passport

[mrshnn]

my passport has about 12 months to run,is it ok tou use it ,i keep hearing about machine readable passports,it is red that is all i know


h e l p

 

[steve404]

Hello,
You will be fine on the 'old' red passport as long as you have 6 months clear before it expires, I have about 12 months left on mine and am travelling on Saturday.

I am thinking of renewing mine September time, a few months earlier than its due, but the renewed one should last me for 10 years again and save getting the 'new' type.
Steve................

 

[Celestine]

As I understand it, your passport must be machine readable (I think this starts later this year, but should have come in last year), otherwise you will need a visa, and if your passport is issued after a certain date (again, I think in the future) irrespective of it being machine readable you will need a visa. I guess it depends when you are going. I suggest you check the US embassy site for up to date info.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

All UK passports issued since about 1991 are machine readable (there is a barcode at the bottom of the page with your photo).

The US Immigration Service will require new passports (issued after 24 October 2004) to contain biometric information such as fingerprint or iris data. If passports do not have this biometric data the USIS will require a tourist visa. The UK Passport Agency has said it will be mid-2005 at the earliest before it issues passports with biometric info. So to answer your question, your current passport (with 12 months left to run) is fine for visits to the US this year. If you are planning on vbisiting the US within the next year or two you should renew your passport before October 2004 as this will mean you will not haver to visit the US Embassy in London to apply for a tourist visa.

There is talk of the US Immigration Service delaying the requirement for biometric passports to allow countries such as the UK time to introduce these, but no decision has been taken yet. It is a good idea to check the US Embassy website for the latest info.

Regards

Rob

 

[Kenbar]

I have just spent some time on the US embassy website and the Home Office web site and as far as I can make out:
1) At the moment you can enter with a valid UK passport with any amount of time left on it provided you leave before the passport expires.

2) In October this year you will need a machine readable passport (standard issue since 1991) you will also need a visa.
You will only be able to enter on the Visa Waiver Programme if you have a biometric passport (not available here until May 2005 earliest).

3) The US congress is considering moving the date for biometric passports back for two years to give the UK (and other counties allowed Visa Waivers) time to issue biometric passports.

If I am interpreting all the information correctly and Congress do not extend the time period then anyone travelling between October 2004 and May 2005 will have to have a visa. Children and babies will need their own passport and visa.

I don't want to be a scaremonger so does anyone interpret the information this way.

Ken

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Originally posted by Kenbar
2) In October this year you will need a machine readable passport (standard issue since 1991) you will also need a visa.
You will only be able to enter on the Visa Waiver Programme if you have a biometric passport (not available here until May 2005 earliest).

That's not correct Ken. You will not require a visa if your UK passport is issued before 24 October 2004. Any passport issued after that time will require a visa, unless it contains biometric information.

I've just renewed my passport a few months early to beat the October deadline. Unless the rules are changed I'll be able to enter the USA without a visa until my passport expires in 10 years time.

Regards

Rob

 

[natalielongstaff]

rob is correct
that is also what i was told would happen and i have just renewed my passport to avoid the need for a visa when we travel in nov

 

[patdavies]

Rob is spot on.

Also, UK passport agency will allow you to renew your passport early, so that you will have at least 10 years from the US October deadline. as the passport will have been issued before the deadline.

After the october deadline, all UK passport holders still qualifying for VWP will have to submit to a photograph and fingerprint on entry to the US until UK biometric passports are available. But you won't have to attend the US embassy in person to get a visa.

I am in the fortunate position of having a passport that expires in 2008 - by which time we will have biometric passports, and I still have in an old expired blue passport with an indefinite US B2 visa. The visa does not expire with the passport - although I have never tried to use it.

 

[Minx]

How early can you renew your passport. My passport doesn't expire until Jan 06, but I would rather renew it before October this year if it means I don't have to travel to London and mess about getting visa's etc. for my hols next year.
Dee

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Originally posted by patdavies
I still have in an old expired blue passport with an indefinite US B2 visa. The visa does not expire with the passport - although I have never tried to use it.

I might be wrong but I thought those old indefinite visas had been cancelled? I've got an A2 (diplomatic) visa which expires shortly and I think I read that these are no longer available without an expiry date.

Regards

Rob

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Originally posted by Minx
How early can you renew your passport.

I'm not sure if there is a time limit on how early you can renew; it's best to enquire with the Passport Agency. Currently the Passport Agency is offering up to 9 months 'credit' if you renew early.

Regards

Rob

 

[Kenbar]

Thanks Rob, Natalia, and Pat.

The advice to anyone now whose passport is due to expire, even in the next couple of years must be to get it renewed early before October 26th 2004 as some of you have done. There is no guarantee when our passport office will be issuing biometric information passports so there will be a period when passports issued (after october and until the new types are issued) that a tourist visa will be the only way to enter. Apart from the fees (£60 for every family member) there's the hassle of travelling to the interview.

Let's hope congress puts the date back to coincide with the availability of biometric passports. The US Embassy states on the website that it is going through their system now.

Ken

 

[juliebro]

Just renewed mine too. It was due to expire in December. Only took just over a week to get it renewed - and I didn't pay the extra fiver to get the post Office to check it for me.

Julie