Travelling to USA - New Pre-clearance Requirement for Nationals of Certain Countries

Lloyd Ament, B.Comm., LL.B.

There are new rules effective January 12, 2009 implemented by the US Customs and Border Patrol regarding holders of certain passports who wish, or are required, to visit the USA.

Passport holders of the following countries are subject to this new application process:

Andorra, Austria, Australia, 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, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The application for advance travel approval (called "Electronic System for Travel Authorization - ESTA") is now mandatory and must be applied for and approved prior to departure.

January 15, 2009
Lloyd W. Ament
Basman Smith LLP