UPDATE: Information changes quickly, so before doing any traveling to the U.S., please see the “Crossing U.S. Borders” section on the Dept. of Homeland Security’s website – it has info for U.S. citizens and visitors alike.

Some tourism officials are worried that a lot of people could be denied travel to the U.S. because they haven’t signed on with ESTA – the Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

Who it’s for: travelers visiting the U.S. from nations that don’t require a visa for entry to America.

What it does: screens travelers to eliminate potential security risks.

How it works: register online before departure providing name, address, passport information, etc. Approved applications valid for two years, then must be updated.

The problem: the ESTA program is now two years, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not start “enforcing” it until Jan. 20 – and then a grace period of 2 months was instituted, but that is about to expire. According to the Orlando Sentinel, an estimated 6% of visitors who should be registered with ESTA, are not.

The U.S. Travel Association says, that could mean a loss of one million visitors (and an estimated loss of $3.2 billion in business).

Don’t get denied entry – we’d miss you! Register with ESTA today. It’s free.