Virgin advise that "for the foreseeable future" they still require you to fill in the waiver form as normal.
Hello Strake and Happy New Year!
We are sure this has been brought to your attention already, however we
thought a quick reminder may prove useful!
Each time you fly out to the US, you’ll be used to completing the green
Visa Waiver form if you do not have a visa, well now the US Customs and Border Protection will soon
be introducing an automated system to determine if a passenger is eligible
to visit the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The
Electronic System For Travel Authorisation (ESTA) was introduced as a
voluntary scheme from 01 August 2008 however this will become mandatory for
travel on 12 January 2009 and passengers should be advised to apply for one
if travelling on/after this date.
Passengers travelling to the US under the Visa Waiver Programme may now apply in advance of travel for a travel
authority using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) website.
Once granted, a travel authority is valid for two years. Before each new trip to the US, you must update your travel
plans and address details via the ESTA website. It is your responsibility to make the application and to ensure that
you have a valid travel authority before you travel.
From 12 January 2009, all Visa Waiver nationals (unless they have a visa or residency card) will only be able to
travel if they have a confirmed travel authority via the ESTA website. Department of Homeland Security recommend
passengers should apply for a travel authority at least 72 hours before departure. In usual circumstances a response
(ESTA granted or denied) is given in seconds. For a small minority of passengers the decision will take up to 72
hours. If an ESTA is denied then passengers must obtain a visa for your journey.
From 12 January 2009, we cannot fly any passenger to the US until either a travel authority has been granted, or the
passenger provides a visa or residency card. The travel authorisation can be obtained by the passenger visiting a
customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) website and making an application, we have included a link below for your
convenience :
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/
For the foreseeable future all passengers will still be required to
complete the Visa Waiver Form (I-94W) and their Advance Passenger
Information (API) as normal even though they have received ESTA clearance.
Kind regards
XXXXX
Personal Account Executive
PAMS (Personal Account Management Service )
Virgin Atlantic Airways - The Office (GNW) , Manor Royal ,Crawley
West Sussex.RH10 9NU