Any info on visa waiver after Oct 2006

[CharleyUK]

Hi

Booked for our 3rd Orlando holiday on Sunday. Just found out the visa waiver programme is due to finish in Oct this year. Virgin say it will probably be extended but will update us nearer the time. As a self confessed overplanner i would like to know asap. Anyone know when a decision is likely or should i just plan on applying for a visa.

TIA

 

[patdavies]

Who is telling you this nonsense?

The VWP is set to continue indefinitely.

 

[PChef]

I think what you may have read refers to the issue of passports with/without biometric data stored on a chip incorporated into the passport.

I believe that US require these biometric passports for admission on the Visa Waiver arrangement UNLESS the passport was issued BEFORE Oct 2006, ie. all passports currently in use. It was thought that the new-style passports with chips in would not be produced in UK for a while and therefore the advice was to get a new passport (if one was needed) before October. However UK Passport Authority is now producing chipped passports from the end of August, which I presume meet the US requirements, so there is no longer an issue. The price for renewing a passport is about to go up, coincidentally!

So I believe there should be no change to the way the Visa Waiver arrangement works. I'm sure someone will correct me if this is incorrect.

Michelle

 

[patdavies]

I think what you may have read refers to the issue of passports with/without biometric data stored on a chip incorporated into the passport.

I believe that US require these biometric passports for admission on the Visa Waiver arrangement UNLESS the passport was issued BEFORE Oct 2006, ie. all passports currently in use. It was thought that the new-style passports with chips in would not be produced in UK for a while and therefore the advice was to get a new passport (if one was needed) before October. However UK Passport Authority is now producing chipped passports from the end of August, which I presume meet the US requirements, so there is no longer an issue. The price for renewing a passport is about to go up, coincidentally!

So I believe there should be no change to the way the Visa Waiver arrangement works. I'm sure someone will correct me if this is incorrect.

Michelle

Spot on Michelle

 

[carolfoy]

Spot on Michelle

it seems theres even more incorrect info coming out re new passports/visas etc every day - I'm amazed any holiday company is booking anyone to the US! I do wish they'd all shut up about it and tell us WHEN the vwp is scrapped compeletely instead of leading people up the garden path. This has been going on for about 2 years now its mad.

 

[Oddjob]

Travel agents seem very vague in their knowledge of Visas..
2 years ago i was told you can do irt by post you dont HAVE to go The embassey..


Ermm Wrong..!

 

[carolfoy]

Depends which travel agent

 

[penlanspice]

I need to change my passport after our wedding and have been told by the emabassy that there is no problem with the new passports after October.
As one of the previous posters said, they wern't going to introduce the new chip system, but this is now going ahead.

All in all the vwp is ongoing and all new passports after October are fine.

 

[kkymmy]

the ever reliable Metro informed me this morning that a new passport is soon going to cost £66

 

[CharleyUK]

Only going off what the TA told me on Sunday. Wouldn't like to spread "nonsence" around.

So my old passport valid until 2012 will be fine with the usual visa waiver form?

 

[carolfoy]

So my old passport valid until 2012 will be fine with the usual visa waiver form?

yup!