Originally Posted by
alan11
You guys should realize that despite submitting your travel plans as well as what JGA may claim to offer, the government has not in fact released all the details for what the non-guided tour downgrade actually requires. No mention of travel insurance requirements, when this program will specifically begin (the Sept 7 date was regarding the 50,000 entry cap), or what would be required of the tour company to comply.
If you do get such an ERFS tomorrow, and you then submit for an eVisa soon after, it'd be bogus and may cause a red flag. You may want to wait until at least they announce the actual conditions for the non-guided tours.
Your concern is valid and there's definitely risk in this, and prudent for most people to wait, but I'll take my chances and if it's bogus, I'll deal with the AMEX chargeback system. I plan on emailing the consulate before I submit for eVisa anyways to make sure everything's on the up and up.