US immigration plans to charge EU travellers

September 10 2009 by Mark Johnstone

Travel to US for EU citizens

US immigration is planning to start charging EU citizens, who can travel to the US on the Visa Waiver Program, $10 in a move that has sparked criticism from EU countries.

The European Union has now said it may charge retaliatory charges in response if the US Visa Waiver charges are implemented.

The irony is that the $10 charge is being introduced to help fund the development of the programme to promote travel to the US.

The European Commission’s ambassador in Washington, John Bruton, says the charges will discourage travel to the US. He stated: "Only in 'Alice in Wonderland' could a penalty be seen as promoting the activity on which it is imposed.”

The $10 charge would be payable when Visa Waiver Program travellers register their journeys on the ESTA online system. They must do so at least 72 hours before travelling to the US and must renew their registration every two years if they wish to continue to travel to the US, paying $10 each time they register.

Although US immigration officials claim the charge is “nominal”, Bruton says the charge may amount to a new US visa for EU travellers. US visas are already required for EU citizens who want to move to the US for longer periods of time.

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