US Travel Alerts : Homeland Security

Visas for HIV Positive Travelers

Mike Leco — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:00:00 GMT

The US Department of Homeland Security has finally issued a new set of rules governing the issuance of visas for travelers infected with the Human Immunodefficiency Virus (HIV). This new regulation streamlines the process of obtaining a short-term visitors visa to visit the USA.

Previously, persons infected with HIV were denied access to the USA unless they obtained a special individual waiver from the Department of Homeland Security. Now, anyone infected with HIV that meets all the other visitor qualifications, can obtain a visitor's visa from the US consulate in their home country. This should make the process much more convenient and rapid.

Le site des exemptions de visas touristiques

Carole Duchesne — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:34:00 GMT

Le nouveau système électronique pour les voyages autorisés sans visas (ESTA) est dorénavant disponible. Si vous vivez dans un des pays oû le visa de visite n' est pas nécessaire pour un séjour de moins de trois mois et que vous décidiez de venir visiter les USA il n' est pas nécessaire de remplir le formulaire I-94 dans l' avion. Vous pouvez le faire avant votre visite sur les pages du site officiel de Homeland Security, le département de la sécurité intérieure, pour obtenir votre autorisation d' entrée avant même votre départ. Maintenant cette demande est une méthode convenable et optionnelle. A partir du premier janvier 2009 il sera obligatoire de la faire avant tout départ pour les territoires américains au moins trois jours à l' avance . Une fois faite elle sera valable pour deux ans. Voici le link pour le site officiel ESTA webpage.

New Visa Waiver website

Mike Leco — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:53:00 GMT

The new Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is now active. If you live in a visa waiver country, and intend to visit the USA without a visa, you no longer need to fill out a I-94 form on the airplane. You can go online to the US Homeland Security webpage and obtain your entry authorization before you depart.

For now, this convenient method is optional. On January 1, 2009, it will be mandatory to obtain your entry authorization on line at least three days before you depart. Once you obtain an authorization, it will be valid for two years.

Here is a link to the ESTA webpage.

Visa free travel changes

Mike Leco — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:09:00 GMT

The US Homeland Security Agency recently announced a change in the visa waiver program that continues to allow residents of 27 countries to visit the USA without a visa. The list of countires covered under the visa waiver program includes most Western European nations and various other countries that have established reciprocal agreements with the USA to allow visa-free travel.

Under the new program, all visitors to the USA, that come without a visa, will be required to register on the Internet at least two days before departure. Currently, all visitors coming to the USA without a visa are required to fill out a written document en route, and have it inspected by a security officer at the point of entry. The US Homeland Security Director said that this new procedure will allow them to check the visitors against their terrorist watch list prior to departure.

Visitors entering the USA without a visa will only need to register once every two years. One on-line registration could cover multiple trips to the USA. It is unclear whether this new policy will result in any improvement of service or any added convenience to the traveler.

The new on-line registration will be available by August 2008, but will not become mandatory until January 2009. Welcome all to the United States of Paranoia!