RSAA Is...
RSAA is a national non-profit trade association whose members include major inbound visit USA receptive tour operators and suppliers (lodging companies, transportation companies, destinations, attractions, restaurants, etc.) from across the country. These receptive tour operators contract with overseas tour wholesalers to provide tourist services throughout the United States for their groups and FIT travelers from abroad.
RSAA Mission:
Helping receptive operators serve international tour companies through partnerships with North American suppliers.
What's New:
ESTA Compliance Now Required
On the one-year anniversary of implementing the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reminds U.S.-bound travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries of the ESTA requirement.
ESTA is an electronic travel authorization that all citizens of VWP countries must obtain prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the United States under the VWP. ESTA has been mandatory since Jan. 12, 2009 for all nationals of VWP countries traveling to the United States under the VWP. The requirement does not affect U.S. citizens returning from overseas or citizens of VWP countries traveling on a valid U.S. visa.
ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel, and once approved, generally will be valid for up to two years or until the applicant’s passport expires, whichever comes first. Authorizations are valid for multiple entries into the United States. The Department of Homeland Security recommends that ESTA applications be submitted as soon as an applicant begins making travel plans.
VWP travelers are required to log onto the ESTA Web site at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/ and complete an on-line application. The web-based system prompts applicants to answer basic biographic and eligibility questions typically requested on a paper I-94W form; ESTA is expected to completely replace the paper I-94W in the coming months. A third party, such as a relative, a friend, or a travel agent, may submit an application on behalf of a VWP traveler.
The ESTA web site is available in 21 languages: Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish.
Beginning January 20, 2010 CBP initiated a 60-day transition to enforced ESTA compliance for air carriers; VWP travelers without an approved ESTA may not be allowed to board a U.S.-bound plane.
There are print-ready PDFs of several ESTA advertisements available for your use. DHS/CBP has several advertisement options that can be used in specific markets across the United States or abroad. All ads are branded only with the ESTA program and can be easily adjusted to include your organization’s individual brand. If you are interested in utilizing these advertisements, please contact Laurel Smith at Laurel.Smith@dhs.gov, or at 202.344.1582.
US-Visit
Visitors to the United States experience the Department of Homeland Security’s US-VISIT procedures at visa-issuing points around the world and at our ports of entry in the U.S. US-VISIT is a part of the U.S. government’s multi-layered security system that ensures travel is convenient and safe. The program uses biometrics, digital photographs and fingerprints, to establish and verify the identity of international visitors and protect against identity theft and document fraud. To enhance DHS’s ability to ensure safety, US-VISIT is transitioning from a two- to a 10-fingerprint collection standard.
By the end of 2008, the equipment will be used in 10 airports. In November 2007, the equipment was put in place in Washington’s Dulles Airport. In 2008, additional deployments to JFK, eight other U.S. airports will be using the 10-fingerprint scanners. To date, other airports where the equipment is being used include Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Boston’s Logan Airport. Additional airports preparing for use of the 10 fingerprint scanners are San Francisco International Airport, George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport, Miami International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Orlando International Airport.
To assist you in communicating this change, DHS’s US-VISIT program has developed a comprehensive suite of consumer friendly educational materials that inform international visitors about U.S. biometric-based entry procedures:
US VISIT Procedures Sign – 4 Step
US VISIT Procedures Sign – 5 Step
US VISIT Procedure Brochure
Visit http://128.121.255.54/orderform/ to order traveler pamphlets explaining biometric procedures for international travelers visiting the United States. Tri-fold pamphlets are available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.
Educational Tool Kits in a CD-ROM format contain electronic versions of US-VISIT educational materials including images for your publications and Web sites, as well as materials that can be downloaded for distribution. These resources are available in multiple languages as well.