Biometric passports?

[wifey]

We have been reading about the whole process to renew passports, DH will need a new one soon. Are new UK passports biometric or will he need a US visa?

 

[rosiejo]

Here's an extract from the IPS site:

The new biometric passport

Over the last two years, the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) has successfully introduced a range of procedures and systems to prevent identity and passport fraud. In March 2006, we launched one of our most important counter-fraud initiatives, the biometric passport.

The biometric passport has an updated design since its first launch and additional security features. The updated features include pages with intricate designs, complex watermarks and a chip antenna.

So it looks like new UK ones are biometric - I assume you still just sign a visa waiver form on the flight (unless your hubby is exempt from that scheme for some reason)

This might help too: http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/mrp_bio.html

 

[wifey]

That's what we've been reading, going off this info both DH and DS will need need new biometric passports. It seems that the UK Passports issued after Oct 2006 should be biometric but we are unsure about that surely they will need a microchip in them or something and not just the digital picture and the numbers at the bottom so I'm thinking they will ask for specific data to put on the chip perhaps. So we will all still be able to use the visa waiver form once we go on board the aircraft and hopefully if we've read everything correctly we should be able to get through HS without any problems. I'll show it to DH once he gets a few minutes to himself later,many thanks from Yvonne

 

[Claire L]

I am a little confused here by what you are asking.

When were the current passports issued? All UK passports issued in the UK are now biometric ie have the microchip.

As far as I am aware 99.9% off all UK passports regardless of age are compatible with the US requirements be it biometric or digital piccie, depending on when issued.

Claire

 

[wifey]

2004 was the issue date of the current passports of DH and DS, so they were before the Oct 2005-2006 date so they are OK for now but there was a change in US Immigration rules for the VWP. All passports issued after 25th Oct 2005 had to be biometric or a visa was needed.We were not sure if the Uk passports were biometric or not but have since found out they are if you don't have one you will still need a US visa to enter the USA.

 

[wifey]

2004 was the issue date of the current passports of DH and DS, so they were before the Oct 2005-2006 date so they are OK for now but there was a change in US Immigration rules for the VWP. All passports issued after 25th Oct 2005 had to be biometric or a visa was needed.We were not sure if the Uk passports were biometric or not but have since found out they are if you don't have one you will still need a US visa to enter the USA.

 

[Claire L]

All passports issued in the UK are at this moment in time fine for entry to the US as long as machine readable and if issued between October 26th 2005 and October 25th 2006 it must contain a digital photograph. Any passport issued after October 25th 2006 then it must be biometric and UK issued passports meet this criteria.

Your DS and DH's passports are fine until the expiry date.

HTH.

Claire

 

[wifey]

Thanks Claire L I'm going to make sure we send off DS's passport for renewal in plenty of time for our next trip (hopefully September 2009). I did read you need a minimum of 6 months on a passport after your return to the UK to satisfy the US Customs and Immigration regulations, DH has a little longer on his so he will not need a new one until after our trip. Many thanks for the help from Yvonne

 

[Claire L]

Thanks Claire L I'm going to make sure we send off DS's passport for renewal in plenty of time for our next trip (hopefully September 2009). I did read you need a minimum of 6 months on a passport after your return to the UK to satisfy the US Customs and Immigration regulations, DH has a little longer on his so he will not need a new one until after our trip. Many thanks for the help from Yvonne

If issued in 2004 DH's passport will be valid for 10 years until 2014, although was DS's a childs 5 year passport? Also US only require validity for length of stay it is some airlines that request the 6 months, I know VA do not and abide by the US regs.

Claire

 

[wifey]

DS and I had ours renewed in 2004 (he looked nothing like his old baby photo after returning from our Feb 2004 trip and mine had water damage from our flight home) but DH was issued his second one in June 2000.. I've checked them.. the boy's runs out Jan '10 and hubby's in June '10 so they will both need a new one that year. Since there's a maximum of 8 or 9 months that they can add to a new passport I'm going to send DS's off in the spring of 2009 it will give us plenty of time to get it back before we go. DH's will be sent off a few months later.

 

[Verytallallguy]

Hi,
I have a similar passport questions;
1. My DD had her's issued this year & it has pic + scanned signature + 2 lines of numbers at bottom of page, all of which are covered by a laminate & over the pic seems to be watermarks. PLUS on other side of page is a chip & antenne.
Clearly this is a new biometric all singing passport & therefore fine for USA.
Will she need to fill in a VWF on the plane?

2. I, my DW & son have passports issued in 2001, 02 & 04. All have the same first page as DD above, other than the pic watermark is a bit different.
Are these the 'older version' biometric passports?
Are they fine for USA? (They were for our 2005 trip!)
Will we, as on previous occasions, need to fill in the VWF?

Thanks for all your help...
Only 10 weeks till we go again!!

 

[Claire L]

Yes evryone if eligible has to fill in a VWF, if not eligible you need to get a visa, so your DD in 1 is fine. As for the passports mentioned in 2 they are machine readable with digi pictures and are fine for entry to the US with the VWF.

Claire

 

[Verytallallguy]

Thanks for the prompt & reassuring reply!