New regulations on Visas

[John Boy]

Has anyone become an expert on the new regulations to be introduced this year on what is required from UK residents when entering the US Is it also true that people with passports still with a year or more to run have to be Photographed and finger printed when next in US customs

[blott]

Hi John Boy

Welcome to the forum! Oh dear, no that's not correct.

At the moment, you need a machine readable passport (one with the <<<>>>> stuff at the bottom of your identity page). Children need their own passports from 01 October 2004 and cannot travel to USA on their parents passports after that date.

The UK is introducing (guesstimate mid 2005 but who knows) biometric data passports. If your UK passport is issued after 26 October 2004 you are required to have biometric data to enter the USA on the visa waiver scheme. So, if your passport is issued after 26 October 2004, you won't have this info in your UK passport and you have to apply for a visa to enter the USA. This is because the USA requires passports to have biometric data in them after this date.

So, if you have an existing passport with the <<<>>>>> at the bottom of the page, you can still use the visa waiver scheme. BUT, if your passport is going to expire between 26 October 2004 and the date when the UK says it's going to introduce biometric data passports, then it would be wise to get it renewed before 26 October 2004 as those with an existing non-expired passport can still use the visa waiver and don't require biometric data.

If you have a search on the top row of links, you'll find lots of info about this subject.

[steph_goodrum]

Blott
Did they not put the introduction of the children having to have their own from 1st Oct 2004 in the end? There may be some people planning to travel in the summer who are using their own passports with their children and I thought it was ok till Oct.

John Boy
The US introduced fingerprint and photos for those entering the US after 1st Jan this year but only at the moment for those people travelling WITH a visa, nothing to do with the length of time on your passport, so if you use the visa waiver scheme they won't take them.

[blott]

Sorry Steph, it was a typo - I've altered it.

[steph_goodrum]

Blott They seem to change it so frequently I wasn't sure I'd remembered it right.

[Ann-Marie]

I was sure I read somewhere recently that as of September this year anyone (even under the visa waiver programme) who enters the US will be photographed and finger-printed at immigration!

Can anyone confirm this?

Cheers

Ann-Marie

[Michelle]

Have copied and pasted below from US Embassy web site.

Proposed Extension of Biometric Passport Deadline for Visa Waiver Program Countries

The U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security are jointly asking the U.S. Congress to introduce legislation that would extend the deadline by which Visa Waiver Program travelers must present passports containing biometric identifiers.

The Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act passed by the U.S. Congress mandated that by October 26, 2004 all countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must have a program in place to include biometric identifiers into their passports that meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. A "biometric identifier" is an objective measurement of a physical characteristic that can be used to verify identity. Additionally, VWP travelers with non-biometric passports produced after that date would have to obtain a U.S. visa for travel to the United States.

The U.S. Government is appreciative of the efforts made by the UK to develop a program to produce biometric passports and also appreciates the UK Government's support for strengthening the integrity of international travel documents. The Departments of State and Homeland Security believe it is likely that few of the Visa Waiver Program countries, including the United Kingdom, will be able to meet these deadlines due to significant technical challenges. The Departments are jointly requesting an extension or waiver of the biometric requirement to November 30, 2006.

Only Congress can extend or waive the biometric requirement for Visa Waiver Program countries.

In order to ensure appropriate safeguards for U.S. national security, the Department of Homeland Security will begin enrolling Visa Waiver Program travelers arriving at U.S. airports and seaports in the US-VISIT program, on or about September 30, 2004. US-VISIT began enrolling foreign travelers with U.S. visas on January 5, 2004. Enrollment includes collecting a digital photograph and electronic fingerscans of two index fingers. Enrollment takes only seconds and greatly enhances the security of U.S. citizens and visitors to the U.S., facilitates legitimate travel and includes safeguards for the privacy of foreign visitors.

U.S. regulations also require that, as of October 26, 2004, each Visa Waiver Program traveler, children and adults alike, must be in possession of an individual machine-readable passport. Extensive information on Visa Waiver Program requirements for citizens of the United Kingdom is available on this website; information about US-Visit is available from the Department of Homeland Security's website at www.dhs.gov/us-visit

[Ann-Marie]

Thanks Michelle & Geoff

I knew I'd read about this in our local paper recently.

Regards

Ann-Marie