Monday, 6 September, 2010
New entry tax for travellers to the U.S.
Plotting your dream vacation to the great U.S. of A. in the near future? You might want to save yourself CHF 15 by getting your entry documents in order now. On September 8, a new CHF 15 francs entry tax bites and even if you’re from Switzerland and 35 other countries who don’t need visas, you’ll need to pay it. Seth Kolb shies away from calling it a tax. He’s America’s new vice-consult in Bern. Susan Flory asks him how it works and why it’s been introduced.
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Further to my email a few moments ago, I can also tell you that having traveled 4 times to the US since this application was introduced, I can confirm that it has - contrary to what Mr. Kolb claimed - in NO WAY improved the lines at customs when entering the US. Lines are just as long, and the few times I mentioned the ESTA reference number, they told me THEY DID NOT NEED IT!! One time I didn’t even fill in the ESTA application before my trip, and customs didn’t ask for it! So putting a tax on this application (which the customs officers themselves don’t even check) is in my eyes simple robbery.
Best regards, Viktoria
That Seth fellow seems to know what he’s talking about… good interview :)
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