NEW PROGRAM ALLOWS FOR ADVANCED PROCESSING OF ENTRY PAPERS FOR VISA WAIVER APPLICANTS

This sounds like a good thing. DHS has announced a new program where Visa Waiver Program applicants can submit their entry application (the green form you fill out on the plane) online before leaving on your trip. The big advantage is that it allows DHS to pre-screen you before you fly and if you're going to be flagged for trouble based on security concerns, you will know ahead of time.

Comments

[USC]

"Everybody wishing to use the Visa Waiver will have to pre-register 72 hours before the flight. So much for last minute business travel."

The INS program is modelled on the Australian ETA program. Under the Australian program a travel agent can apply for an ETA on behalf of their client through their GDS (Sabre, Worldspan, Galileo etc) and receive instantaneous approval or disapproval. Perhaps, INS could do the same.

[JoeF]

From my understanding, this is not voluntary. Everybody wishing to use the Visa Waiver will have to pre-register 72 hours before the flight. So much for last minute business travel.
From the UK IT publication "The Register": http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/03/us_visa_scheme/

[George Chell]

I do not know how much this will change the mindset of the immigration officers. For instance in many countries, immigration officers have a stereotype of what a typical nationality is. Thus, many non-white and non-black Americans (all have to apply in advance) are harrassed in Australia. Asian Americans and Indo-Americans are particularly targeted for harrassment. "You dont look American" is the common line. A non-Chinese Singaporean is more likely to be harrassed in Australia as well. An Asian-American is sure to be harrassed in parts of Canada while a black or white American is usually not. I expect Asian-Australians or British-Asians (moslem or not) are likely to be given a lot of trouble on entry into the US as are Asian-Canadians whether there is registration or not.