Passport Control

[Lesley S]

This was in an article and on the BBC News Channel.

ENTRY TO THE USA: NEW REQUIREMENTS FROM 1 OCTOBER 2003



FROM 1 OCTOBER 2003 ALL CHILDREN WILL NEED THEIR OWN PASSPORTS TO ENTER THE USA.



We have been informed that changes to US entry requirements from 1 October this year mean that all family members entering the USA will need to have their own passports. This means that children included in a parent’s passport will not be eligible to enter the USA. Airlines will not allow children without their own passports to board flights to the USA. So if you are planning a visit to Walt Disney World, or anywhere else in the USA, we would advise you to apply as soon as possible for passports for all children who will be travelling.



The new requirements will also affect holders of some passports issued by British diplomatic posts abroad. If you have a passport issued outside the UK, check whether the personal details page has a blank space across the bottom or lines of machine-readable characters. If it has a blank space, you will need a visa to enter the USA from October. Alternatively you could apply for a replacement passport while you are in the UK. If you choose to apply for a replacement passport, you will need to complete the usual application form and pay the full fee

[steph_goodrum]

It may also apply to holders of the old British passports issued before mid 1998 which may also not be machine readable.

The only other alternative is to get visas for the children who are on the passports which is obviously a more expensive and time consuming way.

Any person who wishes to enter under the vias waiver scheme must have an individual machine readable passport, so no matter where your passport was issued it would be wise to check before you travel.