View Full Version : U.S. Entry Requirements Put on Hold
For those of you rushing to obtain new passports for their children currently included on their own passport for travel to the US, the following information has just been received:[:I]
'Plans to introduce tough new requirements for travellers entering the United States, due to start October 1, have been put on hold for twelve months. The new regulations, part of anti-terrorism measures, apply to travellers from Western European and other developed countries including Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Brunei, whose nationals do not require visas to enter the US.
Under the new regulations, travellers must be in possession of machine-readable passports which can be scanned at airports and other points of entry. The postponement has been ordered by the US State Department after it was discovered that some of the 27 countries involved do not have the new-style passports.
To avoid problems at US airports next month, the authorities have informed the countries involved that they now have a further year to make the new identity documents available. One exception to the rule is Belgium, which already enforces its own machine-readable passport rules as part of its security requirements.'
Lesley
Thats great at least it saves us having to get our kids passports for next July, and we
can wait until our existing passports run out
Thanks for the info
Chris
Lesley, can I just ask where you got this information from please?
athurstance
24-09-2003, 15:30
The latest I have seen is that it is still not finally decided to postpone:
http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov./tinews/archive/20030911b.html
is the official US government website for tourism issues but the above news report was published on 11th September so something may have happened since then.
I would suggest anyone travelling after October 2003 would be best to have a machine readable passport just in case as at the moment the situation seems confused.
Hi Blott
Information was sent to us by our Company Travel Agent, Lonsdale Travel Group on their news bulletin, 'e-news'.
steph_goodrum
24-09-2003, 18:05
Chris
As from 2nd Oct the childrens passports are going up to £25 and £42 for adults, there was a big advert today in the paper.
How much are they prior to 2nd Octobr Steph? We need to get the children a passport each x 3 so may as well do it before then if we are going to save money!
£19 for Kids (not sure for Adults)
quote:Originally posted by steph_goodrum
Chris
As from 2nd Oct the childrens passports are going up to £25 and £42 for adults, there was a big advert today in the paper.
Just typical, lets hope they call it off, then we dont need to
do any passports for another 2 years
Lesley S
25-09-2003, 12:25
Oh good, at least I don't have to send mine off until next year now. Got another 18 months to run.
thumpertwinkle
08-02-2004, 17:11
Will children need their own passport in 2005?
San
I thought that the tough new entry requirements refered to biometeric information being included on the passports. This was the problem as the UK would not be have the technology to do this until mid 2005 at the earliest. I am fairly sure that all current UK passports are machine readable, and the only problem would occur if your passport ran out after 1 October 2004 before the new biometeric data passports were available. As well as this all children would have to have their own passport. This is just farcical for identification purposes. We had to get a passport for our youngest and the photograph taken when he was 1 month old bears no resemblance to what he looks like now.
Yes, if you're travelling to the US after 26 October 2004 then all children will require their own passports, unless they have a US visa. See http://www.passportoffice.gov.uk/news/news.asp?strAreaNo=320&intelement=589 for info.
Note that you need to apply and obtain a passport before 26 October 2004 to avoid the biometric info required for US visitors with passports issued after that date.
thumpertwinkle
08-02-2004, 18:05
We could get the children US visas then I think going of what i have read in the link given above as UK passports are machine readable arn't they?
San
steph_goodrum
08-02-2004, 18:06
I think this thread is in danger of becoming very confusing as there are so many proposals that have been either deferred or considered. The original post was last Sept when I think it was even more unclear what was happening.
At the moment, as I understand it
All passports must be machine readable by Oct 2004 (which means by default that the children MUST have their own passports as the barcode can only contain information for one person. (This was originally proposed for Oct 2003 and was deferred until this year).
The latest ones (which there is still some negotiation about between countries) states that anyone who has a passport issued AFTER 26th Oot 2004 must have a passport containing biometric data if they wish to enter under the visa waiver scheme. These aren't available in the UK yet so it may mean some people having to apply for a visa or defer their trip until they are available.
Or have there been any later proposals/changes?
steph_goodrum
08-02-2004, 18:09
"We could get the children US visas then I think going of what i have read in the link given above as UK passports are machine readable arn't they?"
That would only solve part of the problem San as they would still need their own passport to comply with the "machine readable" part of the restriction.
quote:We could get the children US visas then I think going of what i have read in the link given above as UK passports are machine readable arn't they? That may be a pretty expensive way of going about things! The fee for a new passport for a child is £25 each but the fee for a US visitors' visa is £65 each! They still need a passport of their own to get a visa.
thumpertwinkle
08-02-2004, 18:14
Oh well, that's another expense i'll have to add onto my (ever growing) list[msncry]
San
We have MR passports with the children on, They are allowed to travel like this until October
this year
Luckily our passports run out next march anyway
steph_goodrum
08-02-2004, 20:30
Chris you can renew your passports anytime before they are due and up to 9 months (the max) of remaining validity will be added to your new passports. It may well be better for you to get the new ones before Oct this year otherwise (unless they defer the current proposal) you will have to get visas for all the family.
Steph
You've worried me now, we are going in July and was under the impression we would be ok with the
kids on my wifes passport and still use the Visa Waiver system
Are you saying ive got it wrong (hope not)
I think Steph's trying to tell you to renew your passports after your July visit but before 26 October 2004 or, when you go next time to the USA, you'll have to have biometric data on the new passports or get a visa. At least, I think that's what she meant!
steph_goodrum
08-02-2004, 23:00
That is what I was saying Blott and Chris, but I didn't know you were intending to go in July so didn't realise I'd get you worried, sorry about that, after you come back would be a good time to renew them. Otherwise after Oct the children would need their own and if it was issued after 26th would need either the biometric data or visa (yours would still be ok till March but then you will have the same problem.
espritdave
09-02-2004, 01:04
try here.....
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618385531
Dave
Phewwwwwwwwwwwwwww
thanks blott and steph at least the trip for july is safe
actually this next trip im afraid will be our last for a while, we
need to concentrate on our own holiday home and spend some time
getting it up and running, thats why we have made it 3 weeks in July
so we can really hit the town so to speak.
So im afraid Blott will have to take piccies of my lovely 192 for
a few years until I get get back
You're probably not going to believe this, but I think we've actually got videos of it - by day and by night! :D
:D:D:D
Actually I do for some strange reason
But dont ya just love it
KarenScott
09-02-2004, 23:30
[:I]I spoke to the passport office today, as two of my children are on my passport and the guy said to ensure they have their own passports for our trip in June as the US are changing their minds all the time. I was hoping we would get away with this trip and then get the children their own passports thereafter. I'm wondering if anyone else can shed any light? Although I suppose he was an official!![:I]
I had an email reply from the passport office saying that we would be ok, we go in July and
the kids are on my wifes passport ??
Virgin also say it is ok
The american embassey have also said that it is ok
Just seems to be a total muck up to me
drifting
10-02-2004, 01:52
quote:Originally posted by steph_goodrum
All passports must be machine readable by Oct 2004 (which means by default that the children MUST have their own passports as the barcode can only contain information for one person. (This was originally proposed for Oct 2003 and was deferred until this year).
The latest ones (which there is still some negotiation about between countries) states that anyone who has a passport issued AFTER 26th Oot 2004 must have a passport containing biometric data if they wish to enter under the visa waiver scheme. These aren't available in the UK yet so it may mean some people having to apply for a visa or defer their trip until they are available.
Or have there been any later proposals/changes?
Correct, I reseached this quite a bit, to my knowledge this still stands, and it also says so on the US Embassy site in the UK. Considering that 33% of the visitors are from the UK. (According to the American tourist board)
I have quite a few friends in the travel trade here in the UK, and all I have spoken to re this new ruling have said that it has affected their bookings to the USA, a few have even cancelled, especially with people from the North of the country as they have to travel to London to get a Visa.
My first reaction was, annoyance, but I can understand America wanting to protect itself, just wished they put off the biometric passport until the UK gov can organise it. Quite happy to have fingerprints and photos.
Regards Drift.
This is from the vrgin website
I read it to mean that we are ok as we are going in July
Florida, USA & Canada
GMT
+ or - Visa req'd for
UK passport holder? Recommended vaccinations
West Coast USA & West Canada (Vancouver) -8 From 1 October 2004, all British passport holders inclucing children and infants will only be permitted to enter the United States if they hold a machine readable passport. Should your passport not be machine readable it will be necessary to either obtain a new passport or to obtain a US visa. Visa applicants are required to obtain visa application form DS-156 either by down loading from the US embassy website (www.usembassy.org.uk), calling 09055 444546 (£1.30 per minute) or sending a stamped, self-addressed A-4 sized envelope with 28p postage to: United States Visa Forms, P.O. Box 499 Leeds, LS3 1XU.
* Please note that under certain circumstances (e.g. if you have a criminal record), you will need a visa! For more information on passports & visas visit our FAQ section.
None currently required
East Coast USA, East Canada & Florida -5 None currently required
Hawaii -10 None currently required
Heres a reply from the passport office I mailed them last night
So again, I take that we are ok for July with the kids on my wifes
passport
Thank you for your enquiry.
From 26th October 2004, All children will require a passport of their own to
enter the USA, a child will be refused entry to the US if they are included on
an adult passport and do not have a passport in their own right.
If you are planning to travel to the US with your child/ren after this date you
will need to apply for a new passport for your child/ren.
If you are still unsure, you can contact the American Embassy on:0207 4999 000
Thank you.
Can anyone define "Machine Readable Passport" Is this a passport with the two lines of numbers and sysmbols etc on the bottom of the last page (The same page as your photo?)
Thanks.
athurstance
10-02-2004, 17:21
Yes - if you have those two lines at the bottom of the page with your photo on then your passport is machine readable.
Usually the only UK passports which are not machine readable are those that were issued by British Embassies outside of the UK as they got the technology later than the UK passport offices.
firsttimer
10-02-2004, 17:47
The old black passports are not machine readable....but I expect they have all been replaced by now.
I had a visa back in about 1980 and at that time the advice was that when you got a new passport, you just needed to take along your old passport when you travelled, and that visa remainer valid. I still have it and wonder if this will be acceptable after October.
KarenScott
10-02-2004, 18:46
[:I] Thanks for the advice. I'm going to ring the American Embassey just to be on the safe side. Will let you know how I get on?[:I]
The american embassy have said the same as virgin and our passport office
The new rule doesnt come in until October this year