Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) Now Mandatory

Today, January 12, 2009, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization becomes mandatory for all Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers.   We wrote earlier about the mandatory cutoff of January 12, 2009.

Effective today, VWP travelers coming into the U.S. may be turned away if they have not registered at least 72 hours before their travel to the U.S.  Despite the advance notices, there is a significant chance that a fair percentage of the 50 million visa-free travelers to the U.S. will be turned away for non-compliance with ESTA.

If you are a VWP travelers and you will be traveling to the U.S., please make sure to visit the ESTA website and register in advance of your travel.