VZCZCXRO1053
RR RUEHAT
DE RUEHAT #0035/01 2001509
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181509Z JUL 08
FM AMCONSUL AMSTERDAM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1388
INFO RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 0649
RUEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 0019
RUEHNO/USEUCOM FMFO BRUSSELS BE
RUEHAT/AMCONSUL AMSTERDAM 1421

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMSTERDAM 000035 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR CA/VO/F/P JBRENNAN CA/EX JSAVAGE EUR/WE TSMITH, 
EUR/PPD, CA/P 
DHS FOR OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 
CBP FOR OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CVIS CMGT PREL KPAO PGOV NL
SUBJECT: ESTA OUTREACH IN THE NETHERLANDS 
 
REF: STATE 58479 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY.  Since the June 3 announcement of the DHS 
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) program, 
Consulate General Amsterdam and colleagues at the U.S. Embassy 
in The Hague have conducted extensive ESTA outreach activities. 
We have developed an action plan to continue to reach out to key 
stakeholder groups and the public in the run up to both 
voluntary and mandatory implementation.  At a recent meeting at 
the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consulate officials 
briefed representatives from several Dutch ministries, addressed 
concerns and requested assistance publicizing ESTA with the 
Dutch traveling public.  The Consulate General is developing 
plans to adjust visa operations to meet an anticipated increase 
in demand for visas due to ESTA.  END SUMMARY. 
 
----------------- 
All Hands Effort 
----------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) On June 3, following release of public information 
regarding ESTA, Consulate General Amsterdam initiated outreach 
activities to maximize publicity regarding the ESTA program in 
advance of implementation.  The Consul General discussed ESTA 
with Foreign Ministry, airline, airport and travel industry 
officials and has forwarded to them the approved public affairs 
materials.  The CBP attachi also briefed key contacts at 
Schiphol International Airport connected with CBP's 
International Advisory Program there.  The Consulate General's 
website has included information about the ESTA program on its 
home page, including information in Dutch, since June 3 and we 
continue to update this information as additional materials have 
arrived.  On June 6, the Consul General discussed ESTA with an 
audience of 150 expats, noting that they all have a connection 
to Dutch travelers through personal relationships or their work 
and asking them to spread the word.  All officers have taken 
opportunities at public events throughout the summer to 
publicize ESTA and will continue to do so.  We have notified our 
call center of the upcoming ESTA requirements and at present 
callers seeking information about ESTA are directed to the DHS 
ESTA website for more information.  DHS's tear sheets are 
available in the visa and American citizens services waiting 
rooms. 
 
¶3.  Public affairs staff at the Embassy in The Hague have 
reached out to travel and other journalists and will continue to 
do so.  US FCS staff have reached out to their extensive list of 
travel industry contacts since the beginning of June to ensure 
that the travel industry has the latest information and is 
spreading the word within this key community.  FCS is also 
tracking travel publications where ESTA information appears. 
 
-------------- 
MFA Briefing 
-------------- 
 
¶4.  (U) Consul General, Visa Chief and DHS CBP Acting Attachi 
conducted a briefing of 20 GONL officials on July 15 organized 
by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).  The briefing was 
chaired by the Deputy Head of the North America Desk and and 
included representatives from the MFA's Western Hemisphere 
Division, the Director General's office, the Office of European 
Affairs, Travel Office, Human Trafficking Office, Maritime and 
Transport Office, Consular Affairs Division and Internal Affairs 
Division.  An official from the Prime Minister's office, and a 
Dutch travel industry representative were also there.  Consul 
General provided background information on the purpose of the 
ESTA program, gave a timeline for implementation and explained 
how the program will be implemented and publicized.  The Visa 
Chief explained how ESTA will affect diplomatic and official 
travelers, and briefed on how the Consulate General plans to 
accommodate travelers refused authorization under the ESTA 
program. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) MFA representatives expressed concerns about privacy 
protections under ESTA and other security initiatives.  One 
official from the Western Hemisphere Division asked "Where does 
this all end - first PNR, now ESTA, what's next?"  Others 
expressed concern about collecting health and other information 
on travelers, asserting that individuals who are HIV positive 
are unfairly stigmatized by questions on the current I-94W and 
ESTA forms.  Several MFA representatives wanted to know how the 
ESTA applicant information would be shared; with whom and for 
what purpose.  Consul General explained the privacy protections 
 
AMSTERDAM 00000035  002 OF 002 
 
 
included in ESTA and noted that the goal of ESTA is to modernize 
and enhance the security of the VWP.  One MFA official responded 
that the Dutch will discuss their concerns regarding ESTA and 
privacy within the European Union and that she expects some 
members of the Dutch Parliament and EU Parliament to raise 
concerns. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) ESTA funding concerns were also expressed by the MFA. 
One official stated that he understood that ESTA was not funded 
and asked how the program could succeed without sufficient 
financial resources.  We reassured those present that DHS has 
the necessary technology and staffing in place to accommodate 
the large number of VWP travelers using ESTA.  Another MFA 
representative asked if there are plans to begin charging for 
the ESTA application.  Consul General responded that at this 
time there are no plans to charge a fee for ESTA and that once 
the program is operational fee collection policies may be 
reconsidered.  Other than concerns about privacy under the ESTA 
program, reaction from the MFA was muted with few clarifying 
questions asked. Among the questions posed to and answered by 
the Consul General were: 
- What percentage of current VWP travelers will not be approved 
under ESTA and among those who are approved, how many will be 
stopped upon entry to the U.S.? 
- Will ESTA applicants be given the reason they are not approved 
for travel? 
- How will ESTA requirements affect diplomatic or official 
travel visa requirements? 
- Will additional questions, beyond what is now on the I-94 form 
be asked by ESTA? 
- What mechanisms will be put into place to prevent hackers or 
system abuse? 
 
¶7. (SBU) Consul General solicited ideas on ways to publicize the 
ESTA program in advance of January's mandatory implementation 
date, requesting that the MFA publicize ESTA on the MFA's 
website with its travel advice for its citizens.  A MFA 
representative committed to pursuing this. 
 
------------------------------------ 
Outreach Before and After August 1 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶8. (U) Consulate General, DHS and the Embassy's PAS and FCS plan 
future outreach and publicity activities.  The ESTA program will 
be featured during annual vacation and immigration fairs that 
reach well over 130,000 people throughout The Netherlands. 
Media interviews continue to be  sought by the PAS.  FCS is in 
close contact with local leadership of the See America 
Foundation, which is an essential resource to Dutch travel 
agencies and provides substantial information on changes to U.S. 
entry requirements.   We are sending diplomatic notes explaining 
ESTA to all Embassies and Consulates from other VWP countries 
represented in The Netherlands and will include this information 
in our regular consular newsletters.  We will continue to keep 
the Department apprised of our additional outreach efforts as 
they occur. 
 
---------------- 
Visa Workload 
---------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Consulate General visa operations and policies are 
under review for probable change.  Because the impact of ESTA on 
visa demand is unknown, the Consulate General visa section will 
plan to build in increased flexibility and work closely with the 
call center on the information it provides to those refused ESTA 
authorization.  The current visa workload already strains 
existing facilities and staffing and we are concerned that about 
the impact of a significant increase in the demand for visas - 
particularly on an urgent basis.  We will also craft our public 
materials to help manage public expectations. 
 
¶10. (SBU) COMMENT:  Industry response to ESTA has been muted, 
with several airline officials commenting that the program 
appears to be a welcome improvement over the outdated, 
paper-based I-94W.  Mainstream media interest in ESTA has been 
so far been minimal and both the Consulate and the Embassy are 
working to generate press coverage, particularly among travel 
editors and journalists.  END COMMENT. 
AMES