There were many friendly nations, such as the European Union, amazed at the announcement made today by Customs and Border Safety. An insurance plan for a vacationer levy was announced. The traveler tax makes a $14 “operational and travel promotion” fee required. This is only for entering the U.S. from one of 36 different nations. The only exception to the rule of those who shell out are travelers with United States visas. Yahoo! News explains this.
Many wonder if EU is right about tourist tax being ‘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. the fee can be paid by visitors, whether flying or coming by sea. There are several nations involved including Australia, Germany, France, Japan and the United Kingdom. The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) used to be free as it checked foreign tourists against terrorist databases and no fly lists, however now the fee, according to Homeland Security, can be paid for with the traveler levy. Tourists could have to have, to make it via the ESTA program and shell out the tourist tax, to have Internet access and a credit or debit card to them, reports the NY Times. The ESTA may deny individuals in which case they have to pay for something else. A non-immigrant visa can be what is required for these people. There is one shady part of this. ESTA doesn’t have to tell applicants why they didn’t get in.
Your tourist dollars
The travel promotion fee only costs $10, says Homeland Security. $4 additional is paid for administration costs that are there. In case you are a tourist, just don’t forget one thing. Anything goes a lot better with an ESTA application submitted before actually traveling. ESTA authorization means one can travel to the United States many times in a two-year period unless the Homeland Security decides the traveler needs to reapply or the visa expires. Additional info concerning the traveler levy (aka the “operational and travel promotion fee”) could be found at CBP.gov, the website for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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
