$14 ESTA = Visa

From Earth Times:
"EU commissioner 'regrets' US travel authorization fee"

Brussels - The European Union's commissioner for home affairs said on Friday that she "regrets" a decision by the United States to impose a fee on travellers who require no visa in return for an electronic travel permit. On Friday, the US published an interim version of the fees for the use of its Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which obliges visitors who would not need a visa to obtain an electronic permit to enter the country. The 14-dollar fee consists of a 10-dollar charge to enter the US under the Travel Promotion Act (TPA), which came into force in March, and a 4-dollar charge for using the ESTA system. "I understand that today's decision is taken in accordance with the Travel Promotion Act's obligations. Nevertheless, I regret very much the fee established by the interim rule," EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said in a statement. The ESTA system, which came into force in January 2009, was set up to give US authorities more security information on travellers entering the country. The TPA is a separate piece of legislation that earmarked the 10- dollar charge for use in promoting the country as a tourist destination. European commentators have criticized the ESTA legislation, which they say is tantamount to a reintroduction of visa requirements. Experts from the European Commission, the EU's executive, say that the interim version of the system is not a closet visa, but are still waiting for details of the final system. "The commission will carry out a definitive assessment once the final rule on ESTA is published by the US federal authorities. The ESTA fee requirement will of course be an additional factor in the final assessment," the statement said. Officials nevertheless say that the ESTA and TPA requirements are a needless financial and administrative burden on EU citizens. "I remain convinced that these new requirements ... are inconsistent with the commitment of the US to facilitate transatlantic mobility and will be an additional onus for European citizens travelling to the US," Malmstrom said.

^ It seems that the United States is starting to impose visas on the countries under the Visa Waiver Program. It is one thing to make foreigners use ESTA before travelling and having it be free and another to make them pay $14. The fee makes it a visa (just like Australia charging Americans $20 for their electronic visa.) I have a feeling that countries/organizations (especially places like: the UK, Schengen, Japan, etc) will start making Americans pay to visit. This is just another step in the US Government's move to closing its borders from tourists and business people. Just when you think things are going well (ie the Visa Waiver Program expanding) then things turn worse (the $14 fee.) ^

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/338345,us-travel-authorization-fee.html