US starts charging entry fee to British travellers

Motoring and Travel

Updated on 08 September 2010 | 31 Comments

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.

More from lovemoney.com: 

Comments

Be the first to comment

Do you want to comment on this article? You need to be signed in for this feature

Copyright © lovemoney.com All rights reserved.

 

loveMONEY.com Financial Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with Firm Reference Number (FRN): 479153.

loveMONEY.com is a company registered in England & Wales (Company Number: 7406028) with its registered address at First Floor Ridgeland House, 15 Carfax, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1DY, United Kingdom. loveMONEY.com Limited operates under the trading name of loveMONEY.com Financial Services Limited. We operate as a credit broker for consumer credit and do not lend directly. Our company maintains relationships with various affiliates and lenders, which we may promote within our editorial content in emails and on featured partner pages through affiliate links. Please note, that we may receive commission payments from some of the product and service providers featured on our website. In line with Consumer Duty regulations, we assess our partners to ensure they offer fair value, are transparent, and cater to the needs of all customers, including vulnerable groups. We continuously review our practices to ensure compliance with these standards. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy and currency of our editorial content, users should independently verify information with their chosen product or service provider. This can be done by reviewing the product landing page information and the terms and conditions associated with the product. If you are uncertain whether a product is suitable, we strongly recommend seeking advice from a regulated independent financial advisor before applying for the products.