The US Visa

New online visa rules for travel to the US came into force on the 12th of January this year, which has also highlighted the importance of an up to date passport with more than six months to expiry. A poll by Travel Mole, the online reporting voice for the travel and tourism industry, conducted on 2000 people, revealed that 57% were unaware of the new regulations. So, don’t let this ruin a trip you might have planned, make sure you have the correct visa.

A visa for the US must now be applied for online 72 hours before your flight, it will then be valid for 2 years or the length of your passport depending on which is shorter. The new visa application is designed to improve security; it has been voluntary since August 2008 and is now compulsory.

When applying for the visa make sure you are using a trustworthy website as some are charging when the visa is supposed to be free of charge. After providing the necessary information online travellers will be notified whether their request is authorised, denied or pending, if marked pending you must check again in 72 hours, if denied the next step is to apply to the US consulate.

Travellers are advised to plan ahead especially if you have a criminal record as a trip to the embassy may be necessary.

Finally, don’t forget, when planning a holiday make sure you have a passport valid for more than 6 months as some countries can refuse entry on this basis.