Visitors To US Now Required To Register Online

mytrip sends a reminder that starting today, visitors to the US from 35 visa-waiver countries will be required to register online with the Department of Homeland Security in advance. The DHS is asking people to go online for the ESTA program 72 hours before traveling, but they can register any amount of time ahead. Approval, once granted, is good for 2 years. DHS says that most applications are approved in 4 seconds. If an application is rejected, the traveler will have to go to a US embassy and get a visa. CNet reports that information from applications will be retained for 12 years, and eventually up to 75 years.

Comments

America, for one, welcomes...

[Goffee71]

Johnny Foreigners, as long as they've filled in the right form!

Re:America, for one, welcomes...

[armie]

I'm sure you'll find things much different at your ultimate destination.

So getting past Saint Peter is easier than getting into the US...

Re:I just love the questions

[Chrisq]

C) Have you ever been or are you now involved in espionage or sabotage; or in terrorist activities; or genocide; or between 1933 and 1945 were you involved , in any way, in persecutions associated with Nazi Germany or its allies?

Does that include being a victim?

Re:Herd instict

[Oktober Sunset]

pffft, if you think that's bad, those bastards took MY finger prints, and all I did was rob someone! What cunts!

Re:Scaring tourists away much?

[Anonymous Coward]

Canada will deny you entry if you've been convicted of drug possession or DWI -- even if said conviction was a misdemeanor/civil affair if your home country. Why don't I see anybody complaining about that?

Because nobody cares about Canada.

Really.

Re:Scaring tourists away much?

[Xelios]

said governments have a legitimate interest in preventing known bad actors from entering their country.
I guess they slipped up with Keanu Reeves.

No, you are ok. Code is simple

[mrops]

Code is simple on the backkend

boolean reject=false;
if (name.matches("m(o|u)h(a|u)m{1,2}(a|e)d") {
      reject = true;
}

Only thing I can't figure out, why the hell it takes 4 seconds to execute such simple code. Must be perl or java, maybe network latency.

Re:Herd instict

[Hordeking]

Your government keeps your prints when you haven't been convicted of anything? Here in Canada they take your prints upon arrest and are supposed to destroy them IIRC 6 months after acquittal.

You're Canadian, eh?

Pleased to meet you. I'm from the real world.

Where I'm from, the police state says it destroys everything. And it does. Of course, before it does, it gives copies to the FBI, as a courtesy.