Nations were surprised to discover out that U.S. Customs and Border Protection hopes to enact a vacationer levy, especially the EU. 36 nations were chosen as the group required to pay to enter the U.S. a $14 “operational and travel promotion” for the traveler levy. Yahoo! News explained that if the traveler doesn’t have a U.S. visa, then he or she could have to pay the tax.
Is tourist tax as EU says, ‘inconsistent with facilitating transatlantic mobility’?
The European Union has been very open in its opposition to the United States’ newly instituted tourist tax masquerading as an operational and travel promotion fee. Many nations, including Australia, Germany, France, Japan and the United Kingdom, may have travelers on the sea or in the air that have to pay the cost. The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) used to be free as it checked foreign tourists against terrorist databases and no fly lists, but now the fee, according to Homeland Security, will be paid for with the vacationer tax. The NY Times explains that will need to have internet access along with a credit or debit card to them. This is to help them shell out the traveler levy as they go via the ESTA program. The ESTA may deny individuals in which case they have to pay for something else. A non-immigrant visa will be what is required for these people. ESTA isn’t required to tell applicants why they were denied.
Tourist dollars paying for stuff
Homeland Security explains that the mandatory travel promotion cost is really only $10, the extra $4 is assessed to help recoup administrative costs. It is usually ok if the applicant submits the ESTA application before traveling. Upon approval, ESTA authorization is typically good for multiple entries into the United States within a two-year period, unless the traveler’s passport expires or Homeland Security determines that it is necessary for the traveler to reapply. Additional details regarding the tourist levy (aka the “operational and travel promotion fee”) can be found at CBP.gov, the site for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Find more details on this subject
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/national/08062010_2.xml
Yahoo! News
news.yahoo.com/s/ynewspoint/20100907/ts_ynewspoint/ynewspoint_ts3556
