Third party websites are charging up to $150 for United States vacation visa waivers duping Irish folks who plan to visit America.
Before traveling to America, most people will have to register for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) ahead of their trip.
The $14 application and form process is a standard and simple procedure via the official ESTA website. This charge includes a fee of $10 collected as a compliance to the Travel Promotion Act (TPA) and an administration fee of $4.
However, multiple tourists have reportedly been duped by a number of third party websites that have been charging up to $150 (approximately €127) for the form.
Read More: Irish dad jailed on family trip to the US over visa overstay 22 years ago
(Screen grab via esta.cbp.dhs.gov)
According to this handy Visa Guide, any other website other that one that ends in .gov is not an official portal for ESTAs.
For example, any sites ending in .com, .org, .us, .esta, or any other, does not operate on behalf of the United States government and should not be used.
The US Embassy in Dublin has urged travelers to only apply via the official portal.
Ireland South MEP, Deirdre Clune has called on people to ensure they are using the correct website for the ESTA.
"People have to be very careful when booking their ESTA form as many sites are charging ten times the price being charged on the official website," she said.
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