U.S. to require online authorization for temporary visitors

Sunday 04th January, 06:32 AM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

Latest 15 of 28 Total Comments Show All

whyamiinjapan at 09:45 PM JST - 4th January

Ultradude, the more you know, the less you know.

"Islamic radicals have screwed up the world for everybody . . ." Yeah, right.
Scrote at 09:58 PM JST - 4th January

I think I prefer the new system, where you are authorised in advance to travel to the USA. It's better than arriving there and being denied entry.

I understand the USA will shortly begin fingerprinting their permanent residents on arrival, just like Japan does. Only the USA will be taking prints from all the fingers. How long before Japan follows suit?

Anyway, if you don't like the system, simply cross from Mexico and trek through the desert for a few days. You don't even need a passport for that.
OssanAmerica at 11:52 PM JST - 4th January

For all those who won't bother to visit the US because of the "hassles" of immigration entry, good. How hard is it to to mark off "no" to everything thrown at you? Is doing this online such a big deal when you hae enough time to kill to post on boards like this?
DXXJP at 03:56 AM JST - 5th January

If you think its a pain to go there with this, try going with a ME country stamp in your passport. Friging TSA whats that meen terrorist stay away. Look I think by now terrist have it figured out not to just fly in on holiday.
Ultradude at 09:16 AM JST - 5th January

It is NOT a visa, there is no visa application, nor is a visa granted. It is using technology to update an existing and antiquated procedure. If you went to the US today, you'd fill out a card and at Immigration they run you through the system, if a red flag pops (arrest warrant, previous overstay, etc) they take you away for questioning and possible deportation, etc. Now they will save you the flight. I doubt anyone reading this forum has been denied entry to the US, so it never occurred to you that you could be turned away. If you want to call the existing system a visa, go ahead (but you're wrong...).
gogogo at 12:39 PM JST - 5th January

I hate this, now I have to give all this personal information over the internet to another government that I can't sue if they lose all my data or it gets hacked or whatever. There are no safe guards, I'll be avoiding America as much as I can from now.
onedragon at 01:19 PM JST - 5th January

Instead of using a pen and writing your info on a piece of paper,your using your fingers and typing on a keyboard.Actually it's not that difficult.
Ultradude at 01:39 PM JST - 5th January

gogogo - with your frame of mind are you able to travel anywhere? I suppose when I travel to your home country they'll allow me to breeze on in without getting my details in their system.
Hotbox08 at 06:12 PM JST - 5th January

If you think its a pain to go there with this, try going with a ME country stamp in your passport. Friging TSA whats that meen terrorist stay away. Look I think by now terrist have it figured out not to just fly in on holiday.

I agree 100% We shouldn't whine about any of the safeguards that have been put into use by either the U.S., England, Japan, Australia, or any other country for that matter, since they are there for our own safety. It's a small price to pay in the long run.
rudiguur at 06:32 PM JST - 5th January

when i flew into italy a few years ago......i didn't even fill out any cards....or anything.....they just stamped the passport.........i found it a bit disconcerting.........fingerprinting or whatever at least gives you the illusion of safety
Pukey2 at 07:08 PM JST - 5th January

I suppose when I travel to your home country they'll allow me to breeze on in without getting my details in their system.

Unless I'm mistaken, any Tom, Dick or Taro from US and Japan can easily get into UK and the rest of the EU without having their fingerprints or photo taken. Safeguards, I hear hotbox say? Well if it's a small price to pay, then why isn't the EU doing this then? Don't get me wrong, I've accepted this fingerprinting, but why isn't the EU doing the same to foreign visitors? I can't wait.
Hotbox08 at 10:36 PM JST - 5th January

Unless I'm mistaken, any Tom, Dick or Taro from US and Japan can easily get into UK and the rest of the EU without having their fingerprints or photo taken. Safeguards, I hear hotbox say?

Thanks for the reply Pukey2. You are correct that citizens from Japan and the U.S. are allowed into the U.K. without a special visa; only a passport is needed. However, not all foreign visitors can enter the U.K. without a visa. Nationals from countries such as Russia, need a visa to enter, but not for transit. In addition, nationals from countries such as China need a visa in order to enter AND transit within the U.K.

Well if it's a small price to pay, then why isn't the EU doing this then?

As I've stated above, the EU is doing this to foreign visitors; just not all foreign visitors. Or are you implying that only visitors from the U.S., Australia, and Japan are considered "foreign visitors"? And it is the same for all countries. Every country has their own visa requirements for different countries. Some need to go through the laborious task of applying for a visa just to enter a country, while others don't.
Crucades at 12:57 PM JST - 6th January

US is a pain in the ass, not only do their airports suck with no organisation or huge delays, the people a miserable bunch and the food toxic, but to get to central and south america you need to go through north america to get the best deals..... damn them for this unecessary inconveniance!
gogogo at 02:24 AM JST - 7th January

Ultradude: Yeah they will/
elbudamexicano at 04:10 PM JST - 8th January

The US can do what ever it wants, in order to protect the HOMELAND! I love AMERICA, we have to protect our MOTHERLAND but it is about time these pilgrimas gave back California, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas to MEXICO! (and give back Florida since it has great weather) you can keep New Joisy,Wisconsin way too cold! We Mexicans love all of these new requirements!