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• US travel security update

US travel security update

A holiday is designed to be relaxing and enjoyable, especially when you are headed for a destination as exciting as the States. However, USA travel insurance and the documents and paperwork required for entry into the country can become confusing, especially if it is all new to you. This guide intends to prevent any prospective visitors from falling foul of the preparation process, with a simple explanation of the revised security measures relating to travelling to the USA. Once you have completed these and purchased your USA travel insurance, there is nothing left to do but sit back and relax.

The first thing to do when planning to travel to the United States, after securing your USA travel insurance, is to determine whether or not you qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. This is a relatively new scheme, in which 35 countries participate, including the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland. Although it sounds confusing, it in fact makes your trip a lot simpler, as it means that nationals of all participating countries need not obtain a visa prior to their visit, whether it be for business or leisure.

However, being a citizen of one of these countries is not the only criterion which you need to fulfil in order to qualify for the Visa Waiver Program; travellers must prove that they are staying for ninety days or less, as well as obtaining valid authorisation via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before they travel. You must also present a passport that is valid for six months after your anticipated visit to the country and if you are arriving by sea or air, you must travel on an "approved carrier" (which can be checked on the "approved carriers list") and hold a return ticket to anywhere out of the United States. You must also be able to show that you have adequate funds to finance yourself for the duration of your stay.

Once you are certain that you meet all of these criteria, you can apply for authorisation through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Although this sounds complicated, it is actually a very simple process. You apply via an automated, free system, which will, first of all, confirm whether or not you are eligible to travel to the USA under the Visa Waiver Program. It is a very quick process and should ideally be done as soon as you begin planning your trip to the United States; however, in reality it can be done at any time up to 72 hours before you set off. It is important to note that ESTA applications are carried out completely free of charge; if you come across a website demanding a payment for the process, apply for your ESTA elsewhere.

The ESTA program is nothing to be concerned about. Along with your USA travel insurance, it simply adds an extra layer of security which confirms your eligibility to travel to the country under the Visa Waiver Program and that your travel does not pose a security or law enforcement risk. It in fact makes travelling to the country much easier for holidaymakers or business trips, as it removes the need to apply for a visa for these regular and innocent journeys. As a result, the US Department of Homeland Security can focus far more on the few potentially dangerous visitors, allowing their work to be far more effective.

The ESTA application itself is completed quickly and easily online. Step One requires you to complete your application, entering simple information, such as your names, birth date, passport and flight information and details on your accommodation while you are in the United States. You will then be asked seven simple security questions to complete your application. Once you have submitted your application, you will be provided with an application number. You need to keep a record of this and provide it, along with your date of birth and passport number, in order to check the status of or update your application.

Within 72 hours, you will receive an answer to your ESTA application. If your authorisation is approved, your application has been successful and you are permitted to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. Upon receiving alternative responses, you will be issued with advice as to how to proceed with authorisation for your trip. Finally, get your USA travel insurance and you are all set for the trip of a lifetime!