Please read the below from the U.S. Customs & Border Protection website: http://tinyurl.com/SerotteLawESTAisFREE

Being charged for submitting an ESTA Application

Published 12/02/2009 04:43 PM | Updated 05/11/2010 02:19 PM

Q: I’ve been charged for submitting an ESTA application, but since then I’ve found out there should not be a charge; what should I do?

A: There is NO charge for submitting your ESTA application for travel to the U.S. However, there are a number of unauthorized third-parties that have established websites that charge a fee for submitting your application on your behalf.

If you have used one of these unauthorized sites, we strongly suggest you reapply at the official U.S. government site. We recommend you do this because we have no way of knowing if the information passed through the unauthorized website to us is accurate. If it is not, you may have a problem when you arrive in the U.S.

The U.S. government cannot refund the money you paid an unauthorized website, however, you have been victimized by a fraudulent enterprise, and others who have had this problem have told us that they have been successful in getting their money refunded by disputing the charge with their credit card company or bank. You should explain that you are a victim of fraud, as you have paid an impostor government website for a service that does not require any payment.

We would also like to advise that you may also be a victim of identity theft, as the individuals who operate the fraudulent ESTA website have your passport information, full name, date of birth, address and full credit card information. We have not been notified of any specific examples of this, but caution it could be a problem.

NOTE: When you leave the United States, you must surrender your I-94 (re-entry) card to U.S. immigration officials and you should also obtain some kind of paperwork (for example, travel documentation such as airline tickets and credit card statements or receipts showing purchases made outside of the United States) that show you left the United States before your visa expired.

Those who come from Visa Waiver Program countries are asked to register through ESTA (see the above links) before they enter the United States. Your friend can certainly attempt entry into the United States and see what happens. If he is denied entry, he will most likely need an immigration attorney’s assistance in obtaining advance permission to enter.

We recommend a consultation with an attorney. Please contact us at info@serottelaw.com or 1-888-875-8110 to schedule a paid consultation.

Some countries require that a passport is valid for at least six months from date of entry or departure from that country, but not the United States. When you return to Canada, make sure you renew your passport — but remember that you can’t travel out of the country until you receive your new one.

On the other hand, if a foreigner is entering the United States on a work permit, U.S. immigration may only approve the visa up until the expiration date on the passport. So, it’s best to make sure a passport will not expire for at least a week after the approved length of time for a work visa. For example, if you are applying for a three-year TN visa, make sure your passport is valid for at least three years and one week from your planned date of entry into the United States.