US. To charge for entry into the country

Ah. ok. 

The US has been charging for entry by land, like, ever since I have been with Mr MLG (he is British only and together over 12 years) and so likely probably before that. Sounds like they are bring air passengers in line with that to me.

I don't have to pay anything, though, as a Canadian. I think if there were changes there, there'd be political uproar.

In posting news of these changes on some other forums I go on I've encountered a number of people, planning trips infact already booked trips, that didn't even know about the existing requirement. I wonder how many people will get caught out.
And whilst it's fair enough to say they should check travel requirements before travelling abroad, if they'd been to the US a year or so ago and didn't need to do anything it's reasonable to assume that you still wouldn't.
For the casual traveller thinking of a holiday destination this is just another hurdle.

In posting news of these changes on some other forums I go on I've encountered a number of people, planning trips infact already booked trips, that didn't even know about the existing requirement. I wonder how many people will get caught out.
And whilst it's fair enough to say they should check travel requirements before travelling abroad, if they'd been to the US a year or so ago and didn't need to do anything it's reasonable to assume that you still wouldn't.
For the casual traveller thinking of a holiday destination this is just another hurdle.

When I flew to the US in February the airline sent me an email reminding me to apply for the ESTA... only problem was, the email arrived 25 days after I'd flown to the US (by that time I'd flown to New York, then to Arkansas... and then to Peru!) and also I didn't even need to get an ESTA anyway because I had applied for a visitor visa in advance .

I imagine that this is something that the airlines will have to start observing at check in either by an agent or added to the online/self service check in where the VWP traveller will have to either present their ESTA confirmation or enter their confirmation code ... If the US gets picky about it they can refuse entry to the passenger then the Airline will get fined for it so I'd look for that in the near future.

WTH? Seriously, don't they charge enough in landing fees and crap to cover this? And how is charging people to go to the US susposed to encourage travel and tourism? I know it's only 10 quid, but that's not the point. Sigh.

This makes me think of those containers you see at some US airports that asks for charitable donations for the poor. This one says, "Please donate to the US, to help us promote tourism"

FWIW.

es, UK immigration is as grumpy as US immigration or Us immigration is as grumpy as UK immigration. However you want to think about it. Many of my European friends have some great (to recount, but not experience at the time) horror stories of US immigration. One even was deported back to the UK the next day after arrival because there was a mix-up with her papers. She was traveling to the USA to give a presentation, meet with some of her research collaborators and collect some research samples. She was not allowed to try and contact anyone at the museum she was working with and put in a cell overnight. The next day she was escorted to the first plane back to the UK by armed security. That beats all my bad experiences with UK immigration hands down.

UK immigration is as grumpy as US immigration or Us immigration is as grumpy as UK immigration.

Too true, DW's daughter and her friend were held up for a hour when they came to visit earlier this year. We were waiting for them and got a call from immigration to speak on the phone.

I can't name them from the top of my head, but several South American countries do this as well. I think when I was planning a trip to Brazil, I looked and found I would have had to pay an extra $100-some to enter. I found it annoying that Brits wouldn't have to pay this *shakes fist* But as others have said, administrations reciprocate. I imagine Americans would have to pay this because US immigration requires many South Americans to pay loads before they enter.  

I remember reading an article that US immigration was increasing the costs for green cards, apparently inspired by the increases in UK immigration fees.