The Department of Homeland Security’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) program will become mandatory on January 12, 2009. At that time, all Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers will be required to obtain an ESTA approval prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea (land ports from Canada and Mexico are exempt). Online resources include the steps to register for ESTA program, an information page and a government FAQ sheet.
Note: This article was published in the December 2008 issue of the Immigration eAuthority.
