Air New Zealand Air Points - US proposes to charge Visa-waver visitors $10 a time

Not specific to Air NZ but, certainly of interest to those heading to LAX or SFO

So...... let me get this right, The US wants to raise money to attract more tourists by charging tourists $10(+ exp) when they arrive - do these people have rocks in their heads,

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1211900/EU-attacks-U-S-travel-charge-plan-visa-waiver-tourists.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1211900/EU-attacks-U-S-travel-charge-plan-visa-waiver-tourists.html)

Oh well, just another reason to use YVR as a stopover rather than a US destination.

Not specific to Air NZ but, certainly of interest to those heading to LAX or SFO

or HNL.

There is an active discussion on the new "visa waiver" fee in the newsstand forum.

Oh well, just another reason to use YVR as a stopover rather than a US destination.

Or Asia (unless going to North or South America).

I've always had to pay a wisa waiver fee when entering the US at a land border (it used to be something like $7 or $8 IIRC). I assumed that, when travelling by air, this was already built into the immigration/customs fees you pay when you buy the ticket.

Is the proposal $10 per entry or $10 per ESTA application (every 2 years)?


I've always had to pay a wisa waiver fee when entering the US at a land border (it used to be something like $7 or $8 IIRC). I assumed that, when travelling by air, this was already built into the immigration/customs fees you pay when you buy the ticket.


I guess under the new scheme you would have to pay twice - once for the ESTA and again at the land boarder crossing as the 2 fees are for completely different things :(

how is this different than the $25 departure tax NZ charges? I guess it's nice? they at least have built it into the ticket price.

how is this different than the $25 departure tax NZ charges? I guess it's nice? they at least have built it into the ticket price.

That $25 tax goes straight to the airport company not the goverment. At AKL its now built into your fare.

how is this different than the $25 departure tax NZ charges? I guess it's nice? they at least have built it into the ticket price.

Pretty much every country has a number of fees built into the ticket fees.

how is this different than the $25 departure tax NZ charges? I guess it's nice? they at least have built it into the ticket price.

1) USA has plenty of departures taxes also. The visa waiver fee doesn't replace any other fee.

2) Unlike departure fees/taxes which apply to everyone, the ESTA fee is applied to visa waiver visitors to USA. Essentially ESTA is a visa and it is a visa fee. Americans can visit plenty of other countries for free, but will no longer allow the reverse.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2009-10-11-us-travel-tax_N.htm

It has not gone though the US senate as yet, but is expected to be passed by years end.

It would be $10 for each ESTA and valid for up to 2 years for multiple visits.

I see the hypocriscy in it, thanks. Some day perhaps an airport right over the border in Mexico will open up just to skirt these bureaucratic a-holes in the US govt. I say this as an American! If there is 1 think the congress has perfected it is sticking it to the under represented and disprivileged.

Australia charges $20 AUD for the Electronic travel Authority which is essentially the same thing.

$10 for 2 years is a pretty good deal really, however i don't think it really PROMOTES tourism at a time when they need all they can get

Australia charges $20 AUD for the Electronic travel Authority which is essentially the same thing.

Essentially the visa waiver countries are most of Europe plus a few more. They currently don't pay anything to fill the green visa waiver form and ESTA.

These same countries enter Australia using the eVisitor, which is free as well. (The exact list of countries may not be exactly the same..)

So in principal US is doing the opposite of Australia.. Australia went from paid ETA to free eVisitor, the US is going from free ESTA to paid ESTA.