In-flight US visa waiver to end in January

THE IN-FLIGHT visa waiver system, which allowed Irish citizens to complete forms for entry to the US after they had boarded their flight is to end from next January, the American embassy in Dublin has confirmed.

From January 12th passengers wishing to travel to the US will have to register their personal details, and details of their travel plans for their time in the US, at least 72 hours prior to departure. Until now Irish citizens were given visa waiver forms during their flight which they returned to immigration officials on arrival.

The new electronic system will allow the US department of homeland security to vet travellers before they get on flights. Those whose online applications are rejected will not be permitted to board aircraft.

The homeland security secretary Michael Chertoff said the new system would better protect both US citizens and airline passengers.

"Getting this information in advance enables our frontline personnel to determine whether a visa-free traveller presents a threat, before boarding an aircraft or arriving on our shores."

New levels of security were essential he said, but this system would prevent citizens of friendly countries from having to apply to US embassies for visas before travel.

"It is a relatively simple and effective way to strengthen our security, and that of international travellers, while helping to preserve an important program for key allies."

Filling out a form during flights was "outdated", particularly in the post-September 11th world, Mr Chertoff said. The visa waiver programme had been designed in the 1980s with economic issues in mind, but security was now the top priority.

A spokeswoman for the American embassy in Dublin said it had yet to be given details of exactly what information intending passengers would be required to submit online but said it believed the online form would be broadly similar to the in-flight form.

However, unlike the in-flight form passengers will only have to complete the online questionnaire once every two years, or until their passport expires, whichever comes first, instead of for each flight. There will also be a facility to allow people to register in advance of travel without including any flight details, to facilitate any journey which may need to be taken at less than 72 hours notice.

The online form would also bring an end to the practice where people were deported when they reached the US, if the information on their forms revealed them to be "unsuitable" for entry, the spokeswoman said.

"If the information submitted online shows that the passenger is unsuitable, they simply won't get that far."