UK Spouse & I Traveling To The US

My wife & i were thinking of traveling to the US May 2012. I am a US citizen & she is a natualize UK citizen holding a UK passport. My wife told me she heard from a source that when visiting the US for the first time, it's require to registered online before departure. Has anyone experience this?

Yes your wife will have to register for ESTA before your visit......

British travellers to the US under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP), which allows most British Citizen passport holders to visit for up to 90 days without a visa, must get an authorisation via the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) prior to their journey. Visitors should register through the ESTA website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ and are advised to do so at least 72 hours prior to travel. If you do not have an ESTA you will be refused travel to the USA. The US Customs and Border Protection department charge $14 per application for an ESTA. All payments must be made by credit card.