New Rules Enforced on US Travel

New Rules Enforced on US Travel

Holidaying in the US? You'll need to know these new Visa rules before you travel.

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Holidaying in the US? You'll need to know these new Visa rules before you travel.

By Steve Read, cruise correspondent

BRITS flying to the United States for a holiday will soon have to apply on the internet for permission - or they won't be allowed on the plane.

New rules from January 12 mean passengers will not be given the green I-94 Visa Waiver form to fill in on their way over.

Instead they must answer the form's questions online, at the US Department of Homeland Security's website, at least three days before they set off.

Check-in staff at the airport will know whether permission has been granted, and turn away anyone who has been refused or who has not applied.

The online form asks for the same personal details - name, passport number, date of birth etc - as the green I-94.

It also asks the same bizarre questions, including "Are you seeking entry to engage in criminal or immoral activities?", "Have you ever been involved in genocide?" and "Between 1933 and 1945 were you involved, in any way, in persecutions associated with Nazi Germany?"

(The correct answer is No, by the way.)

Most online applications will be approved within four seconds, and the decision is valid for two years so you only have to do it once.

The new system is intended to reduce queuing time at US Immigration.

Although the scheme only starts on January 12, the website is live now.

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