Latest news with #ElectronicSystemforTravelAuthorisation
ILoveQatar.net
4 days ago
- ILoveQatar.net
Qatari citizens and residents urged to apply early for US visa ahead of FIFA World Cup 26™
The US Embassy in Qatar shared a post on their social media platforms on 6 August 2025, urging Qatari citizens and residents planning to attend the FIFA World Cup 2026 to apply early for their US visa or travel authorisation. To avoid travel disruptions, the US Embassy strongly advises that Qatari travellers submit their ESTA application at least 72 hours before departure. Qatari passport holders are eligible to apply through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which will allow them to visit without a visa for up to 90 days. The FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature an expanded format with 48 teams. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup ⚽ in the United States 🇺🇸 less than a year away, NOW is the best time to apply for your U.S. visa. 🇶🇦 Qatari citizens can benefit from ESTA for faster and easier travel to the United States. — U.S. Embassy in Qatar (@USEmbassyDoha) August 5, 2025
Herald Sun
31-07-2025
- Herald Sun
Visa requirements when transiting through the USA
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Escape's Doc Holiday, Dilvin Yasa, answers your travel-related questions. Do passengers on flights connecting via the United States still have to go through immigration? Unfortunately, yes. No matter your ultimate destination, if your flight includes a connection via LAX, Dallas Forth Worth or any other US airport, you will need to go through immigration and customs. Provided there are no issues, you'll then have to claim your baggage and check it back in with your airline for your onward flight, then present yourself for security screening before heading to your connecting gate. Not only will you need to ensure you've got a lengthy connection time to get through the queues, you'll also need to apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) before departing Australia. Consider alternative routes, if possible. EU passports can still be used for visiting the UK for up to six months, but from April 2025, a new rule was mandated that EU citizens must now apply for the UK ETA to travel. I have an Australian passport as well as an EU passport, but can I still use the latter to travel to Britain? Yes, EU passports can still be used for visiting the UK for up to six months, but from April 2025, a new rule was mandated that EU citizens (as well as EEA and Swiss citizens) must now apply for the UK ETA to travel. The same rules apply for those travelling on an Australian passport, so it's up to you which one you choose to enter the UK with. Australians who hold dual or multiple citizenships should use their Australian passport to leave and re-enter Australia, even when using a foreign passport overseas. For further information on travelling as a dual citizen, please visit the Department of Home Affairs' website. When you're travelling with diabetes equipment, you must carry copies of a letter from your GP outlining your medical condition, your medications and the devices you're using for your insulin and blood glucose testing. Having recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, I'm confused about how best to travel overseas with my medication injection pens. What do I do if my accommodation doesn't have a fridge? I can see why you're confused; the information for your particular medication (Mounjaro) is all over the place. Basically, the pen should be stored in a fridge (with the temperature between 2C and 8C) until it is in use, but then it can be stored unrefrigerated for up to 21 days provided the room temperature doesn't exceed 30C. You can buy a cooler travel wallet from the likes of the Diabetes Shop or even from Chemist Warehouse, and this can do much of the heavy lifting while you're on the road. Brands to look out for include Frio and Glucology. As a general rule, airlines will not refrigerate drugs on board (space is at a premium), but cabin crew will replenish your cooler with ice as required so don't be afraid to ask for help. Happily, things will be a little easier aboard your Uniworld cruise. I had a chat with the team and they said all you have to do is approach a Uniworld crew member when you board the ship and they'll store your pens for you in one of their fridges, no problem at all. Remember, too, that when you're travelling with diabetes equipment, you must carry copies of a letter from your GP outlining your medical condition, your medications and the devices you're using for your insulin and blood glucose testing. You should also carry scripts (readable, and in your name) for all medications, as well as your National Diabetes Services Scheme card, which is accepted as proof you need to carry your diabetes equipment. You'll need to present your medication at security, but it's helpful to know that your supply is exempt from the 100ml of liquid maximum in carry-on rule for international travel. I've travelled around cities by tuktuk without once giving thought to whether my insurance covered me or not. I'm planning on joining an organised tuktuk tour in Thailand. Can you advise on travel insurance companies which will provide cover for this? When I read your email, I started thinking about the number of times I've travelled around cities by tuktuk without once giving thought to whether my insurance covered me or not. Did I start panicking on behalf of all Aussie travellers who've done exactly the same thing? You betcha, but happily, Natalie Ball from Compare Travel Insurance provided reassurance. 'Most insurers automatically cover you for being a passenger in a tuktuk,' she said. 'While Thailand has a mandatory helmet law for motorcycle riders and passengers, there is no law that you must wear a helmet in a tuktuk.' Most insurers automatically cover you for being a passenger in a tuktuk. Travel insurers take individual circumstances into account and many tuktuks do not provide helmets for passengers, she added. 'We're not aware of any travel insurer that specifically says that you must wear a helmet when travelling as a passenger in a tuktuk, but if you're heading to Thailand, it would pay to check with your insurer.' If you're struggling to find the right insurers, Fast Cover and Travel Insurance Direct both clearly state that they provide cover for those riding as passengers in tuktuks. Phew! Need help? Doc Holiday is on duty to answer your travel questions. Email docholiday@ Personal replies are unfortunately not possible . Originally published as Doc Holiday: Do I need a visa if I'm transiting through the USA?
Courier-Mail
31-07-2025
- Courier-Mail
Visa requirements when transiting through the USA
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Escape's Doc Holiday, Dilvin Yasa, answers your travel-related questions. Do passengers on flights connecting via the United States still have to go through immigration? Unfortunately, yes. No matter your ultimate destination, if your flight includes a connection via LAX, Dallas Forth Worth or any other US airport, you will need to go through immigration and customs. Provided there are no issues, you'll then have to claim your baggage and check it back in with your airline for your onward flight, then present yourself for security screening before heading to your connecting gate. Not only will you need to ensure you've got a lengthy connection time to get through the queues, you'll also need to apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) before departing Australia. Consider alternative routes, if possible. EU passports can still be used for visiting the UK for up to six months, but from April 2025, a new rule was mandated that EU citizens must now apply for the UK ETA to travel. I have an Australian passport as well as an EU passport, but can I still use the latter to travel to Britain? Yes, EU passports can still be used for visiting the UK for up to six months, but from April 2025, a new rule was mandated that EU citizens (as well as EEA and Swiss citizens) must now apply for the UK ETA to travel. The same rules apply for those travelling on an Australian passport, so it's up to you which one you choose to enter the UK with. Australians who hold dual or multiple citizenships should use their Australian passport to leave and re-enter Australia, even when using a foreign passport overseas. For further information on travelling as a dual citizen, please visit the Department of Home Affairs' website. When you're travelling with diabetes equipment, you must carry copies of a letter from your GP outlining your medical condition, your medications and the devices you're using for your insulin and blood glucose testing. Having recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, I'm confused about how best to travel overseas with my medication injection pens. What do I do if my accommodation doesn't have a fridge? I can see why you're confused; the information for your particular medication (Mounjaro) is all over the place. Basically, the pen should be stored in a fridge (with the temperature between 2C and 8C) until it is in use, but then it can be stored unrefrigerated for up to 21 days provided the room temperature doesn't exceed 30C. You can buy a cooler travel wallet from the likes of the Diabetes Shop or even from Chemist Warehouse, and this can do much of the heavy lifting while you're on the road. Brands to look out for include Frio and Glucology. As a general rule, airlines will not refrigerate drugs on board (space is at a premium), but cabin crew will replenish your cooler with ice as required so don't be afraid to ask for help. Happily, things will be a little easier aboard your Uniworld cruise. I had a chat with the team and they said all you have to do is approach a Uniworld crew member when you board the ship and they'll store your pens for you in one of their fridges, no problem at all. Remember, too, that when you're travelling with diabetes equipment, you must carry copies of a letter from your GP outlining your medical condition, your medications and the devices you're using for your insulin and blood glucose testing. You should also carry scripts (readable, and in your name) for all medications, as well as your National Diabetes Services Scheme card, which is accepted as proof you need to carry your diabetes equipment. You'll need to present your medication at security, but it's helpful to know that your supply is exempt from the 100ml of liquid maximum in carry-on rule for international travel. I've travelled around cities by tuktuk without once giving thought to whether my insurance covered me or not. I'm planning on joining an organised tuktuk tour in Thailand. Can you advise on travel insurance companies which will provide cover for this? When I read your email, I started thinking about the number of times I've travelled around cities by tuktuk without once giving thought to whether my insurance covered me or not. Did I start panicking on behalf of all Aussie travellers who've done exactly the same thing? You betcha, but happily, Natalie Ball from Compare Travel Insurance provided reassurance. 'Most insurers automatically cover you for being a passenger in a tuktuk,' she said. 'While Thailand has a mandatory helmet law for motorcycle riders and passengers, there is no law that you must wear a helmet in a tuktuk.' Most insurers automatically cover you for being a passenger in a tuktuk. Travel insurers take individual circumstances into account and many tuktuks do not provide helmets for passengers, she added. 'We're not aware of any travel insurer that specifically says that you must wear a helmet when travelling as a passenger in a tuktuk, but if you're heading to Thailand, it would pay to check with your insurer.' If you're struggling to find the right insurers, Fast Cover and Travel Insurance Direct both clearly state that they provide cover for those riding as passengers in tuktuks. Phew! Need help? Doc Holiday is on duty to answer your travel questions. Email docholiday@ Personal replies are unfortunately not possible . Originally published as Doc Holiday: Do I need a visa if I'm transiting through the USA?
9 News
29-07-2025
- 9 News
Perth couple's dream holiday ruined over US immigration debacle
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Exclusive: An Australian couple were forced to cancel an expensive cruise and now face the prospect of being banned from the US after a bizarre immigration error. Perth retirees Wayne and Carol Burley, aged in their 70s, were at the start of a cruise holiday around Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, the US, Canada and Mexico when their ship pulled into Hawaii in April this year. US Immigration officers then boarded the vessel and performed the usual visa checks on passengers. The couple couldn't have imagined the strange reason their dream holiday would be derailed. Wayne and Carol boarded their cruise ship in Sydney and made it to Hawaii before disaster struck, (Supplied) The Burleys had completed their Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTAs) like many times before and assumed they'd be let into the US without a hitch. "They looked at our ESTAs and took our passports and one of them said, 'Come with us'," Wayne told . "We were told to sit down and a senior officer started asking us questions." Wayne said he and Carol's names and passports had been flagged in the system for having breached the conditions of their previous ESTA. "He said, 'You have overstayed in the USA by more than 1000 days'," Wayne said. The couple were astonished. The last time they'd visited the US was nearly nine years ago in 2016. "He said their records showed we never left America," Wayne said, despite the fact the couple boarded the ship in Sydney. Wayne said the immigration officer all but shrugged and admitted that "sometimes our systems don't match up". The apparent administration error meant their ESTAs were promptly cancelled and US Immigration needed the Burleys to apply for a B2 visitor visa. The last time the Burleys had visited the US was nearly nine years ago in 2016. (Supplied) The fees for this were waived and the couple could continue on the first leg of their cruise. But a condition of this visa came with a huge snag – the officer confirmed they could not leave and re-enter the US. "We were told if we tried to do that, we'd be detained," Wayne explained. It meant their next cruise, which was from Los Angeles to Panama, had to be cancelled, leaving them out of pocket by more than $12,000. He said the immigration officer also warned it was unlikely they'd ever be let back into the US again. The Burleys then cancelled their second cruise with Princess Cruises, booked a hotel in Los Angeles once they reached that port and reluctantly headed back home. They were refunded their port fees and lodged a claim with their insurance agent 1Cover. After an initial denial and some back and forth, Wayne said he received a call from 1Cover saying their claim would be honoured. But the avid travellers are now left wondering if they'll be deported – or worse – if they try to holiday in the US again. Wayne said he and his wife are scared of travelling back to America in fear of being treated like a criminal. Wayne and Carol's enjoyed a cruise around Australia and New Zealand before the ship arrived in the US. (Supplied) Melbourne-based immigration lawyer Sherwin Noorian told this issue sometimes impacts non-US citizens attempting to enter the US after a previous trip. "The US does not have outbound passport control like Australia does for international departures," Noorian said. "At the airport, there are no gates where one must scan their passport before travelling abroad the way Australian airports do." "Customs and Border Protection relies on various data sources such as flight manifests to record departures from the US. "At times, they fail to record departures for foreign nationals and this may result in an 'overstay' being recorded for the traveller that is not accurate." For now, Wayne and Carol are trying to solve their potential travel ban by requesting a record of their travel in and out of Australia from the Department of Home Affairs, but they have not yet heard back. has contacted the US Customs and Border Protection for comment. Exclusive immigration USA Travel cruise Australia Perth Western Australia Hawaii CONTACT US
Sydney Morning Herald
25-07-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
I've travelled to the US for 35 years. My ESTA was revoked without warning
Homeland insecurities My daughter lives in the US and, for the past 35 years (excluding the pandemic), I have visited her at least once a year, as part of an extended overseas trip. This year, I made my usual US ESTA [Electronic System for Travel Authorisation] application. When it was approved, I purchased a ticket. But a few hours before my flight departure time, I received an email from US Homeland Security cancelling my authorisation to travel. No reason was provided, leaving me in the Kafkaesque situation of having breached some official procedure, while having no way to appeal the decision or determine what that breach could be. It is, of course, unthinkable that in the US, the land of much-vaunted freedom of speech, I should be penalised – as I suspect – for posting online several comments critical of President Trump and his administration, but it remains difficult to think of any reason why it should be acceptable for me to visit the US in May and, then, be suddenly unacceptable in July. There was a time when we only worried about such matters when travelling behind the Iron Curtain. Bruce Hyland, Woy Woy, NSW Letter of the week: Makes scents I toured Beppu, Japan (Traveller, July 12) in early April and there was a lot to see in addition to the various 'hells' (hot water springs). I visited the Otia Fragrance Museum, a two-kilometre downhill walk from the concentration of 'hells' along a funky shopping street. As well as a great history of the development of the fragrance industry and the various packages fragrances come in, the museum has a high-quality and reasonably priced gift shop and a lovely garden coffee shop. Its fragrance is quite different from the springs. I also participated in a workshop developing your own personal perfume for about $30. Yet another fun-filled, different activity in Japan, my favourite destination. Alex Gosman, Canberra, ACT Not so fast track Travelling from Singapore Changi to Sydney on QF2, the queue to enter security was clearly divided into two lines, indicating boarding groups one and two on the left and boarding groups three and four on the right. With no one to separate the boarding groups, not surprisingly the entire planeload joined the groups one and two queue, leaving the groups three and four queues virtually empty. I was travelling business class, entitling me to board in group one and two. Rather than ask for my due, I sauntered over to the near-empty group three and four queue and quickly sailed through. So much for the supposed privileges of fast track/priority boarding. Shamistha de Soysa, Vaucluse, NSW Brownied off
