ID :
39864
Sat, 01/10/2009 - 08:34
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http://m.oananews.org//node/39864
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U.S. to apply electronic travel permit system from next week: DHS
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (Yonhap) -- All foreigners coming to the United States under a
visa waiver program are required to get an electronic permit from next week
before entering the country, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said
Friday.
"On January 12, all travelers coming to the United States under the Visa Waiver
Program (VWP) will be required to obtain a travel authorization via the
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to their travel," the
department said in a statement.
The U.S. legislation required the department to implement the ESTA system and
other measures to enhance the security of the VWP, the statement said.
South Korea and six other countries, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, have been subjected to the ESTA system
since November, when they were included in the VWP.
The system will apply to 28 other countries from Monday, including Australia,
Japan, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Citizens of the 35 countries under the VWP can apply for an entry permit
electronically at www.cpb.gov to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa
for sightseeing or business.
An electronic permit is free and valid for two years, a spokesman for the
department said, adding that more than 99 percent of the applicants have so far
obtained electronic permits.
South Korea in August began issuing electronic passports as a precondition for
entry into the visa waiver program, which greatly reduced long lines in front of
the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.
The visa waiver program does not include those who plan to study, cover news
stories, seek employment or stay permanently. More than 360,000 South Koreans
apply for U.S. visas every year for tourism and business. Each applicant is
required to pay a non-refundable processing fee of US$110.
As a precondition for the implementation of the VWP, South Korea and the U.S.
signed in November an agreement for the exchange of information on criminal
records of a limited number of suspects so immigration authorities in each
country can access such information automatically at airports.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (Yonhap) -- All foreigners coming to the United States under a
visa waiver program are required to get an electronic permit from next week
before entering the country, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said
Friday.
"On January 12, all travelers coming to the United States under the Visa Waiver
Program (VWP) will be required to obtain a travel authorization via the
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to their travel," the
department said in a statement.
The U.S. legislation required the department to implement the ESTA system and
other measures to enhance the security of the VWP, the statement said.
South Korea and six other countries, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, have been subjected to the ESTA system
since November, when they were included in the VWP.
The system will apply to 28 other countries from Monday, including Australia,
Japan, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Citizens of the 35 countries under the VWP can apply for an entry permit
electronically at www.cpb.gov to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa
for sightseeing or business.
An electronic permit is free and valid for two years, a spokesman for the
department said, adding that more than 99 percent of the applicants have so far
obtained electronic permits.
South Korea in August began issuing electronic passports as a precondition for
entry into the visa waiver program, which greatly reduced long lines in front of
the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.
The visa waiver program does not include those who plan to study, cover news
stories, seek employment or stay permanently. More than 360,000 South Koreans
apply for U.S. visas every year for tourism and business. Each applicant is
required to pay a non-refundable processing fee of US$110.
As a precondition for the implementation of the VWP, South Korea and the U.S.
signed in November an agreement for the exchange of information on criminal
records of a limited number of suspects so immigration authorities in each
country can access such information automatically at airports.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
