Traveling to Washington for the Digital Mission? You Need ESTA

Next week some of the UK's leading digital firms will be making their way DC for the Digital Mission to Washington. 

The week takes in a heap of activities designed to bring companies up-to-speed on the US market, make heaps of introductions and build their international profile.

For those taking part in the Digital Mission, and anyone travelling to the US from the UK, the forms for immigration have changed and it's now obligatory to complete the snappily titled Electronic System for Travel Authorization for (or thankfully, ESTA form).

You will not be allowed into the USA without having completed one. ESTA is designed to determine your eligibility to enter the USA before you travel. The US Customs & Border Protection website explains that:

"ESTA is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program. The ESTA application collects the same information collected on Form I-94W"

Further information and FAQs can be found here: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/

We would recommend that, if you haven't already, you apply for your ESTA as soon as possible, you can do it really easily online here: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html