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DE RUEHKO #1711/01 1742253
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FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5296
RHEFDHS/DIA DHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER WASHINGTON DC
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RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0553
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RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 6168
RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI 0304
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RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 0243
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RUEHFT/AMCONSUL FRANKFURT 0503

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 001711 
 
SIPDIS 
Sensitive 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR CA for CA/VO/F/P:JBrennan for CA/P Steve Royster AND 
FOR EAP/J Marc Jackson and Ted Bryan 
 
DHS for Office of International Affairs, ICE Office of International 
Affairs and CBP Office of International Affairs 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CVIS CMGT PREL PGOV EUN JA
SUBJECT: VISA WAIVER PROGRAM:  ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR TRAVEL 
AUTHORIZATION (ESTA) ANNOUNCEMENT AND OUTREACH IN JAPAN 
 
This cable is sensitive but unclassified, not for internet 
distribution. 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: This is an ACTION CABLE, please see PARA 4.  On June 3, 
DHS Secretary Chertoff introduced the ESTA program.  Since then, 
post has conducted numerous outreach activities to inform the 
Japanese Government and public of this initiative.  This cable also 
contains information on future outreach plans.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Embassy consular and DHS representatives met with Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Director General for Consular Affairs 
Tanizaki on June 2 to pre-brief him on the launch of ESTA.  Tanizaki 
said he generally knew ESTA was coming, but was surprised at the 
imminent launch date.  He expected Japanese travelers would accept 
ESTA, but indicated MOFA's Treaty Bureau would look into the 
question of whether ESTA effectively spelled the end of the Visa 
Waiver Program (VWP).  Embassy representatives emphasized to 
Tanizaki that this was not the case and the electronically requested 
information would be the same as what travelers now provide on the 
I-94W arrival/departure form. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Embassy consular and DHS representatives delivered the same 
message on June 4 to MOFA Consular Affairs Bureau, Foreign National 
Affairs Division Director Kazuyoshi Matsunaga.  He asked if there 
would be an exchange of diplomatic notes as there was at the 
inception of the Visa Waiver Pilot Program in 1988.  We replied we 
did not believe a dip note would be necessary as ESTA does not 
fundamentally change the VWP.  He then inquired about the EU's 
reaction to ESTA and if ESTA could be accessed/data entered from a 
cell phone.  Finally, he asked if the 72 hour before boarding ESTA 
registration deadline precluded last minute requests or emergency 
travel.  We said we believed ESTA allowed for last minute requests 
and we were not sure if data entry could be done through a cell 
phone, but that we would raise these questions with the Department. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Action request: Post requests Department provides answers 
we can share to MOFA's questions on the EU reaction to ESTA and if 
ESTA could be accessed/processed via a cell phone. 
 
¶5. (SBU) DHS and Consular representatives also delivered the ESTA 
message on June 4 to Mr. Kazuhiko Kanazashi, International Tourism 
Division, Policy Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport 
and Tourism (MLIT).  MLIT had many of the same questions as posed in 
the other meetings.  Their main concern is how the information would 
get to the airports and airlines.  The DHS representative informed 
that in addition to the support provided to the carriers through the 
Carrier Liaison Program, the IAP team at Narita would be conducting 
briefings on ESTA.  The consular representative added that the 
embassy and consulates would be contacting airport officials in 
their respective locations. 
 
¶6.  Post's efforts to inform the general public include many 
outreach standards such as sending the press release information to 
the American Chamber of Commerce, Keidanren, JETRO, APEC, and the 
Japanese Association of Travel Agents (JATA), sending diplomatic 
notes containing ESTA information to VWP embassies, putting links to 
the information on the Mission Japan website, and sending the 
information to Military Liaison contacts and through our newsletters 
to American residents in Japan.  Beyond this we are in contact with 
Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airlines, United, Continental and 
Northwest to place a news article in their in-flight magazines.  We 
are handing out the DHS press release, which we have translated into 
Japanese to visa applicants and we will be holding a briefing with 
interested embassy officers so they can answer contacts' questions. 
 
¶7.  June 5, the Consul General and DHS Attache held a press 
conference to brief the press on the salient points of ESTA. 
Consulates in Japan participated through DVC.  The following papers 
and TV stations were represented at the event:  Yomiuri Shimbun, 
Asaha Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun, Nikkei Shimbun, 
Tokyo Shimbun, Fukuoka Nishi Nippon news, Kyodo news, Jiji press, 
NHK, TV-Asahi, Fuji-TV, TV-Tokyo, TBS, Fukuoka-Asahi Television, 
Travel Vision, and Stars and Stripes.  The CG and DHS Attache 
emphasized ESTA is not a visa; it will be good for multiple visits 
over two years; it is free of charge; it allows for applications by 
third parties; it will be required of every passenger regardless of 
age; questions will be provided in multiple languages by Oct 15. 
They explained that the overwhelming number of applicants will 
receive ESTA approval.  The following questions were asked by the 
attendees at the press event: 
 
--  Will you use the same criteria currently used to authorize entry 
into the U.S. under ESTA? 
--  How does the traveler carry the information regarding ESTA 
approval?  Is it stamped into the passport? 
--  How will you maintain the data, and what measures will you 
employ to make sure no outsiders will use the information? 
--  Could you please explain the 72 hour rule? 
--  How is the traveler notified of the approval? 
--  What are the similarities to the Australian model. 
--  Will travelers be unable to board a plane without ESTA as of 
January 12? 
--  Will you work with the carriers to have a system in place so 
that the carrier can check ESTA at check in? 
--  With the Australian system, the airline can ask for 
authorization at check in.  Will yours be the same? 
--  Can an I-94 be used instead of ESTA? 
--  You said ESTA is valid for 2 years, but if you forget you have 
it, what happens if you apply again? 
--  What kind of effect will ESTA have on travelers from Japan? 
--  You said a travel agent could apply.  Isn't it a problem for the 
travel agents to have personal information of the traveler? 
--  I don't have a plan to go to the U.S., but could I try ESTA 
anyway? 
--  If I got ESTA approval but put in the wrong name and DOB and I 
get to the POE and the inspector sees that the info doesn't match 
the info in my passport, will my inspection take longer?  Will I be 
taken to secondary? 
--  The DHS fact sheet talked about information sharing, including 
with foreign governments.  Do you envision any possible problems? 
--  Are you planning to charge for ESTA? 
 
The press briefing resulted in positive, factual reporting. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Comment:  The embassy will continue to aggressively reach 
out throughout Japan to all stakeholders to minimize the amount of 
erroneous information on ESTA. In some instances, we envision 
briefing some of the same parties to answer the many questions that 
are likely to evolve as January 12 looms closer and closer. We will 
continue to keep Washington apprised of developments through front 
channel cables. 
 
SCHIEFFER