MRP Opinions Please....

[ujpest doza]

Here are a couple of posts from another site. I posed a question in relation to an answer given about Machine Readable Passports and was given this answer by a moderator on there.

Is this correct?? Opinions please...

<blockquote id=&#39;quote&#39; class=&#39;ffs&#39;>quote:Quote:
Under current US legislation, if you have a Machine Readable Passport which does not have a digital photograph, then it is valid for visa free travel to the US up until 26 October 2006.



My passport is machine readable and was issued in 1998.

My wife and daughter both have passports issued in 2003 and have embossed signatures and a hologram on the photo.

Mine was fine this year but i am now a bit concerned as we are booked to travel in December 2006 and i had previously been led to believe that as long as it was machine readable i would be okay until it needed renewing.

Is this not so?</blockquote id=&#39;quote&#39;>

<blockquote id=&#39;quote&#39; class=&#39;ffs&#39;>quote:Hi ujpest doza ... the UK Passport Agency introduced digital photographs in 1998. I&#39;m not sure of the exact date, but obviously your situation depends on whether the passport was issued before or after the introduction of digital images.

If your passport contains a digital image which has been scanned into the passport, then you are okay for travel to the US in December 2006.

But if it contains the actual photo, rather than a digital reproduction, it is valid for entry to the US only until October 2006.

David </blockquote id=&#39;quote&#39;>

[blott]

I think that's incorrect.

From October 26, 2005 passports <span style="color:red">issued on or after that date</span id="red"> must contain a digital photograph of the holder.

This is one of the reasons why we're been advising people whose passports end next year to get a new one before 26 October 2005.

The reference is here: http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new...v/mrp_bio.html

[Jill]

If you do need to change your passport hurry up and do it before 1st December as it has just been announced they are going up from £42 to £51. If you have up to 9 months still to run on your existing passport this will be added to the new one.

[jolliffee]

How do you tell if you have a digital picture, my passport runs out in 2009 but I think its one of the pre digital.
Or are we saying as long as it was issued prior to October 26, 2005 it will be ok?

[Jill]

We had both in our household and it is easy to tell. If it is a digital photo the back cover of the passport is flat. If it has a 'proper' picture in it then you can see the outline of the passport on the outside of the back cover and it is no longer flat. Sorry if explanation sounds a bit stupid but not quite sure how else to describe it.

[jolliffee]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Jill
We had both in our household and it is easy to tell. If it is a digital photo the back cover of the passport is flat. If it has a 'proper' picture in it then you can see the outline of the passport on the outside of the back cover and it is no longer flat. Sorry if explanation sounds a bit stupid but not quite sure how else to describe it.

[/quote]
Good explanation, just checked ours and Pamela has a digital and mine has an outline so is a picture behind the film.

[blott]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by jolliffee
Or are we saying as long as it was issued prior to October 26, 2005 it will be ok?[/quote]That's exactly what the American Embassy website says (see above).

[jolliffee]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by blott
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by jolliffee
Or are we saying as long as it was issued prior to October 26, 2005 it will be ok?[/quote]That's exactly what the American Embassy website says (see above).
[/quote]

Thanks Blott[msnsmile2]

[Cruella DeVilla]

Dave,
If you can see you photo clearly it is not digital! The newer digital photos are awful I have just renewd my passport in October and I had a pink top on with my blonde hair against a white background as required by the regulation and I look like a ghost! I was worried last week when we went but it was no problem photo wise, even though I had a different surname to the prints they had on record as my old passport was still in my maiden name! I was half expecting to be carted off as a friend of ours was for putting the wrong finger on the reader!

[Robby]

I too will be travelling under my new married name, hope it goes ok as last time of entry I was takem to that special little room and held for 1 hour, soon learnt what my index finger was[msnmad] as CVD says photos are not favourable to the eye.