US starts charging entry fee to British travellers
First, they nicked the colours of our flag. Then, they changed the spellings of perfectly good English words like `colour' and `realise'. And today, they've started charging us a fee to enter their country.
That’s right, as of today, Brits travelling to the USA will have to cough up a $14 (£9) fee for a special type of visa before they can enter the States.
The visa, known as an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation), is mandatory for British travellers to the US but has been free since it was introduced in 2008. From today however, you’ll need to pay up to visit dear old Uncle Sam.
You must complete the form at least 3 days before you leave the UK, and it’s only valid for two years, after which you’ll need to complete another form if you want to enter the States again. It is, however, valid for multiple entries once you’ve got it, and you can apply online.
Yesterday, the website was overwhelmed with traffic as people rushed to do just that, for free,* before the deadline today.
Ironically, the charge has been introduced to encourage more people to visit the US, as visitor numbers have fallen significantly in recent years. The revenue gained from the fees will be used to position America as a top holiday destination.
But with money so tight at the moment, there seems little doubt the fee will do anything other than put most British travellers off.
Perhaps they should have offered us a £9 bribe to visit instead?
* I have been informed the phrase 'for free' is an Americanism. Grrr.
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I thought the primary reason for the introduction of this charge was because Homeland Security wanted to collect the credit card details of foreign nationals, or am I wrong. The United States, like the UK regards entry as a privilege, not a right. It is also a privilege to be selected as a holiday destination. I am not prepared to be recorded on a criminal database just because I am not a US citizen. I have only been to the US once. I have many relatives there and there are places there that I would like to visit but until it changes its attitude I will not be going again. I refuse to visit police states and attitude of the US government means that I do not feel safe visiting their country. I think that is very sad.
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Every time you go to Turkey you have to pay £10 per person entrance fee at the airport, you cannot give them a £20 note for two, if you try they will still charge the other person too. Why do we not charge an entrance fee to the UK.
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@vegasbabe00 the green Customs card (I94W or something) has been rescinded. In the middle of last month I spent a lot of the flight wondering when I would get the card and hoped that I had not gone too soft-headed on the flight and could still fill it in. I was relieved to be told that they have done away with that requirement. They haven't updated their videos or other paraphernalia but you will not have to fill in the I94W any more.
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13 September 2010