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US vanquishes 'easy visas'

Jaimie Kanwar

The US is to tighten visa restrictions for visitors from Japan and Western Europe...

The US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will come into force next year, and will require visitors to register online three days before they visit. The online registration will remain valid for a two-year period,

US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff explained: “The changes - which will affect citizens of the 27 countries currently listed under the US visa waiver programme - will allow the US to screen visitors before they travel.

”New registrations would require the same information as the I-94 card, which is currently filled out by visitors to the US and turned in to customs on arrival in the country. That information includes passport number, country of residence, and any involvement in terror activities”.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said it had been reassured that the new measures contained provisions for last-minute travel.