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Senior Helpline USA Launched in New York - May 2009
The Senior Helpline, organized by the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, the Aisling Irish Center, and the New York Irish Center, provides an opportunity for older people to call and talk to a sympathetic listener of their own age group about common concerns or owrries - or just to have a friendly chat. The helpline is entirely volunteer run and is staffed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.
The toll-free number for the helpline is: 1-877-997-5777.
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Introduction of Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) January 2009
ESTA is an electronic registration system requiring travellers who are part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to register in advance of travelling to the USA. The ESTA program began on a voluntary basis on 1 August 2008. Mandatory registration will come into force as of 12 January 2009.
Visa Waiver travellers should register through the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection Agency website at the following address https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
Registration is free and may be done by third parties e.g. travel agencies. ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel, and once approved, will be valid for up to two years or until the applicant's passport expires or in the event of a name change. Authorisations will be valid for multiple entries into the U.S.
The US Department of Homeland Security is recommending that ESTA applications be submitted as soon as an applicant begins making travel plans and at least 72 hours in advance of travel. An applicant who does not receive authorisation to travel will need to go to their nearest U.S. Diplomatic or Consular Mission and apply for a visa.
An ESTA approval does not determine admissibility into the United States. The final decision for entry to the United States rests with US immigration authorities at the port of entry.
The ESTA program does not apply to Irish citizens who are holders of a visa for the United States.
For more information on ESTA, please visit www.cbp.gov/ESTA.
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May 2008 - Emerald Isle Immigration Center warns Travelers of Increased Security when Crossing Borders. Read press release: Tighter Travel Security
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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS - Emerald Isle Immigration Center, January 2008
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Diversity Visa Program
The online entry registration period for the annual U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery (DV-2011) will begin on Friday 2nd October, and end on Monday 30th November 2009.
This programme makes 50,000 U.S. visas available on an annual basis to persons meeting the eligibility requirements. Irish citizens who are interested in living or working in the United States are encouraged to apply for the lottery, as it is a free programme that offers winning entrants the chance to apply for permanent residency - a ‘Green Card’.
Anyone interested in applying is advised to:
- Read the fraud Warning on the US Department of State Website.
- Check with an Irish Immigration Center for a referral to a qualified immigration attorney if you need one.
- Always verify the legitimacy of any website that requests money for a service. There is no fee to enter the Lottery on the official DV Lottery website.
- Look for the .gov suffix on all US government websites
- Note that there is only one official DV lottery entry website: www.dvlottery.state.gov
Updates, eligibility criteria and instructions on how to enter will be available at a later date on the official U.S. Department of State website at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1322.html.
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P.O. Box 10065, Silver Spring, MD 20914
