P37jenny JUN5 3/6/09 22:51 Page 37
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knowledge
Jenny Ley-Meek “I have a new
name for the US’s Electronic System
for Travel Authorisation: Extra
Stress for Travel Agents”
I
t’s been nearly six months since and arrange travel from South Wales plus
the Electronic System for Travel an overnight stay in London, to attend the
Authorisation (Esta) scheme became 9am appointment.
mandatory, meaning clients travelling
to the US under the visa-waiver scheme Feeling responsible
must now get approval for their trip Although none of this was my
before departure. fault or avoidable, I felt re-
Having had to complete my sponsible that things had
own Esta, I can confidently say not run smoothly for
how simple the process is. In these valued clients.
fact, apart from a few gripes The consular ex-
about having to “apply to plained that the reason
travel” I haven’t had any the man had not been
issues – well, until this week! authorised for travel
Having spent some time organis- was that his passport was
ing a last-minute road trip for a cou- registered as “lost or stolen”.
ple departing early June, I was horrified They have now put this down
when the words “travel not authorised” to “government computer error”.
stared back at me on my computer screen A further £100 and another trip,
as I attempted to complete their Esta. albeit this time closer to home in Newport,
Checking the passport details again, I got him a new passport within hours and
gave it 24 hours before reapplying. For a authorisation to travel to the US.
second time, it was turned down. So the saga had a happy ending, although
the couple will have a few dollars less to
Feeling worried spend. As for me, I have a new name for
With no explanation and a weekend worry- Esta: Extra Stress for Travel Agents!
ing about the unlikelihood of my clients’
insurance company paying up should they
not be allowed to travel, I made them an ap-
pointment with the US consulate in London.
Aside from the £1.20 per minute call
charge, making the appointment was easy.
The difficult part was having to advise my
client that he now needed to complete a
lengthy application form, have a further
set of passport photos taken, cough up Jenny Ley-Meek works for homeworking
a $131 visa application processing fee company Superior Travel
05.06.2009 37
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