Office of Public Affairs

U.S. Consulate General, Auckland

January 8, 2009

MEDIA RELEASE

Visa-free travel to the U.S.A. - Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA)

As of this coming Monday, January 12, 2009, New Zealand passport holders travelling to the U.S.A. under the visa-free Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) will be required to obtain an electronic travel authorisation (known as ESTA) prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea.

ESTA stands for the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation. ESTA is an automated and secure on-line system which determines whether visitors are eligible to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). The VWP allows qualifying nationals or citizens from New Zealand and 33 other countries to travel to the U.S. for business or pleasure for up to 90 days without first having to obtain a visa.

From January 12, 2009 Kiwis travelling to the United States under the VWP will need this electronic authorisation in advance of their travel. Passengers transiting the United States en route to another destination will require an ESTA if travelling on the Visa Waiver Programme, or a visa if not.

In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks the U.S. Congress required the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enhance the security of the VWP. An advance electronic travel authorisation system adds this new layer of security. It allows DHS to determine, in advance of travel, whether an individual is eligible to travel under the VWP, and whether such travel poses a security risk either on board or once they reach the United States.

ESTA requires the same information as the green paper I-94W form which VWP travellers currently fill out while en route to the US, but it brings the admission process into the 21stCentury. Rather than old-fashioned pen and paper, the U.S. authorities are now automating traveller admission so as to collect their details on-line and, importantly,priorto departure.

Travel authorisations are currently free of charge and are valid for two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. A visitor may travel to the U.S. repeatedly within the validity period without having to apply for another ESTA. For those who don’t have access to the internet, a friend, relative, travel agent, or other third party may apply on a traveller’s behalf. Alternatively, those without access to the internet can also use the U.S. Visa Information toll number on 0900 87847 and staff there can help with travellers’ ESTA applications over the phone. Once a traveller’s application has been successfully submitted online, most cases get an immediate determination of eligibility for travel. Worldwide, over 99.5% of ESTA applications are approved, most in less than a minute.

To apply for travel authorisation through ESTA, just go to https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/ ,simply answer the required questions and click the submit button.

Please note: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security does not charge VWP travellers a fee to obtain information about or apply for an ESTA travel authorisation. Unauthorised third-parties have established Web sites which charge visitors seeking to travel to the United States under the VWP, for information about ESTA, and for submitting ESTA applications on behalf of the traveller. Travellers should be aware that these businesses and Web sites are not endorsed by or associated in any way with the U.S. Government.

For more background information about ESTA, please visit www.cbp.gov/ESTA .

ENDS

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