Biometric passports

**AndyB01** · 06-04-2004, 00:42

Just had a look at my passport, expires Nov 2005 and we fly out in June - does my passport have to be valid for a certain numbers of months afterwards?

Also, what are 'biometric' passports? I'm 22, and so have a newish passport with what looks like an ID card in the back page, with a barcode etc. But a friend told me biometric passports include your fingerprints and personal details like height, weight etc - though I'm a little suspicious of this info!! Any advice?

Thanks!

**Ray&Sarah** · 06-04-2004, 00:45

New biometric passports are supposed to be issued after October this year and should include fingerprints, as we understand it.

**chrisj** · 06-04-2004, 02:16

Andy you will be ok with your passport running out next November, they say it should be vvalid for
6 months after you return, but this is also said to not be true

**steph_goodrum** · 06-04-2004, 03:12

"New biometric passports are supposed to be issued after October this year and should include fingerprints, as we understand it. "

The US requirement states (unless Congress delay it as they have been asked to do so for 2 years) that any new passports issued after October 26th this year should include biometric data (either fingerprint or iris recognition) otherwise the passport holder MUST apply for a visa rather than use the visa waiver to enter the country.
The British passport office have stated that they will not have the technology to issue them at least until next summer and that is a bit of a guestimate.

**davebrighton** · 07-04-2004, 16:33

Am i right in thinking that all red british passports are valid for use in the US.My travel agent said they were OK as long as they have a bar code on the back.I havent checked mine yet as i am at work at the moment

**Harmony** · 08-04-2004, 16:29

If you have the red passport with the barcode on the back page you will be OK for getting into the USA.

Jeff

**mikewj** · 08-04-2004, 17:36

I was at a presentation on data integrity a couple of weeks ago, and one of the points raised was how the UK and the EU in general protect an individual's personal data.

Apparently there is a list of countries considered secure enough to handle this kind of data and the USA isn't on it.

The irony is that whilst our government wont give our personal data to the US government in case it falls into the wrong hands, we are happy to volunteer it by taking a holiday.

Of course the real question is how acurately will the new biometric passports be able to predict the weather [msnsmile2]

**chrisj** · 08-04-2004, 17:43

very good

**GarethP** · 08-04-2004, 23:22

The thing is, from what I understand, anyone with a passport issued after October this year will have to attend an interview at a US Embassy in order to gain a visitors Visa if your passport does not contain biometric info. To that end my girlfriend and I, whose passports both run out in January 2005, will be renewing our passports as soon as we get back in May.