Travellers to US have 3 weeks before €10 charge begins

TRAVELLERS hoping to head Stateside have just three weeks left before they will be hit with a $14 (€10.80) charge to enter the country.

Visitors to America from Ireland as well as 35 other countries must complete an online form — Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) — before they leave.

From September 8 the half a million people that travel to the US from Ireland must pay a $14 fee when completing the form, part of which will go to promote tourism.

However, if the form is filled out in the next three weeks then anybody hoping to visit the States in the next two years will not have to pay the fee. Once completed the form is valid for two years.

EU home affairs commissioner, Cecilia Malmstrom said she “very much” regrets the fee.

“I remain convinced that these new requirements are inconsistent with the commitment of the US to facilitate transatlantic mobility and will be an additional onus for European citizens travelling to the US,” she said.

The online system requires Irish people travelling to the US to register personal details with the US government at least 72 hours before they leave.

The aim is to make it more difficult for potential terrorists to enter the US.

US authorities can refuse access to any Irish visitor who does not have the travel authorisation.

John Donohue of the Dublin-based New York tourist board said: “The programme that the $14 fee supports will generate more travel to America.”

A Homeland Security Office spokeswoman said they are not asking for new information — they’re just getting it earlier.

She said the ESTA helps to identify the few travellers who are not eligible to travel to the US.

Martin Lewis from MoneySavingExpert.com said anyone even mulling over going to the US should urgently go and fill in their ESTA straight away.

“Do it now and it’ll be free if you travel in the next two years. Yet leave it for a month and you’ll have to pay,” said Mr Lewis.

“Though it is rather strange this fee is mainly going to promote US tourism. You would’ve thought keeping it cheaper to get in would help more — after all, it’s free for most Americans to come here,” he said.