Electronic System for Travel Authorization

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA ) is an electronic travel authorization system for entry by air or sea to the United States of America, by the Ministry of Internal Security of the United States ( Department of Homeland Security, DHS) for the purpose of vetting was introduced by U.S. travelers under the Visa Waiver Program.

Background

The basis for the new online travel authorization procedure on an amendment of Section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act of the United States. Accordingly, the Department of Homeland Security is committed to improving the security of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP ). With ESTA the aim is primarily to compare the data of all ESTA registered travelers prior to departure with the American investigation and prosecution lists. The move to the electronic version by Australian model is related to the extension of the list of countries that are exempt from the visa requirement.

Validity

Since 1 August 2008, ESTA is accessible online for citizens and eligible nationals of participating VWP countries over the Internet. January 12, 2009, all travelers, including children, committed under the VWP to apply for an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a transport agent with destination USA. Travelers with a valid visa must not use ESTA. A travel authorization is valid up to two years, unless it is revoked or until the expiry of the validity of the passport of the traveler, whichever occurs first. The authorization is valid for multiple entries into the United States. For future travel plans or when it changes the destination, or itinerary of the applicant, this information can be updated via the ESTA website. The travel authorization must be valid for entry, but it may expire before departure.

Data exchange before departure and data storage

The information collected with travel booking on the airline or travel agent (eg, destination and duration of travel, credit card numbers, contact information, if necessary, special meal requests or any special aids for disability ), are from the airlines as so-called PNR (Passenger Name Record ) data stored in the reservation systems. The EU has agreements with the U.S. and other countries closed, providing for the transfer of passenger data from the booking and reservation systems. So grab about the U.S. authorities on the reservation systems of airlines existing passenger data and store it as a rule of 15 years. Some particularly sensitive data, such as on religious affiliation or ethnic origin, previously filtered out electronically. The extent to which data are, however, continue to be used is unclear and is heavily criticized.

All persons can notify their privacy rights under the Freedom of Information Act, about access and rectification, submit to the customs and border protection authority of the Ministry of Internal Security of the United States.

Application

  • Travelers should at least 72 hours prior to departure to the United States visit the ESTA website to provide their ESTA application.
  • Family members can register for relatives, for example parents for their child. Travel agents can register their customers.
  • Every traveler needs to personally identifiable information and passport information, specify and answer some questions about the personal past.
  • The ESTA issued a confirmation in the form of " travel authorization yes / no" usually within a few seconds. The approval relates to the arrival; on the entry decision as in any country of the border guards on site.
  • To request position is still no indication of concrete travel plans necessary; on the registration number you can subsequently change travel details of an existing ESTA approval.

Particulars to be data

The following data must be specified when filling out the ESTA form:

  • Date of birth
  • Country of birth
  • Country of Citizenship
  • Country of principal residence
  • Family name
  • First name
  • Sex
  • Expiry date of the passport
  • Date of issue of passport
  • Passport number
  • Information on the transport company
  • Family name
  • Name
  • Billing Address
  • Credit Card Type
  • Credit card number
  • Expiration date
  • Security Code
  • " Are you suffering from a contagious disease, on a physical or mental illness, or operate substance abuse or are addicted to drugs? "
  • " Have you ever been arrested or convicted for an offense or an offense in which / who has been an infringement of morality or in relation to drugs, or if you have ever been arrested or convicted for two or more offenses for which the sentence, taken together, was five years or more, or have you ever taken drugs in circulation, or travel for the purpose of a criminal or immoral activities? "
  • " Do you intend to pursue an employment relationship in the United States, or were you ever denied entry and were deported, or been expelled at an earlier time already from the United States, or have you on the basis of fraud or misrepresentation, a visa or admission to the United States procured or have attempted it? "
  • "Have you ever prevented her deprive this child custody or denies a person with U.S. citizenship in the exercise of custody of a child that was awarded to her in court? "
  • "Have you ever asserted immunity from prosecution? "

Fee

Since 8 September 2010, the application costs $ 14, before he was charged. The fee is due when applying for the ESTA permit and must be paid within a week by credit card. The U.S. Senate had approved a legislative initiative that provides an originally to be paid when the application entry fee of U.S. $ 10. The EU Commission has " great concerns" about the fee for the ESTA use, aims to promote the tourist traveling to the U.S.: " The EU has made clear on many occasions that the introduction of ESTA fee EU citizens with destination USA additional burden and would be incompatible with the repeatedly promised promotion of transatlantic relations and cooperation. "

More Offers

There are commercial websites that also officially, and may offer the ESTA form to fill out and then collect this fee claims.

Rejection of the travel authorization

If the arrival is not approved by ESTA, the person concerned must before his trip to apply for a nonimmigrant visa to the United States at a U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate.

Criticism

For several reasons, the system is criticized:

  • It is questionable, the actual gain in safety, which is achieved by matching the watchlist.
  • Privacy issues are entirely unclear.
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