Newsstand - Security Changes are Likely to Create US VISA backlog

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121419051844496039.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_news
(reg rqd)

American embassies are unprepared for an anticipated increase in visa demand when the Department of Homeland Security begins electronic prescreening for travelers from countries with favored travel status, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office.

Travelers rejected by the new screening process would need to apply for a visa, which could double the number of visa applicants from Great Britain, Japan and much of Western Europe.

...

But the GAO estimates 1% to 5% of travelers could be rejected by the new electronic prescreening and forced to apply for a visa, potentially doubling the half million visas already granted in waiver countries

It will end in tears for some! :(

Most likely the tears will be in our eyes:
- fewer tourists
- reciprocal requirements from their countries
- there will be people we love and care about in that 1%

It's not worth the effort! The article now says "more staff". That money will come out of our pockets, as the embassies will need to get bigger and have more security.

^

Very good points! Welcome to FT, for posting anyway, why lurk a year? We don't bite. (much)

Given the false positive rate on other lists I doubt there will be as few as 1% of VWP visitors required to get a visa with the new requirements. :(

Notice how the initial - almost no-one extra will need to get a visa is now up to 5%?

As I noted her many times before, this process was created to require more people to get a visa before being allowed into the US or even before being granted permission to board a commercial scheduled passenger flight to/via the US.

As I've also noted earlier, the EU is creating a very similiar arrangement too.

The net result will be a greater proportion of travellers being denied permission to travel and/or being required to get a visa issued when today such persons are not required to have a visa issued in advance of travel to the same destination(s).

Going to the US embassy for a tourist visa is quite a hassle in a great number of countries .... and the result is not guaranteed. In other words foreigners without resident status in the US and/or who are not already in possession of a visa should not buy non-refundable tickets to the US without first making sure they have government authorization to travel -- this is the case even for those from VWP countries travelling on VWP-approved carriers.

That money will come out of our pockets, as the embassies will need to get bigger and have more security.
Under the new scheme the US reserves the right to charge for the pre-screening.

Wonder how long it will be before such charges to be made

Under the new scheme the US reserves the right to charge for the pre-screening.

Wonder how long it will be before such charges to be made

When charges come in, its bye bye to the U.S for me, which will be a shame as i holiday there twice a year. Thats assuming of course that im considered desirable.

When charges come in, its bye bye to the U.S for me, which will be a shame as i holiday there twice a year. Thats assuming of course that im considered desirable.
Notice you say when and not if.

The more you look at this scheme the more it seems to be a way of getting rid of the VWP without saying you are getting rid of it as everyone will have to be pre-cleared before even getting on the plane / boat - which frankly sounds awfully like a visa to me.

Notice you say when and not if.

The more you look at this scheme the more it seems to be a way of getting rid of the VWP without saying you are getting rid of it as everyone will have to be pre-cleared before even getting on the plane / boat - which frankly sounds awfully like a visa to me.

There seems to be an inevitability about air travel becoming more hassle for a variety of reasons. It makes me glad ive done as much travelling as i have already. Normally i would be booking my winter/spring holiday by now, but with hassles like this, the uncertainty of U.S airlines and their schedules, other countries introducing fingerprinting, the hand luggage/liquids farce, it makes you wonder if the hassle of getting to the final destination is all worth it.

Hopefully i'll get motivated soon.

I will mention the notable exception of Malaysia, who when i flew there in late march had done away with immigration cards and simply swiped your passport. Maybe i should holiday there !!

Unfortunately, it looks like the biggest obstacle to future travel is politics! :td:

Jet travel makes the world accessible and governments step in to decide who will be allowed to travel and where. :(

Isn't this the Soviet model? Welcome to Peoples Republic of Amerika, comrade.

I mourn the death of our freedoms. At this rate it won't be long until I need permission to cross state lines! "What is the purpose of your visit to Florida, citizen?"

Worse than that, "Why should you be allowed to travel beyond state boundaries and this government's jurisdiction?"

i think along with many others i may stop holidaying in the US due to this if it becomes too much hassle, I will try to go again but once introduced then I amy have to have a rethink as it is not good and the us embassy is too far from me in the uk to bother

I will mention the notable exception of Malaysia, who when i flew there in late march had done away with immigration cards and simply swiped your passport. Maybe i should holiday there !!

Noticed the Malaysian change too, which is all the more remarkable given that Malaysia has a bit of a control freak reputation. But even as they move forward...it sometimes feels as if in Rip van Winkle moment I just woke up to discover America has become a third world country.

Once we have the inevitable drop in foreign tourism that will result from the new pre-screening process (sure to be a winner in ease of use), I can easily picture the US government picking up its option to charge for it in order to fund a new Visit America campaign ;).

i think along with many others i may stop holidaying in the US due to this if it becomes too much hassle, I will try to go again but once introduced then I amy have to have a rethink as it is not good and the us embassy is too far from me in the uk to bother
There are many that would agree with you there, but not enough to make a difference I'm afraid.

The gates are slowly closing, no one will be allowed in, and in reciprocity no one from the US will be allowed to visit. Can't possibly see how this ends positively for the US.

...and in reciprocity no one from the US will be allowed to visit...

One can always hope, but sadly I can't see that happening. It would be quite a shock to the US traveling public if the EU started a visa program that required them to be prescreened, photographed and fingerprinted on arrival. It infuriates me that this is not already in place.

There's just been a travel expert on BBC news explaining the new rules. The way he explained it certainly wont encourage tourists.
Basically he said the following

1. Applications are accepted from 1st August this year
2. You will have to wait for an unspecified period of time for an answer
3. Applications can only be made on line, no alternative
4. Your information will be passed to a number of agencies in the U.S
5. An accepted application only gets you as far as the immigration desk, you can still be turned away
6. Your must apply at least 3 days in advance
7. If accepted, it lasts for 2 years
8. All information will be held for a minimum of 15 years.

Does anybody think that that summary wont put people off from travelling?

The "you must apply at least 3 days in advance" requirement -- if requirement is what it actually will be -- will certainly put off some people from travelling. If it's 3 days in advance per specific passport/passport number to be used by an impacted passenger, expect even more issues as result of this government dog and pony show. :td:

The "you must apply at least 3 days in advance" requirement -- if requirement is what it actually will be -- will certainly put off some people from travelling. If it's 3 days in advance per specific passport/passport number to be used by an impacted passenger, expect even more issues as result of this government dog and pony show. :td:

According to the expert, its 3 days per each individual person/passport, including children of all ages

I feel that those who think it will only have a minor effect on tourism to the USA are burying there heads in the sand.

The principal reason for the past growth has been the ease of entering the USA, notice the massive rise of "Entertainment" and jobs in the Orlando area. At work we have been discussing now the possability of cancellation of several EMEA Conferences, in the next two years, we have scheduled in Orlando. The hassle will be to much.

Whilst I appreciate the need for security, taking the largest sledgehammer you can find to enforce it is not the best way of going about it

The quote by Mullins - "There are many that would agree with you there, but not enough to make a difference I'm afraid." will find that the difficulties now being put in the way of travellers will make a big difference.
The assumption by the USA that every one has access to a computer is so misguided it is unbelievable. Has every one in the USA got or have access to a computer, I think not.

And if as speculated there will be a charge in the future, then that could be the last nail in the coffin.

It would be quite a shock to the US traveling public if the EU started a visa program that required them to be prescreened, photographed and fingerprinted on arrival.

This traveling publican wouldn't be a bit shocked.