 |
US Visa Waiver Programme
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is only available to citizens and eligible nations of the US Visa Waiver Program, which includes Ireland.
From January 2009, instead of filling in the green USA visa waiver form at check-in, Irish citizens with valid Irish passports travelling from Ireland to any part of the USA - including Hawaii - now have to complete a compulsory application on line in advance of their travel plans. The web-based system asks you to answer basic biographical and eligibility questions, the same information you are used to giving on the green form.
The US Department of Homeland Security recommends that applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel. In most cases you will receive a response within seconds. However, Aloha Holidays suggests you make your on-line application as soon as you know your travel plans to avoid possible disappointment should authorisation be delayed.
From 8 September 2010 an ESTA fee of $14 per person will be charged. Currently the only forms of payment accepted are MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover cards.
Once accepted your details are valid for multiple entries into the US for up to 2 years (or until your passport expires, whichever comes first) and you only have to update your US destination information online before each trip. If you do not get prior authorisation you will be denied boarding!
It should be noted, the travel authorisation via ESTA is not a guarantee of admission to the United States at a port of entry. It only authorises you to board a carrier for travel to the US.
Click here to access the on-line application form. Please note, by doing so you are leaving the Aloha Holidays website and entering a US Department of Homeland Security website.
Important information regarding your passport
All passengers travelling to the USA must have a machine readable passport valid for 6 months after the date of return travel. All children travelling to the USA must have their own passport.
Since 4 October 2005, US Government legislation requires all passengers entering the US to provide details of their country of residence. In addition, all non-US citizens are required to provide a destination address in the US. This is known as the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS).
The information required from each passenger - including infants/children - is:
- First Name (as on passport)
- Family Name (as on passport)
- Gender
- Date of Birth
- Nationality
- Passport Number
- Country of issue of Passport
- Date of issue and expiry date of passport
- Full address while in the US (including ZIP code)
Aloha Holidays will collect the APIS data and enter it into the airline booking system on your behalf. Some airlines also require you to re-submit the data at time of check-in.
Great Value Hawaii in 2010!If we find cheaper prices on your travel dates we'll pass the savings on to you!
|
