ESTA is it not needed??

photome

ferf1223 wrote: »

I could understand someone not understanding the difference between immigration and customs, I suppose...I'm less sure about ignoring a form all passengers were given on the flight.

That's the bit that is odd, you would have thought it would have triggered some kind of thinking "why am I the only one who doesn't need to do it"

alanrowell

Pollycat wrote: »

If it were a 'money-making scheme' at all it would be perpetrated by the American government, not the tourist board.

It's a government scheme which was created because the US couldn't find a way to require visas for all tourists without offending the governments & people of VWP countries.

If the 9/11 Commission report recommendations had been followed everyone would have to troop down to their local US Embassy to get a visa - of course the fact that all the 9/11 hijackers had valid US visas escaped the US government preferring "an over-abundance of caution".

Gloomendoom

claire16c wrote: »

Of course a benefit is that the Esta makes money. After all it used to be free..

Alternatively, it could now be self financing, whereas before, it cost the US taxpayer money.

ferf1223

photome wrote: »

That's the bit that is odd, you would have thought it would have triggered some kind of thinking "why am I the only one who doesn't need to do it"

agree - especially as the OP said "I like everyone else was informed I need an ESTA".