Biometric Passports

[RUSHBURY]

Hi

Sorry for my ignorance!

What exactly are Biometric Passports?

When they come into use how will they work?

Will these passports require a fingerprint on them? if so how will they be obtained? will we need to go to the US Embassy or what?

I have 2 x child passports which will allow travel to US in Oct 2005 (they have 6 months valid after returning) and 2 x adult passports which have the same and another 1 x child which will alow travel until Oct 2006. Should I be renewing any of these passports now? I live in Scotland, 2 hours to the airport then a plane to London, to get visas.

My DD16 is travelling to Canada in July 2004 using her child passport (5 years expires 2005) and I am wondering if I should get a new passport for her just now as she can now get a 10 year one as she's over 16.

I'm totally confused at the moment!

Help and advice will be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Helen

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

From mid 2005 (at the latest estimate) the UK Passport Agency will issue passports which contain biometric information about the passport holder. This means that the passport will include a little memory chip (much like a digital camera, but much smaller) which will include some form of biometric info. The Passport agency says that this info will be " a facial recognition image biometric ... The biometric can be derived from a passport photograph and will be in accordance with international standards." I'm not sure whether you will need to visit a Passport Agent to have your photo taken or whther simply providing a photo will be sufficient - I guess this will become clearer closer to 2005.

The official guidance from the US Embassy in London can be found here.

If your passport expires before the end of 2005 (which allows for a 6 month delay in the UK issuing biometric passports) my advice would be to renew your current passport before 26 October 2004. You will then be able to continue using the Visa Waiver scheme for entry to the US until your new passport expires (ie 2014 for adults, 2009 for children). You are allowed to renew your passports early.

Regards

Rob

 

[RUSHBURY]

Rob

Thank you very much indeed for answering my question - much appreciated.

Helen