USA... not just for Maidens!

15/11/2010

Finally an end to the controversy concerning the names married women must use to enter the USA.

The story so far: since January 2009, all Europeans travelling to the US must fill out the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) form, an entry ticket of sorts that now costs 14 dollars.

Last September, the American Department of Homeland Security declared that one must use the name on his or her passport when booking tickets to travel to the States and when filling out the ESTA document. In many countries, a woman’s name on her passport corresponds to her maiden name, as opposed to her married name. Thus, the announcement created massive confusion, and it sparked concern from tourism professionals, including airlines and tour operators, who were worried about the cancellation of tickets previously booked with a woman’s married name.

“The name is not the concern,” says the Department of Homeland Security, who eventually specified that “there is no obligation for married women to mention their maiden name.” Even so, American authorities recommend that a woman indicates her full name, including her maiden name and married name. The same recommendation applies to airlines when they send their APIS and Secure Flight forms, which give the names of the passengers on board and identify “potential dangerous passengers.” What a relief for married women!