Full implementation of the US Customs and Border Protection ESTA Visa Waiver Programme has been delayed by up to a year to allow airlines and the public more time to comply with the scheme.
The flagship security project – the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) – is an online version of the I-94 Green Card, which is currently completed by passengers on inbound flights.
ESTA went live in January as planned, but all travellers from the 35 visa waiver countries are still required to fill in the I-94 for the time being.
Department of Homeland Security ESTA director Beverley Good said compliance rates have been good at around 87%, but acknowledged some travellers are still preparing to fly without having completed the online authorisation form. Most airlines still also need to update their systems to comply with the scheme.
“The carriers need to be able to validate whether a Visa Waiver Programme traveller has an ESTA or not and we’re working closely with them as they move forward to changing their systems to be able to do that,” said Good.
“Right now, we’re in a grace period for both airlines and travellers, so we can have a smooth transition to full implementation.”
Good said it could take until January 2010 to complete the transition. Once it is in full effect, the I-94 Green Card will be discontinued and travellers risk being turned away at immigration if an ESTA form has not been completed.
Blog posts on ESTA
- Getting ads for ‘ESTA service providers’ off Travel Weekly [Travel Weekly Blog]
- Come again? US electronic visa site’s welcoming pop-up [Travel Weekly Blog]