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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Travel
Milo Boyd

New US visa rule for Brits means thousands could end up paying 700% more to enter

Brits heading on USA holidays should take note of a new rule that means thousands may be unable to enter with the usual tourism visa.

Currently, most people can enter the USA using an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), which can be obtained by applying online through the US government website.

However under US law, anyone who has travelled to a country on its international terrorism list is unable to enter.

If you've been to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and/or Yemen since 2011, you have to jump through a whole series of hoops to be allowed into the US.

In his final days of office, Donald Trump added Cuba to that list.

A trip to the sunny shores of Cuba could make things difficult for you in the future (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

While many feared that anyone who had visited the sun drenched island in the past 11 years would be inelligible for an ESTA, the US authorities have since confirmed that the rule only applies for those who have been since January 12, 2021.

Some globe trotters hoped that Joe Biden would lift the rule, but it now appears that he won't.

Under current requirements, if you've been to Cuba since the start of last year, you cannot enter the US using an existing ESTA or apply for a new one.

Instead of getting a $21 (£19) ESTA, you'll have to apply for a visa through a US embassy, which costs a hefty £141.

Before the changes were made official in September, travellers were reporting having issues with entry to the US.

Many shared their experiences of discovering their ESTA had been cancelled on Tripadvisor's Caribbean forum.

"I flew from Havana to the Bahamas via Miami yesterday, and while connecting at Miami I was told my ESTA had been cancelled - but would allowed entry this time," one person wrote.

Those who've been to Cuba since January 2021 need to apply for a US visa when entering (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"I had researched extensively and had read these forums posts beforehand, but with nothing concrete to corroborate the stories I figured I’d risk it.

"The US Border Protection waiting room was full of other people coming back from Cuba in the same position, so perhaps they’re cracking down more actively now?"

Another person wrote in July: "I got my ESTA approved this May, which supposed to be valid till May, 2024, so I was staying from July to Sept, planned to be less than 90 days in US for business.

"Since this week was off in the office I work, I visited Cuba and just got back to US today.

"At Miami airport, immigration officer told me the current, approved ESTA got cancelled for random reasons not specified anywhere in ESTA or border protection website.

"And one of the reasons was this; my ESTA got denied because I visited Cuba within the validated two year period so once I leave the US, I won't be able to apply for ESTA ever again and would need a visa every time I come or cross to the US."

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