From today, the United States has increased the amount of data required by all visitors under its ‘Visa Waiver Program.’

 

This includes tighter security screening on all those visitors who previously did not need to obtain a visa to enter the United States.

 

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced the changes to ‘Security Enhancements to the Visa Waiver Program’ in a statement yesterday: “Effective today, those seeking to travel to the United States from countries in our Visa Waiver Program (VWP) will be required to provide additional data fields of information in the travel application submitted via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

 

“The new information sought includes additional passport data, contact information, and other potential names or aliases. We are taking this step to enhance the security of the Visa Waiver Program, to learn more about travellers from countries from whom we do not require a visa.

 

 

Passenger screening is now very tight at most major US domestic and international airports.

 

 

RESPONDING TO HEIGHTENED THREATS

“We are also confident these changes will not hinder lawful trade and travel between our Nation and our trusted foreign allies in the Visa Waiver Program.” (Currently, some 38 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program).

 

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security US Government has also launched its new local security enhancement programme this month, using the tag line: ‘If you see something, say something’.

 

The central theme of this new programme is to ask local citizens to report any suspicious activity which they believe might be a precursor to criminal or terrorist activity and report it directly to local police or law enforcement officers. The new tag line for this campaign is ‘Homeland Security begins with Hometown Security’.

 

TOP IMAGE: Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Homeland Security officers have all been instructed to be extra vigilant in the wake of recent security threats issued by factions in the Middle East.