New Visa Waiver Entry Clearance Restrictions??

My husband and I (living in UK) are traveling back to the US for Christmas and New Years to surprise my family. A colleague just passed this website to me and said they hadn't heard anything widely publicised so weren't sure if it was really being enforced. Basically it's saying that (apparently starting earlier this year) anyone traveling to the US that qualifies under the visa waiver programme must register through this website before hand. Does anyone know if this is true? I just don't want to have him register and face unnecessary difficulties or NOT register and be turned away at the airport.

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html?_flowExecutionKey=_cD476856C-2838-8765-DA06-375F124E3E85_kF5568BBA-F5FD-5E9D-CAC3-A2397E3D8962

Yes it's true. It came into force a few months ago and was quite widely reported in the news media at the time. I am sure you can confirm this by checking on the US Embassy website.

Better to register than not, don't you think. My husband has done it.

Yes, non-US passport holders need to register.  I am not sure about green card holders.  It only took a few seconds for my husband to be approved.  There are a few threads about this on here, but they are older.

It is basically the same system Australia has, but they are still making people fill out the cards on the plane for a few more months.  

Oh, so it's going to be replacing the cards then? Cool, thanks for all the quick responses!

Oh, so it's going to be replacing the cards then? Cool, thanks for all the quick responses!

No, still have to fill out the card!

But thanks for the reminder cause I've not done it yet and we go in 2 weeks!

I thought it was supposed to replace the cards, eventually.  Maybe not, sorry, either way it was really easy.

It came into effect at the beginning of 2009. My husband had to do it in February this year. The website (at the time) said if you don't have it done before you arrive, you won't be admitted into the US. Period. There is nothing to print out, just fill it out and it'll be in his record when they scan his passport.