DHS to "enhance" visa waiver program and make travel even more miserable

And when they say "enhance" they really mean "completely screw up". Starting on 12 January the US will require overseas travelers from the "Visa Waiver Program" countries (such as Western Europe, for example) to fill out some sort of online pre-screening document as seen here. This will no doubt be a quick and easy process, making travel from the "Visa Waiver Program" countries not quite a Visa Waiver Program but a visa-by-another-name program. Anyone who thinks the kind gesture will not be returned, forcing Americans to prepare the same kind of documentation with the same head numbing problems is kidding themselves.

In practical terms, imagine the fun of adding this process to your travel planning. Especially in work situations, think about the enjoyable moments as you book and then submit and then wait for confirmation. This is going to be wonderful fun when you have an urgent business trip or family emergency and I'm sure that the DHS will be speedy since they've never been know to have problems. Just imagine the delight of traveling with family (heck, even yourself) and looking for that pre-screening code that you jotted down after an eight or ten hour flight. It's in your bags somewhere and surely it won't cause any further delay upon landing and going through passport control. How will you buy a ticket with this addition? Will it be refunded if there's a delay due to DHS incompetence? The imaginable disruptions are unlimited.

Whatever idiot thought up this "enhancement" has hopefully already found another job and will be gone by 20 January though it's going to take a while to undo this stunningly stupid change.