TRAVEL NEWS
Sunday, October 19, 2008
US extends visa waiver programme
President George W Bush has announced that the United States is to cancel visa requirements for citizens of six European countries and South Korea.
Mr Bush said Latvia, Estonia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovakia and South Korea would be added to the US visa waiver programme in a month.
news.bbc.co.uk
Mr Bush said Latvia, Estonia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovakia and South Korea would be added to the US visa waiver programme in a month.
news.bbc.co.uk
Saturday, October 18, 2008
US shifts Visa Waiver Program authorization to Internet
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Travellers from Japan, western Europe and a number of other countries must request authorization to enter the United States on the Internet from January 2009, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Thursday.
These countries are currently exempt from visa requirements to enter the United States for short visits under the Visa Waiver Program, and the new program will keep travel to the United States "visa free" for travelers from VWP countries.
Instead of travellers filling out paper I-94 visa waiver cards en route to the United States, the new measure requires online registration.
In a statement, the DHS said mandatory prior visa authorization is required for travelers from January 12, 2009. The service has accepted voluntary visa applications for over two months, since August 1.
"Over 200,000 travelers have sought electronic travel authorization in the weeks since the site went live, and 99.6 percent of them have been approved the vast majority in under one minute," said DHS assistant secretary for policy Stewart Baker.
"Obtaining this advance information makes visa-free travel more secure, an enhancement that allows us to expand the valuable Visa Waiver Program."
The new measure is among the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, which sought to promote laws that tighten border security in the wake of the September 11 attacks in 2001.
The DHS recommends that applications are submitted as soon as an applicant begins making travel plans. Upon authorization, travelers can enter the United States for 90 days for business or pleasure. The website is https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
Instructions on how to obtain travel authorization are available on the website in English and 13 other languages -- Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Slovene, Spanish and Swedish.
Citizens of 27 nations -- including several EU member states as well as Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Brunei -- are covered by the Visa Waiver Program.
Source: news.google.com
These countries are currently exempt from visa requirements to enter the United States for short visits under the Visa Waiver Program, and the new program will keep travel to the United States "visa free" for travelers from VWP countries.
Instead of travellers filling out paper I-94 visa waiver cards en route to the United States, the new measure requires online registration.
In a statement, the DHS said mandatory prior visa authorization is required for travelers from January 12, 2009. The service has accepted voluntary visa applications for over two months, since August 1.
"Over 200,000 travelers have sought electronic travel authorization in the weeks since the site went live, and 99.6 percent of them have been approved the vast majority in under one minute," said DHS assistant secretary for policy Stewart Baker.
"Obtaining this advance information makes visa-free travel more secure, an enhancement that allows us to expand the valuable Visa Waiver Program."
The new measure is among the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, which sought to promote laws that tighten border security in the wake of the September 11 attacks in 2001.
The DHS recommends that applications are submitted as soon as an applicant begins making travel plans. Upon authorization, travelers can enter the United States for 90 days for business or pleasure. The website is https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
Instructions on how to obtain travel authorization are available on the website in English and 13 other languages -- Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Slovene, Spanish and Swedish.
Citizens of 27 nations -- including several EU member states as well as Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Brunei -- are covered by the Visa Waiver Program.
Source: news.google.com
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Strike causes major travel disruption in Belgium
Belgian commuters struggled to get to work Monday as a one-day nationwide strike disrupted public transport and international rail links.
The country's three main unions called the strike to demand higher pay amid high inflation and increased living costs.
"We had to send a warning to the government and employers," said Rudy de Leeuw, head of the ABVV union. "They have to explain to us how it was able to get so bad. What we need is purchasing power, work and good services."
Commuter rail, tram and bus services were not operating Monday and police reported backed up traffic on roads in many parts of the country. Union officials said the strike was also likely to affect postal services.
High-speed train services run by Eurostar and Thalys from Brussels to London, Amsterdam, Cologne and Paris were also affected.
"Not a single Thalys train will be operational due to the strike in Belgium," said Violaine Tennstedt, a Thalys spokeswoman.
Car plant and dock workers in the port city of Antwerp also joined picket lines. Business groups said they would take unions to court if they tried to block people or deliveries at companies Monday.
Source: iht.com
The country's three main unions called the strike to demand higher pay amid high inflation and increased living costs.
"We had to send a warning to the government and employers," said Rudy de Leeuw, head of the ABVV union. "They have to explain to us how it was able to get so bad. What we need is purchasing power, work and good services."
Commuter rail, tram and bus services were not operating Monday and police reported backed up traffic on roads in many parts of the country. Union officials said the strike was also likely to affect postal services.
High-speed train services run by Eurostar and Thalys from Brussels to London, Amsterdam, Cologne and Paris were also affected.
"Not a single Thalys train will be operational due to the strike in Belgium," said Violaine Tennstedt, a Thalys spokeswoman.
Car plant and dock workers in the port city of Antwerp also joined picket lines. Business groups said they would take unions to court if they tried to block people or deliveries at companies Monday.
Source: iht.com
