Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STOCKHOLM119
2009-02-20 12:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:  

STOCKHOLM'S ESTA IMPLEMENTATION (NOV 2008-FEB 2009)

Tags:  CPAS CVIS CMGT PREL SW 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8018
OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSM #0119/01 0511256
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 201256Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4149
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0746
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0704
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0079
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 0398
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0137
RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 0014
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000119 

SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS TO DHS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CPAS CVIS CMGT PREL SW
SUBJECT: STOCKHOLM'S ESTA IMPLEMENTATION (NOV 2008-FEB 2009)

REF: (A) 08 STOCKHOLM 0474 (B) 08 STOCKHOLM 0554 (C) 08 STOCKHOLM
0558 (D) 08 STOCKHOLM 0581 (E) 08 STOCKHOLM 0777

STOCKHOLM 00000119 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000119

SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS TO DHS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CPAS CVIS CMGT PREL SW
SUBJECT: STOCKHOLM'S ESTA IMPLEMENTATION (NOV 2008-FEB 2009)

REF: (A) 08 STOCKHOLM 0474 (B) 08 STOCKHOLM 0554 (C) 08 STOCKHOLM
0558 (D) 08 STOCKHOLM 0581 (E) 08 STOCKHOLM 0777

STOCKHOLM 00000119 001.2 OF 002



1. Summary: The January 12, 2009 mandatory implementation of the
ESTA program has proceeded smoothly in Sweden. Post's media
outreach resulted in a series of ESTA-related articles in the
national Swedish media, and this and other outreach efforts appear
to have helped inform the public at-large of the new requirements.
Post did experience an initial surge of ESTA inquiries that
overwhelmed Post phone systems, but this has abated - although
one-third of all consular inquiries continue to be ESTA-related.
Post has also interviewed approximately 75 percent of the 54 Swedes
denied ESTA (out of approximately 36,000 who applied). Based on
daily experience with travelers in Sweden, Post assesses that a
central issue with the ESTA program is that many applicants neglect
to write down their ESTA application number and cannot retrieve it
without deluging DHS with assistance emails that are taking weeks to
answer. In order to make ESTA more user-friendly and facilitate
travel, Post recommends that the ESTA application be amended to
allow applicants to automatically email the application number to
themselves at the time of approval. End Summary.


--------------
ESTA OPERATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION
--------------


2. APPLICANTS DENIED ESTA: The latest information from DHS
indicates that approximately 36,000 Swedish citizens have applied
for ESTA, with only 54 denied. As of February 12, 2009, Post has
interviewed approximately three-quarters of those denied, mostly for
previous arrests, lost or stolen passports (LASP),and visa
overstays/turnarounds. Most of these cases were subsequently
overcome/waived at Post and approved. It appears that Swedish LASP
data has been incorporated into ESTA's clearance process, resulting
in a number of hits for travelers who had reported their passports
lost, but later recovered and continued to use them. Combined with
ESTA, this sharing of lost/stolen passport information is increasing
our ability to ensure that applicants do not use invalid passports
for travel to the United States.


3. UTILIZING ESTA RESOURCES TO ADDRESS QUESTIONS: The week after

the January 12 implementation date of ESTA saw a significant
increase in public inquiries to the Embassy. The call volume was so
significant on January 12, 2009 that the Embassy's phone system was
overwhelmed. Since then, calls have leveled off, but ESTA-related
calls and emails continue to account for one-third of all
consular-related inquiries. The majority of questions concern what
applicants should do if they entered their information incorrectly
in the ESTA application. Post followed up with DHS regarding this
issue, and was informed by DHS of two steps applicants can take:

-- If the application resulted in an ESTA denied and the traveler
believes they answered a question in error, they now only have to
wait 24 hours (not 10 days) before reapplying for ESTA approval
online.

-- If the application resulted in an ESTA approved but the traveler
believes they entered incorrect personal data, they can send an
email to ESTA@CBP.DHS.gov with their name, application number if
available, and the passport number and DHS will need to remove their
application in order for them to reapply. We do note, however, that
applicants have reported that DHS can take several weeks to respond
to applicant inquiries.

--------------
ESTA WEBSITE FRAUD HAPPENS IN SWEDEN
--------------


4. On November 12, 2008 major Swedish newspaper, Aftonbladet ran a
story noting that links to fraudulent ESTA sites requesting payment
were inadvertently placed on the main Swedish airline/airport
Website (Fraudulent links included: www.esta.us; www.esta.co.uk; and
www.travelauthorization.org). Airport authorities discovered the
error and removed the link the same day. In addition to following
up with airline representatives to make sure they had the correct
information, on November 13, 2008, Post sent out an updated media
advisory note describing the ESTA program and warning of fraudulent
ESTA Websites.

--------------
POST'S ONGOING OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
--------------


STOCKHOLM 00000119 002.2 OF 002



5. Post coordinated a variety of outreach activities in the
lead-up and days surrounding the January 12, 2009 mandatory
implementation of the ESTA program. Some of these efforts and press
outputs included:

-- December 12, 2008: Major local Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet ran
a story on ESTA regulations (with Embassy input).

-- December 30, 2009: Post sent out and posted on the Embassy
website a media advisory on the upcoming January 12 implementation
date.

-- January 12, 2009:

Swedish Television twice played a thirty-second interview with the
APAO on the ESTA program. Swedish Radio played the same interview
during several spots.

Aftonbladet ran a newspaper article that included an interview with
Scandinavian Airlines spokesman who noted that airlines would
receive a grace period from fines until March and that the program
had been running smoothly. Note: Local airport contacts inform Post
they still do not have computer access to see whether travelers have
an approved ESTA.

Several local specialist travel magazines reiterated the new ESTA
regulations in their January 2009 editions.

Conoff briefed several hundred travel agents and other tourism
industry representatives at the semi-annual gathering of "Discover
America," an industry organization that promotes travel to the U.S.
Conoff also had a booth at the event for several hours, and answered
in-depth questions from participants and press regarding ESTA.

-- January 19, 2009: Swedish Television covered the new ESTA program
(with Embassy input) during its weekly Monday travel program. The
program noted that one can be denied boarding/entry to the United
States if they do not complete the form, that it only takes a couple
of minutes to complete, and that it is valid for two years, unless
one changes their name or passport. The story also referred viewers
to the Embassy website for more information.

--------------
POST RECOMMENDATION FOR ESTA - MOVING FORWARD
--------------


6. Post will continue to reach out to Swedish stakeholders and the
public in order to ensure the continued smooth implementation of the
ESTA program into the busy summer travel season. Based on daily
experience with travelers in Sweden, Post would also like to make a
recommendation that we believe will help improve the friendliness of
ESTA and facilitate travel to the United States. Applicants often
forget to write down or lose their ESTA application number when they
apply on-line and subsequently cannot confirm whether or not they
have received an approval or update travel information. Currently,
we refer them to the DHS helpline, but we are aware it can often
take weeks for them to receive the necessary information to know if
they have an approved ESTA. In order to facilitate travel, Post
recommends that the ESTA application, which already requests
applicant's email address, automatically email the applicant their
confirmation number at the time of approval.