Help..machine readable passport???

[Karenpowley]

Does my passport need to be a readable one? It was issued in Sept 2004.

I only completed my ESTA the other day for this passport and it has been authorised - but do I need to change it? Im worried i won't gain entry.

Just been reading the Brits guide and am getting a little worried now. DH and DD both have readable passports...Just me then

 

[JoyB-UK]

It should be machine readable if it was issued then. My current one is from jan 2004 and I have been to America 6 times on it so you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[Karenpowley]

Does my passport need to be a readable one? It was issued in Sept 2004.

I only completed my ESTA the other day for this passport and it has been authorised - but do I need to change it? Im worried i won't gain entry.

Just been reading the Brits guide and am getting a little worried now. DH and DD both have readable passports...Just me then

Ive just had a look at it and it has got the 2 lines of letters and chevrons on the bottom - but at the same time not sure about the photo. Would i be right in thinking my Esta wouldn't have been authorised if it wasn't the correct type of passport?

 

[DisFanJen]

Ive just had a look at it and it has got the 2 lines of letters and chevrons on the bottom - but at the same time not sure about the photo. Would i be right in thinking my Esta wouldn't have been authorised if it wasn't the correct type of passport?

Don't worry. Your passport is a machine readable one. The machine readable bit was brought in years ago, long before you had your passport issued.

Probably what's confusing you on the issue is the new biometric passports came out in around 2006 but machine readable ones are much older, the 1990s I think. As long as you have the text in the chevrons you're fine.

Have a great vacation!

 

[Karenpowley]

Don't worry. Your passport is a machine readable one. The machine readable bit was brought in years ago, long before you had your passport issued.

Probably what's confusing you on the issue is the new biometric passports came out in around 2006 but machine readable ones are much older, the 1990s I think. As long as you have the text in the chevrons you're fine.

Have a great vacation!

OOH thank goodness - yes probably have got them mixed up - it's not that clear until you read it on a few different government web sites. Just had visions of me not gaining entry whilst DH and DD disappeared into the sunset...as this is one holiday they wouldn't miss!