Online Registration Required for U.S. from 2009

[kurohinge1]

[SIZE="4"]Now online visa registration required for US[/SIZE]

. . . travellers who do not need visas to enter the United States will be required to register online with the US government at least three days before they visit, a security regulation set to begin next year.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will announce the rule tomorrow, according to a government official who asked not to be identified because the announcement had not yet been made.

The rule was first reported by the Financial Times today.

Required online registration will begin in January and will be valid for a two-year period.

Those needing to register will be travellers from the 27 countries whose citizens are not required to obtain visas for US entry. The counties include those in most of western Europe as well as Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore. Eight other countries - the Czech Republic, Hungary and South Korea among them - are expected to be admitted to the visa waiver program . . . more

[SgtBeavis]

I've been wondering exactly how many "terrorist" the US has captured with the current fingerprinting and alien registration program. I haven't really heard anything in the news about it.

It should be noted that several of the 9/11 hijackers entered the US legally. Only 7 of the 19 hijackers had fraudulent passports. The 9/11 commission's report showed that many of the hijackers would have never gotten into the US if immigration had simply followed the laws and regulations that were already on the books BEFORE 9/11. Mohamed Atta should have never been let into the US to begin with because he had already violated his visa in the past. The 9/11 report pretty much stated that if EXISTING immigration laws and regulations had been followed, the 9/11 attacks would most likely have never occurred.

I'm not a fan of US or Japanese immigration policies. Both border on the stupid.

[Visitor K]

I've been wondering exactly how many "terrorist" the US has captured with the current fingerprinting and alien registration program. I haven't really heard anything in the news about it.

well, there is a simple explanation for that.. if the news reported on it, then it would only serve to embolden the terrorists and would give them inside information on the very intricate workings of the war on terror.

[Big Booger]

well, there is a simple explanation for that.. if the news reported on it, then it would only serve to embolden the terrorists and would give them inside information on the very intricate workings of the war on terror.

How Orwellian....

[Kuang_Grade]

Hmmmm...it only puts off the lazy and identified terrorists who absolutely have to fly into the US....otherwise, they can just fly to mexico and they can line up with all the other illegals at one of the unguarded stretches of the US boarder and just walk in when it gets dark. Actually, if they are not on some watch list already, the US system does not pose any hindrance to a potential terrorist.

And given the high profile nature of this program, they would want to hype it up its successes since serves as a deterrent...This is a program that is used by millions of folks on annual basis not some signal intercept tech that only 15 people at the NSA know about...Saying they would want to keep it quiet on this is like saying the police don't talk about red light cameras...they may not talk up the exact tech specs, but they do talk up what they do and how many people they have busted with them, if only to let everyone know that they are out there and they work and they will bust you if you run a red light.

DHS may want to keep quiet about how somebody ended up on a watch list but they have ZERO reason to keep quiet about those they do catch via a very public and expensive border entry system.

[Charles]

Well this is totally irrational. What do they need, 72 hours to run you through DHS databases? This essentially prohibits anyone from traveling on short notice.

I oppose these visa restrictions, except in the case of Australians.

[kurohinge1]

Well this is totally irrational. What do they need, 72 hours to run you through DHS databases? This essentially prohibits anyone from traveling on short notice . . .

. . . Required online registration . . . will be valid for a two-year period . . .

You're lucky there's no comprehension test to leave the U.S.

[Greji]

[quote="kurohinge1"]You're lucky there's no comprehension test to leave the U.S.

]

Ahh, what does comprehension mean?

[Charles]

You're lucky there's no comprehension test to leave the U.S.

Do you think that everyone's going to register in the database, just in case they have to travel to the US on short notice?

[kurohinge1]

Do you think that everyone's going to register in the database, just in case they have to travel to the US on short notice?

It's not rocket science, Charles. If someone plans to visit the U.S. (or there's a possibility of needing to go there "on short notice"), they just register. They can then go in and out (on short notice or not) for the next 2 years, after which they just register again.

[Iraira]

Ahh, what does comprehension mean?

I think it has something to do with a person feeling apprehension before using a computer.

[Charles]

It's not rocket science, Charles. If someone plans to visit the U.S. (or there's a possibility of needing to go there "on short notice"), they just register. They can then go in and out (on short notice or not) for the next 2 years, after which they just register again.

You don't get it. People with no plans to travel may suddenly have to go to the US. People will not sit around wondering if they might have any reason to go to the US within the next 2 years and if they should sign up for a foreign government's antiterrorist database. Frequent travelers may not be affected much, but emergency travelers will be locked out.

[kurohinge1]

You don't get it. . .

Au contraire, Charles. You've now changed what you said.

. . . This essentially prohibits anyone from traveling on short notice . . .

Clearly, that's wrong.

The group you're now talking about (in your latest post) would be very small - only those who hadn't already registered AND for whatever reason need to travel to the U.S. with less than 3 days' notice.

[Charles]

The group you're now talking about (in your latest post) would be very small - only those who hadn't already registered AND for whatever reason need to travel to the U.S. with less than 3 days' notice.

Someone who is already registered has already given advance notice. I said it would prohibit people from traveling on short notice.

[omae mona]

All - quite a bit more information about this new program (ESTA, or "Electronic System for Travel Authorization") has become available. Courtesy of the US Embassy's September newsletter, here is a link to an FAQ with lots of information, and also the online application system:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/esta_faq.xml

I think there are a few key items to address the questions I saw in this thread:

• Enforcement goes into effect January 2009
• Anybody can apply, regardless of whether they actually have travel plans. The registration is valid for two years.
• They started accepting applications early, on August 1, so you can apply now if you like.
• As far as emergency travelers who did not forsee the need to apply ahead of time, the site states "ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to traveling to the United States under the VWP, and in most cases, ESTA will provide an almost immediate determination of eligibility for travel under the VWP. However, DHS recommends that ESTA applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel." It appears that you can check your status online. So it's possible that even in emergency circumstances, you may have a shot at getting approved before you need to get on the airplane.

So for those American FGs with non-American family members, it might make sense to sign them up for this program prior to January, in case any sudden travel needs arise.

[omae mona]

Friendly reminder for those contemplating travel to the U.S.: The new system is just one month away. The online application is quite easy and will last two years until you have to renew it. You risk being denied boarding to your flight if you haven't registered 72 hours before your travel.

Mrs. Omae Mona has no U.S. travel plans, but I registered her just in case some kind of emergency comes up and we need to travel on short notice.

I know many people have valid privacy concerns, but the mandatory fields on the application only contain information the U.S. government possesses anyway, if you've ever traveled to the U.S. It's basically passport information and questions about prior criminal activity.

[Samurai_Jerk]

I'm really starting to hate my country.

Time to rebel!