It’s about to get even harder to travel to the US. From January next year short term visitors to America on the visa waiver plan will have to register their trip online three days prior to travel.

US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has said that he wants more control over those coming into the US without a visa.

The tightening of restrictions means the citizens of 27 countries who currently enjoy the waiver scheme will now have to enter the same details required on a I-94 card, currently handed into customs on arrival in the US, onto a government website before setting off.

The online registration will, however, be valid over a two year period and there will be some provisions for those travelling last minute.

The new initiative will be rolled out this summer but will be enforced to all countries from January 12 2009.

6/9/2008 8:35:26 AM UTC