Passport info

[ScottUK]

I know this will probable have been done to death…and then some, but just in case….

As most will know the new passport regulations will take effect on Oct 26th 2005, what I didn’t
Know till I caught a bit on the news yesterday, is the UK passport office will not be ready to issue
Bio-metric passports for some time. So if your passport is due to expire in the next year or two
And you plan a visit to the US within the next few years then they recommend you get yourself a new one now.

 

[princess jackson]

Hi,

Could you tell me where you got the infomation from, as our DD passport due to be renewed begining of 2007 and we are travelling to the USA 2006.

Ours does not need renewed until 2009. So we have some time left on ours.

 

[wendye]

Well I plan to have mine renewed early anyway because mine expires in December of 2006 and I would think that the biometric ones will be considerably more expensive but I would be interested to know how long this is likely to be because my DH's passport expires March 08.

 

[ScottUK]

I heard it on a Holiday QnA on one of the lunch time shows. They didn't put an exact time on when the passport office would be able to issue Bio-metric ones, but did advice getting new ones if your old one was “due to expire in a year or so”. Mine is due to expire in Jan2006, I plan on getting a new one in the summer.

Also long as your DD got 6 months left by the time you go ( and even if it's not I know this can be worked round) it will be fine. It's just when she renews, and if she isn't issued with a bio-metric and wants to return to the US that problems will arise. You could give the passport office a call and see if you can get a date on the Bio-metric issue ( I wonder how much that will cost us )

If I had to guess, I think ( and I’ve not heard this in any official capacity) I think the Oct 26th day will be extended again, or some sort of deal done. This will be a big impact to US tourism numbers, and up the visa work load for the staff at the Consulate, If approx 10% of every flight to the US have to get a visa ???. You would have to take the Family to London, wait ½ a day, Costing you a small fortune….all to go on a Holiday.

Good luck.