From January 20th 2010, it will be mandatory for all passengers visiting the US under the Visa Waiver Programme to apply in advance for travel authorisation, from the US Customs and Border Protection's Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA).

Virgin Atlantic will not be permitted to allow you to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Programme, unless you have a valid travel authority.

Please ensure you apply for your ESTA at least 72 hours before travel. In most circumstances a response is received within seconds, though for a small minority of passengers the decision may take up to 72 hours. If an ESTA is denied then the passenger must obtain a visa for their journey.

It is very important that you are accurate when you complete your ESTA application. Please type carefully and before you submit the application, please check the information you have provided for typing errors or mistakes. A mistake on your ESTA application could make it impossible to match your ESTA to your passport and this could result in you being unable to travel

Once granted, an ESTA authority is valid for 2 years (or less if the passport expires during this period). Before each new trip to the US, the passenger can update travel plans and contact details via the ESTA website, though this is not currently mandatory. If the traveller holds 2 valid passports and intends to use either for US travel on the Visa Waiver Program, they must complete an ESTA for both sets of passport details. If any of the traveller's personal details change on the passport a new ESTA must be completed. If the traveller already holds a valid visa for the US, an ESTA is not required.

Please note if the traveller was born in the USA but does not hold a US passport by law they are considered eligible for a US passport and therefore should be travelling on one. If they do not intend to enter on a US passport they must carry with them a 'loss of nationality' letter, which can be obtained from the US Embassy. Entry will be refused by Immigration to anyone born in the USA who attempts to enter on a non-US passport who is not carrying this letter. Virgin Atlantic is not able to carry such passengers unless they hold this letter.

It is the passenger's responsibility to make their application and ensure they have a valid travel authority before they travel. This will make the check-in process much easier for them. Those nationalities not eligible to use the Visa Waiver Program will need to process a visa before travel.

You can obtain your ESTA free of charge by visiting the U.S. Government website.

Alternatively, for passengers who require a bespoke service, Virgin Atlantic has partnered with CIBT where for a set fee they will determine your eligibility and apply for an ESTA or a formal US visa on your behalf.

Visit CIBT now

The following nationalities may enter the USA on the Visa Waiver Program:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.



The rules for entry on this program are:

• Tourism/business/transit for a period of no more than 90 days stay. This may include Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean islands, but cannot terminate in one of these areas
  
• The traveller must hold a machine-readable passport in good condition which is valid for at least the period of travel (CIBT recommends 6 months beyond travel dates). If the passport was issued after 26th Oct 2005 it must contain a digital photo. If the passport was issued after 26th Oct 2006 it must also contain an integrated biometric chip. Nationals of Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia and the Republic of Korea must hold a passport with a biometric chip in all cases.
  
• Travellers may check the validity of their passport to use the Waiver Program via the US Embassy website: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/visa_wizard.html
  
• Onward/return tickets on a scheduled flight with a carrier participating in the Visa Waiver Program

• The traveller must be in good health (no communicable diseases or mental illnesses), hold sufficient funds, have no arrests/cautions/convictions, and must not have violated US Immigration Law (i.e. overstayed the 90 days in the past).

To determine your eligibility and to apply for a U.S. visa or travel authorization, please visit CIBT, the global visa and passport professionals and Virgin Atlantic’s trusted partner.

Visit CIBT now