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ETSA and SCAM
Mar. 26th, 2009 01:08 pmIn preparation for my next world trip in June, I applied for clearance to travel to the USA today. On my previous trips, as a citizen of a nation participating in the US Visa Waiver Program, I filled out the green form handed out aboard the plane and presented it to the immigration officer on arrival. Like for just about every other country.
But now things have changed, and pre-approval is required. The Department of Homeland Security has set up an “Electronic System for Travel Authorization” system, whereby intending visitors must register a minimum of three days before travelling. Heeding the warnings on my travel documents, and mindful of my habit of leaving things until the last moment, I went hunting for the ETSA website.
Google was my friend, as ever, and I clicked on what looked like the official website. On reading through the material, I found that there were apparently only two ways to make an application with ETSA. First, you could purchase a guide to applying for $25. Second, you could have a professional make the application on your behalf at a cost of $250.
Cripes, I thought, this is all a bit rich. Having filled out the green form several times, I know it’s a simple process. I looked for a link to just apply for clearance myself, but there wasn’t one. At this point I smelt a big stinky rat.
Looking at the website URL, I noticed that although it gave every impression of being an official government website in design and appearance, it wasn’t. It was a private site.
I went back to my Google search page and found a number of similar sites before spotting the official one, which had a “.gov” TLD as part of the URL.
Completing the process was quick and easy, and my travel was approved within minutes. Of course, this does not guarantee entry, no more than filling out the old green form did. It just speeds the process.
What disturbs me are the scam sites, which rank higher than the official site on Google. The operators of these sites must be collecting some serious money from gullible people, especially those who aren’t fluent in English. Paying somebody $250 to fill out a simple online form on your behalf is a complete waste of money, but there must be thousands who are grateful for the apparent help.
But now things have changed, and pre-approval is required. The Department of Homeland Security has set up an “Electronic System for Travel Authorization” system, whereby intending visitors must register a minimum of three days before travelling. Heeding the warnings on my travel documents, and mindful of my habit of leaving things until the last moment, I went hunting for the ETSA website.
Google was my friend, as ever, and I clicked on what looked like the official website. On reading through the material, I found that there were apparently only two ways to make an application with ETSA. First, you could purchase a guide to applying for $25. Second, you could have a professional make the application on your behalf at a cost of $250.
Cripes, I thought, this is all a bit rich. Having filled out the green form several times, I know it’s a simple process. I looked for a link to just apply for clearance myself, but there wasn’t one. At this point I smelt a big stinky rat.
Looking at the website URL, I noticed that although it gave every impression of being an official government website in design and appearance, it wasn’t. It was a private site.
I went back to my Google search page and found a number of similar sites before spotting the official one, which had a “.gov” TLD as part of the URL.
Completing the process was quick and easy, and my travel was approved within minutes. Of course, this does not guarantee entry, no more than filling out the old green form did. It just speeds the process.
What disturbs me are the scam sites, which rank higher than the official site on Google. The operators of these sites must be collecting some serious money from gullible people, especially those who aren’t fluent in English. Paying somebody $250 to fill out a simple online form on your behalf is a complete waste of money, but there must be thousands who are grateful for the apparent help.
