U.S. Entry Requirements Put on Hold

[chrisj]

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

[chrisj]

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.

[hyte1]

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]

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]

The old black passports are not machine readable....but I expect they have all been replaced by now.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]

[: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]

[chrisj]

The american embassy have said the same as virgin and our passport office

The new rule doesnt come in until October this year