For those of you who have ESTA’s (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) for the United States of America- the visa that isn’t a visa – it’s an authorisation) and who got their ESTA’s before the US Government started charging for them , you’ll soon get a message notifying you that your ESTA is about to expire.

Something like the one below:

ATTENTION! The travel authorization submitted on via ESTA will expire within the next 30 days. It is not possible to extend or renew a current ESTA. You will need to apply for a new ESTA. Please reapply at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov if travel to the United States is intended in the near future. If there are 30 or more days left on the old authorization you will receive a warning message during the application and be asked if you wish to proceed.

So if you were in the first wave of obtaining an ESTA and didn’t pay (up before 7th September 2010), it’s time to pony up if you want your authorisation to travel to the United States of America.

And pay the $14 fee ($10 for the fee, $4 for processing).

Now, there are plenty of ESTA scams going around, so if you want to update your ESTA, head to https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

I repeat in (very) large letters:

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

You can also go to this site to update your travel details, and check the validity of your current ESTA.

There are good reasons to do it yourself – least of all you know you’ve done it.  By using a 3rd party site, you are opening yourself to major identity fraud, and the risk of compromising your credit file AND your passport.

Nothing like paperwork – electronic or otherwise to hinder the joy of travel…