US Embassy warning British Nationals travelling to USA to register for ESTA early.

The US Embassy in London is advising British Nationals who are travelling to the USA this summer to allow extra time to get authorisation via the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) or apply for a visa, as their services will be limited during July and August 2012.

The majority of British Citizen passport holders can gain entry to the USA under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). This allows visitors to stay in the USA for up to 90 days without a visa.

If you qualify for the Visa Waiver Programme you must get authorisation via the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) prior to leaving the UK. If you do not have ESTA you will be refused entry into the USA.

Although visitors can apply for authorisation via the ESTA up to 72 hours prior to leaving for the USA, the US Embassy is advising visitors to allow more time because if registration via the ESTA is denied, a visa will be required to enter the USA, which could take much longer to be approved.

Obtaining an ESTA should not be confused with the separate requirement for travellers to provide their airline with details of their passport, country of residence and address of their first night's accommodation in the USA.

Remember, it is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the requirements to enter the USA. If you travel to the USA without the correct authorisation you will be denied entry and forced to return home and lose the money you paid for your holiday. It is very unlikely that your tour operator or airline will refund the cost of your holiday if you were refused entry to the USA.

Although, travel insurance for the USA would be able to help cover additional expenses if you were to lose your passport whilst you were in the USA, in order for you to obtain a replacement and be able return home. Travel insurance would be unable to provide cover for additional expenses if you were refused entry into the USA.

Where ever you are travelling in the USA, remember to buy travel insurance USA before you leave the UK.

The USA is the one of the most expensive places in the world to obtain medical treatment. Falling ill or having an accident which leaves you needing emergency medical treatment in the USA could easily leave with medical bills amounting to thousands of pounds, or even hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Be careful if you have a late night flight back from the USA. Your travel insurance USA must cover you from the date you depart the UK to the date that you land back in the UK. If it doesn't cover the entire duration of your trip it could be void. For instance if you leave the USA late at night, but don't land back in the UK until the following morning, you should buy travel insurance to cover you until you arrive back in the UK.Where ever you are going in the USA this summer we hope you have a great trip.

Get a quote for USA travel insurance.

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