New passports

[crazygolfer]

How does everyone feel about the new passports that we will need to enter the states.Are you as confused as i am.Does it mean that the visa waiver form will no longer be used after oct 2004.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

This BBC News item answered the questions I had (I'm about to renew my passport). I think it is inevitable that in a more security concious world we will have to get used to more rules and regulations when travelling than we have previously been used to. I think it's a small price to pay for reducing the risk of terrorist activity.

Regards

Rob

 

[PoohBears#1fan]

I'm all for anything that improves security, at the end of the day it's us that will benefit.

Thanks for posting that link Rob, it's answered all my questions.

 

[vernon]

While I agree that safety is a priority I am far from convinced that the new measures will have any impact on a terrorist organisation succesfully hi-jacking a plane.

There was a valid point made in one of todays papers ( I think the telegraph) that in order for this to be even remotely practical the US consulate needs to be a hell of a lot more "user friendly" and efficient in dealing with it's visa requests. The other point is that for many people the cost and aggravation is going to put a lot of genuine tourists from even going to the US, this at a time when the US tourist industry desperately needs foreign visitors. Maybe the point is more to slow down the flood of tourists than actually catch a terrrist "in the act". If the Americans can cut the number of tourists by 20% it will give those on the lookout for terrorists less work to do as far as checking innocent tourists, maybe the idea is that looking for a needle in one haystack is easier than looking for a needle in two haystacks.

It's fine for us here in London to say, oh it's not too bad, but people who will have to travel from say Cornwall will have the expense of travelling to London (I'll bet the embassy is open only Monday to Friday it will mean a day off work) probably a hotel room for the night. I think a conservative estimate would mean this adds £300-500 pounds onto the cost of a holiday for some families.

I don't think that's a small cost for a family to bare and it seems the onus will be on the traveller not on the embassies/governments. I also think it's unfair that the Americans are demanding "biostatistic" pasports from other governments by Oct this year, when they themselves have acknowledged they will not be able to issue their own citizens this type of passport by Mid 2005.

 

[Muppet]

Vernon,

I agree with what you said 100%. Unless the US put the date back until we can all apply for a Biometric Passport then I won't travel there. It would make more sense to say by Oct 2005 as it would make things easier and more a reasonable request than an order.

Doesn't american want our hard earned money in tourism?

 

[edie w]

As far as I can see, you have either to have

a) a machine-readable passport issued before October, which will be valid til its expiry, or

b) a biometric passport if issued after October

Provided the passport office gets its act together and ensures these are available for anyone applying after October, no-one will have a problem

Can you renew your passport before it is due? If so, maybe you could you renew it NOW. It will be machine readable, and valid for 10 years (or 5 if a child).

 

[steven1105]

I thought the idea was if you dont have a biometric passport then you had to apply for a visa. Is this the case?? I think alot of people will be put off by this, we were looking at getting married in may 2005 in USA but if its going to be a hassle i dont think we will.

steve

 

[wendym]

And what about those of us in Scotland - a slightly longer trip than those in Cornwall!
Wendy

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

No that's not quite right Steve. If you don't have a biometric passport (which won't be issued in the UK until 2005) you will have a machine readable passport (all UK passports have had a barcode on them, ie machine readable, since about 1991). If you have a machine readable passport you will not hnave to apply for a visa after October, although you will have to have your photo taken and provide a fingerprint when you enter the USA. The link to the BBC item above details this.

Regards

Rob

 

[Dimplenose]

I asked the following question in reply to a thread on the community board but I think it fits this discussion better.........

I am getting very confused perhaps someone can confirm what I should do:-

We're planning our next trip for summer 2005.
The kids are still on my passport which doesn't expire until Oct 2006.

I think I should get the kids their first passports. If I wait until spring 2005 then I think I will have problems with the visa waiver system. So should I get them this summer?

Does having the kids taken off my passport cause problems at US immigration (I assume the passport office just use a biro to remove them).

Is it likely that the US will change their minds a second time (like they did with kids passports 2004 not 2003)?

Or should I just plan to go somewhere else, it really is beginning to feel to much hassle - I'll be so stressed out with the "will they let us in?" feeling as it's so much money to risk on having the wrong paperwork.


Libby

 

[edie w]

Libby - you MUST get your kids their own passports. The ones you have would be OK for the EU until they expire, but not for the US. This has been the case since last October.

See the link below.

http://www.ukpa.gov.uk/_1_applications/1_babies.asp

I'd do it now while you can definitely get them machine readable ones, which will be valid til the passport expires.

 

[Minx]

On sky news yesterday morning they were discussing this passport problem and the cost and trouble of getting visa's to enter the US. They were advising people to renew their passports before October, even if you still had a coule of years left on them as then they would be good for another 10 years. I didn't know you could do that though, i thought you had to wait until they expired. If it is possible to do I will be renewing ours before we go this summer.

Dee

 

[Bexx]

Minx - you can certainly apply for a new passport before the old one runs out. We're going to WDW next January and my passport expires about 10 days after we get back, so I'm definitely applying for a new one now. I believe they will even give you some sort of credit of up to 9 months added on to your new passport, to encourage you to renew in good time, and that was even before yesterday's news. Mind you, I doubt you'll need that - hopefully the new biometric passports will have been introduced before your new one runs out!!

You can apply online if you want at http://www.ukpa.gov.uk/ . You just fill in an easy form, a hard copy of which they then post to you. Sign it and post it back with your cheque and photos. I did it yesterday - just have your current passport to hand for the number and it should take you much less time than the 10 minutes recommended. I've got to get one for new DD too, but I'm waiting until she can sit up to have her photo taken, and I'm debating whether to renew my other DDs passport. It runs out in a couple of years and if they haven't introduce the new passports by then, I'm not going down to London just to get a visa for her!!

 

[wendydis]

Thanks for all the info, i was totally confused, my youngest passport runs out in jan 2006 and we are planning a trip late 2005, so it would definately be sensible to renew now.Looks like the passport office are going to be quids in with everyone renewing their passport before they need to?

 

[Minx]

Thanks Becky I will definatley renew our passports sooner raher than later. We have actually about 12 months on them but much rather do that than have to go to London for visa's

Dee

 

[calvinjtodd]

Hi Becky
You say you will only have about 10 days left on your old passport when you get back, but say your going to renew it now, you will need to as they probably wouldn't let you travel on it as I think you need about 90 days left on it as of your return date?

Just one question I've not heard an answer to, amidst all the fuss about going to the US embassy, cost, time off work etc. what are we going to have to go through to get a biometric passport, travel to a passport office, cost, time off work etc. can anyone help.

Also we got married in November and Anne will be changing her passport, what will they do, and does she get a new passport and will this have any adverse effect on entry to the US?

Calvin & Anne

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

This is the official guidance on biometric passports from the USA embassy in London.

In summary, any passport issued after 26 October 2004 must have biometric information stored in the passport if you wish to take advantage of the visa-waiver programme. If your passport does not have this biometric information you will have to apply for a tourist or business visa which will include the biometric information. Any passport issued before this date will be allowed to use the visa-waiver programme until that passport expires, providing it is machine readable (ie has a barcode which can be scanned).

All UK passports issued since 1991 have been machine readable, so this new regulation by the USA should not cuase any problems when entering the country. The only people who are likely to be affected by this are those with passports which expire between 26 October 2004 and the point at which the UK Passport Office will issue biometric passports - the UK Government has said that this is likely to be mid-2005 at the earliest. If you passport will expire during this period I think you should renew early, and get a new passport before 26 October. You will than have the lifetime of your new passport (10 years) to continue using the visa-waiver programme to enter the USA (or until the next time they change the rules!).

Regards

Rob

 

[Bexx]

Thanks Calvin. I wasn't going to risk using my old passport anyway, as I remember travel agents would always advise renewing if you had less than 6 months left on it when you went on holiday. This latest news has just given me the kick I need to do something about it sooner rather than later.