this is scary

[linglis]

My in-laws were over here in 2001 before 9/11 they didnt need a visa to come visit us, now I am reading on here that folks coming on holiday from the UK need a visa???? what kind do they need to come see us next year? they will be staying 2 weeks, do they have to travel upto London to the US Embassy to get the visa, or can it be done by mail? thanks for any information you can give us...

Linda

[Curly Wurly]

If they can travel on the visa waiver form I don't think they will need a separate visa. You need to apply for a visa if you have ever been arrested or convicted. Hope this helps! :)

If they do need to get a visa they will either have to travel to the US Embassy in London or the Belfast one.

[dolphinv]

They only need a visa if they have a hand written passport. If they have a machine readable passport they can still enter under the visa waiver programme.

[steph_goodrum]

The deadline for having to have a biometric passport has been set back to October next year (was for new passport issued after Oct 26th 2005) so provided they
a) can answer no to all the questions on the visa waiver form
b) they have a machine readable passport issued before Oct 26th 2006 then they should still be fine. I think they have long since stopped doing joint ones but they must have individual passports (I dont think there are still any where the wife travelled under the husbands).

[lewisp]

Here is an update I received from a friend recently - hope it helps:-

Below is a latest bulletin regarding the US Visa Issues. I hope aqll our readers find it useful.

The UK industry has welcomed a move by the US to delay its demands that European countries issue biometric passports after October 26.

The climbdown comes after increasing pressure from the European Union which insisted its member countries needed more time to introduce the high-tech documentation, which includes fingerprint and other personal data.

The move has saved thousands of UK tourists from delays as they applied for face-to-face interviews with Embassy officials in order to obtain a visa.

ABTA and the Guild of Travel Management Companies both described the move as an "excellent development."

The extension of the deadline, until October 26, 2006, will apply to 27, mainly European nations, participating in a special visa waiver scheme. Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan are also part of the scheme.

Initially, the US insisted all new passports issued after October this year must be biometric. Those issued with old-style passports would require a visa, raising the prospect of delays.

GMTC chief executive Philip Carlisle said the October deadline this year could have caused severe problems for business travellers.

"We very much welcome the news," he said. "Those without biometric passports would have needed to obtain a visa and that can only now be done in person with an appointment at the US Embassy. It is a time consuming process."

Business travellers needing to travel at very short notice to the US would have stood an "almost zero" chance of obtaining a visa in time, Carlisle added.

ABTA said it was "delighted" at the development.

"This is exactly what we wanted and is a result of the combined lobbying efforts of the association, Passport Office, Foreign Office and other bodies," a spokeswoman said. "The UK was not ready to provide comprehensive biometric passports at this stage."

Had the US persisted with its 2005 deadline, "potentially hundreds of thousands" of tourists would have needed face-to-face interviews at the Embassy.

US officials had also come under intense pressure from its own travel industry which feared losing billion of dollars if travellers were put off travelling to the US.

Travel Industry Association of America president and chief executive Roger J Dow said: "This means millions of overseas visitors from our biggest markets can continue to travel here visa-free. It is critical to our nation’s economy, our diplomatic efforts with key allies and it helps to enhance our image abroad."

Report by Steve Jones

Gill

[wrpac00]

Linda,

You have always had to fill out the Visa Waver form, your inlaws must have done it in 2001.

[linglis]

thank you it was all very helpful[msnsmile2]

[E. Cosgrove]

here is a link to a sample of the form they will need to complete
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/topic_14753.asp
They will get this form at check in or on board the aircraft.