Waiver Program this year,” said Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Policy Stewart Baker. “This development will further strengthen the U.S. relationship with Malta and reflect our joint commitment to enhancing trade, travel, and security for all our citizens.”

Malta was required to meet various security requirements, including more enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the United States. VWP members are also required to maintain high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control and document security standards.

The VWP will enable citizens of Malta to travel to the United States, beginning on December 30, 2009, for 90 days or less for tourism or business purposes without a visa, provided they have an e-passport and an approved authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

Currently, 34 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program. The U.S. Congress authorized DHS in August 2007 to reform the VWP and strengthen the security arrangements required of existing participant countries, as well as to expand the opportunity for aspiring countries to join the program. This legislation also mandates certain improvements to the VWP for all participating countries, such as the requirement that travelers first obtain an online authorization to travel under the newly established ESTA, a web-based system that determines the preliminary eligibility of visitors to travel under the VWP prior to boarding a carrier to the United States.

Beginning January 12, 2009, all visitors from VWP countries must apply for and receive an approved travel authorization via ESTA to board a plane or vessel bound for the United States. Of the more than 732,000 ESTA applications filed so far, over 99.7% have been approved, the vast majority in less than one minute. For additional information about the VWP, as well as the new ESTA requirement, please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Web site.

On November 17, the Department of Homeland Security formally announced the addition of seven countries to the list of those authorized to participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The seven countries are the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and South Korea.

“We are especially pleased to welcome these allies into the Visa Waiver Program,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “Expanding the number of countries whose citizens can travel to the U.S. without a visa increases business and social ties between our countries and at the same time deepens cooperation on required security measures.”

The VWP is administered by the Department and enables eligible citizens or nationals of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. To be admitted to the VWP, a country must meet various statutory requirements, such as more enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the United States and timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports. VWP members are also required to maintain high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security standards.

The citizens or nationals of the following countries are currently eligible to travel to the United States under the VWP: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Beginning November 17, eligible citizens or nationals from the new VWP countries may travel to the United States under the program provided they have an e-passport and an approved authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a web-based system that determines the preliminary eligibility of visitors to travel under the VWP prior to boarding a carrier to the United States.

Beginning January 12, 2009, eligible citizens or nationals from all countries must obtain approval through ESTA before traveling to the United States under the VWP, DHS said on November 13.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that, beginning January 12, 2009, all nonimmigrant aliens traveling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must obtain an approved travel authorization from the Department’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). To comply with ESTA, VWP travelers must provide electronically to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) the information currently collected on the I-94W Nonimmigrant Alien Arrival/ Departure (Form I-94W) through the CBP ESTA Web site and receive authorization to travel before embarking on travel to the United States.

Nonimmigrant aliens traveling to the United States under the VWP on or after January 12, 2009 are required to obtain travel authorization through ESTA.

To apply for travel authorization under ESTA, visit their Web site,

For futher information, contact: Beverly Good, Office of Field Operations, Phone: (202) 344-3710, Email:  CBP.ESTA@dhs.gov.

Please see the notice in the Federal Register for more information.

On June 3, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an interim final rule establishing the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a new online system that is part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and that is required by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007.

“Rather than relying on paper-based procedures, this system will leverage 21st century electronic means to obtain basic information about who is traveling to the U.S. without a visa,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “Getting this information in advance enables our frontline personnel to determine whether a visa-free traveler presents a threat, before boarding an aircraft or arriving on our shores. It is a relatively simple and effective way to strengthen our security, and that of international travelers, while helping to preserve an important program for key allies.”

Once ESTA is mandatory, all nationals or citizens of VWP countries who plan to travel to the United States for temporary business or pleasure under the VWP will need to receive an electronic travel authorization before boarding a U.S.-bound airplane or cruise ship. The requirement will go into effect next year and does not affect U.S. citizens traveling overseas.

Currently, citizens of VWP countries complete a written I-94W form, providing basic biographical, travel, and eligibility information while en route to the United States. With ESTA, VWP travelers will provide this information online before their departure.

ESTA is intended to determine, almost immediately in many cases, whether an individual is eligible for VWP travel, and whether such travel poses any law enforcement or security risks. ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel, and, once approved, they will be valid for up to 2 years or until the applicant’s passport expires, whichever comes first. Authorizations will also be valid for multiple entries into the United States. DHS is recommending that ESTA applications be submitted as soon as an applicant begins planning U.S.-bound travel, and not less than 72 hours prior to travel.

On Aug. 1, 2008, the Department will begin to accept voluntary applications through the ESTA Web site. Until ESTA is mandatory for all VWP travelers, however, ESTA applicants will still need to complete an I-94W form en route, for presentation at a U.S. port of entry. The Secretary of Homeland Security is expected to publish a notice in the Federal Register by mid-November 2008 announcing implementation of mandatory ESTA requirements on Jan. 12, 2009.

For more information about ESTA, please see the fact sheet or visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Web site.