Bio-metric passport

[ScottUK]

Has there been any change to the Bio-metric passport date???? The last I heard it was still the 26th of October, but with the UK passport office not ready to issue these for a while it will be a nightmare for any poor soul who needs a new passport and wants to go to the US.

 

[kristieuk]

It's been extended to 26 October 2006.

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Damn, I wanted to get my passport renewed before that date....and I forgot.

 

[ScottUK]

Found the info I was after...........

"The US Department of Homeland Security announced, on 15 June, a one-year extension of its Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) to 26 October 2006.

VWP countries, including the UK, are required to have a biometric passport issuing system in place by 26 October 2006 in order to continue as members of the Programme and benefit from visa free travel to the US after that date.

The US also announced a requirement that all new passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 must contain a digital photo image to enable the holder to travel to the USA visa free. This does not affect the UK as we have been issuing digital passports since 1998."


http://www.ukpa.gov.uk/press_160605.asp

 

[ScottUK]

Looks like you still have time

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Ive just been busy searching like you have and found this useful page

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/content_multi_image/content_multi_image_0021.xml

Ive known about the requirement for a "digital photograph" for a while, but wasnt sure if the Uk complied....I also wondered how they would know if the picture was taken on a digital camera or not, but now I realise they mean that the picture has to be printed straight on to the page to be classed as digital, and not a photo stuck on. and laminated.

So, as I interpret it, the absolute critical date for us UK visitors is going to be October 26, 2006. If our passport agency havent got bio-metric passports generaly available by then, anyone renewing after that date will have to get a Visa.

 

[Kerryc]

So I take it that once bio-metric passports come in we have to get one of them or we will need a Visa to go to USA. So I have renewed my passport this month and will have to get a new bio-metric one next October if they come out? GRRRRRRRRRR hope they don't think they are going to charge me again!!

 

[SimonV]

There are two distinct parts of this info at the moment, and the UK Passport Service info is actually WRONG on one minor point.

Here are the two issues:

1) From October 26 this year, all NEW passports must carry a digital photo. All new UK passports have carried digital photos (which, as pointed out, means it is actually printed as part of the page, NOT something taken on a digital camera) for some time (but NOT, as the UK passport agency insists, since 1998 - mine dates from 2000 and STILL includes a pasted-on, laminated photo). All current valid passports are not affected by this new digital photo requirement provided the passport is machine readable (which all new British passports have been since 1998, I think).

2) From October 26, 2006, all NEW passports must carry biometric data, which means they will have an integrated computer chip which stores a digitized version of your biographic info from the data page, including the digital photo. There is a lot techno-speak here, but you basically just need to know the UK is working to produce passports with the necessary biometric data by the October 26 deadline, and they are confident they will be able to.

After October 26, 2006, to continue to travel under the Visa Waiver Programme, you must have either one of these new passports with biometric data (which the US are calling e-Passports, and which have a special symbol on the front) OR a machine-readable passport WITH a digital photo.

This means, for travel after Oct 26 next year, you need to double-check you have a digital photo in your passport or you will NOT be able to travel Visa-free. Visas are not difficult to get, but they do require a fair bit of hassle (and expense) to get from the US Embassy in London.

Hope that's clear!!!