ESTA charge

[DISWolves]

My company has just issued an email, indicating that ESTA will be chargeable from around mid year.

ESTA is currently free of charge. However a fee of $10 for each application for ESTA will be introduced mid-year at the earliest and will be payable by credit card. The fee is provided for in a Bill (Travel Promotion Act of 2009), which is currently in Congress. The stated purpose of the fee is to finance a Travel Promotion Fund. The Bill also provides for an additional as yet unknown amount to cover the costs of the ESTA system.

If you have a valid ESTA – can you re-apply just before the charge introduction to give you a further 2 years free or must you wait until your current ESTA expires

 

[ford family]

You can apply for a new one at any time, giving yourself a fresh two year period.

ford family

 

[burt]

My company has just issued an email, indicating that ESTA will be chargeable from around mid year.

ESTA is currently free of charge. However a fee of $10 for each application for ESTA will be introduced mid-year at the earliest and will be payable by credit card. The fee is provided for in a Bill (Travel Promotion Act of 2009), which is currently in Congress. The stated purpose of the fee is to finance a Travel Promotion Fund. The Bill also provides for an additional as yet unknown amount to cover the costs of the ESTA system.

If you have a valid ESTA – can you re-apply just before the charge introduction to give you a further 2 years free or must you wait until your current ESTA expires

Pretty sure you can re apply at anytime Nige, i messed one of ours up last year, so just did a new one, and if i cant find the copies i printed off last year i will do ours again before we go so that i have hard copies

 

[2Tiggies]

Hmm, do you suppose there will be a 2.95% foreign exchange fee for that cc transaction? I hope they collect it in the equivalent local currency. Can't find mine from last year - may have shredded them. I will reapply in a few months.

 

[darthtatty]

thanks for that.
i may reapply soon as ours run out in May next year and we plan to go in August. will give it a couple of months and hopefully avoid a charge.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I am going to New York in April and Orlando in August how will it effect me with the 2 trips?

 

[disney_princess_85]

I am going to New York in April and Orlando in August how will it effect me with the 2 trips?

It won't affect you. If you've already applied, it's valid for two years. You might want to update your details for each trip, detailing the address of the hotel you're staying at etc. I've done this for my New York trip in April and I will change it again for Orlando in August. This isn't compulsory though.

If you haven't applied yet, I'd do it ASAP.

 

[starwarsclark]

I see people are talking about printing out the ESTA - Is that actually necessary?
Last time we went (2008) they did not ask to see any ESTA paperwork.

Just trying to avoid carrying too much paperwork with us.

 

[disney_princess_85]

I see people are talking about printing out the ESTA - Is that actually necessary?
Last time we went (2008) they did not ask to see any ESTA paperwork.

Just trying to avoid carrying too much paperwork with us.

No, it's not necessary.

 

[mikki.young]

I'm a bit puzzled by this. First they make Esta compulsory even though we are still filling out the silly green forms. Now they want to charge us to do it and they say this is to promote tourism? It seems more like they are trying to put people off!

 

[igk]

I'm a bit puzzled by this. First they make Esta compulsory even though we are still filling out the silly green forms. Now they want to charge us to do it and they say this is to promote tourism? It seems more like they are trying to put people off!

I agree, another way to wheedle a bit more money out of people on top of all the taxes and fees we already pay.