<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Just read this on a holiday site

Each passenger to the USA whose passport is issued after 25 October 2004 and before the introduction of biometric passports will need to obtain a visa from the United States Embassy in London and Belfast. This must be collected in person.


I need to get passports for the boys this year, does this apply to them?
[/quote]

I believe that was the position a little while ago when the US government intended to introduce biometric passports in October 2004.

However as most countries were not be able to issue biometric passports by that date(including the USA) it was delayed for a year to October 2005. So presumably that is an out of date holiday site.

The UK are not likely to issue biometric passports before October 2005. So if your passport is due to run out soon after that date it is a good idea to get them renewed early. I read on this site you can renew them up to 9 months before the due date and you will have a passport to run for 10 years 9 months.