US Customs and Border Protection has announced an interim final rule that amends DHS regulations to require travellers from Visa Waiver Program countries to pay operational and travel promotion fees when applying for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) beginning 8 September 2010.

 A fee of $4.00 will recover the costs incurred by CBP of providing and administering the ESTA system and is in addition to the mandatory $10 travel promotion fee established by the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, enacted as Section 9 of Public Law 111–145, the United States Capitol Police Administrative Technical Corrections Act of 2009.  The total fee for a new or renewed ESTA will be $14.00.

 All payments for electronic travel authorisation applications must be made by credit card or debit card when applying for an ESTA at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

Source : www.cbp.gov/ESTA