jjcollins
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,394
Found this in the Sunday Times which might some of you.
Q What changes is the USA introducing?
A The USA wants to improve its ability to identify and track visitors. To do this, it is making three changes to its immigration procedures.
The most controversial is a requirement that all passports issued on or after October 26 should contain a chip of biometric data on the holder (such as digital images of fingerprints or an iris). This will make passports harder to forge and identities easier to check. The UK will not have the technology in place to issue such passports until mid-2005 at the earliest.
Most Britons will continue to travel under the visa-waiver scheme. However, all those who receive a UK passport after October 26 and before the introduction of biometric chips will need a visa (see below). This could affect up to 15,000 Britons a month bound for the USA, and countless more who are in transit through the USA, connecting to flights to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Australia.
From the same date, children must have their own documentation. About 4m British minors currently travel on a parents passport.
The third change has already been put into force. Since January 5, all those needing a visa have been fingerprinted and photographed on arrival.
Q Is there any chance we will meet the deadline?
A The UK Passport Service (0870 521 0410, www.passport.gov.uk) says not. The Foreign Office is negotiating with the USA to defer the date.
Q My passport expires after the deadline. What should I do?
A The Association of British Travel Agents suggests that if your passport expires before 2006 (by which time biometric passports should definitely be available), you might want to bring forward your renewal to ensure that the new passport is valid from a date preceding October 26.
Q What if I renew my passport after this date?
A As things stand, you will need to apply for a visa an arduous process.
Q My child is on my passport. What should I do?
A Your child will not be allowed to enter on your documentation from October 26, so you must apply for a separate passport for him or her; do this before the October deadline to avoid the need for a visa. Your passport will not need to be amended.
Q I do not need to renew my passport. Am I affected?
A If you have a passport that was issued before October 26, you will be able to travel on the visa-waiver scheme until it expires. This involves completing a green form during the flight, which you hand to a customs officer on arrival.
Q Who currently needs a visa to travel to the USA?
A Those who intend to work, study or spend more than 90 days there.
Those who have previously been arrested, even if the arrest did not result in a criminal conviction. Those with certain serious communicable illnesses. Those who have been refused admission into, or have been deported from, the USA. Those who have previously overstayed while on the visa-waiver scheme. Those with outstanding traffic offences who may have a warrant out for their arrest. Anyone whose passport will expire after October 26 and before the UK introduces biometric passports. From October 26, anyone with a British passport issued abroad that does not feature a bar code.
Q How do I apply for a visa?
A You must apply in person, and visas cost £67. Contact the US Embassy (020 7499 9000, www.usembassy.org.uk; interview booking line: 0905 544 4546, calls cost £1.30 per minute) to arrange an appointment. Allow at least four weeks before proposed travel. Interviews take place between 8am and 1.30pm in its offices in London (24 Grosvenor Square, W1 1AE) and Belfast (Queens House, 14 Queen Street, BT1 6EQ).
jj.............
Q What changes is the USA introducing?
A The USA wants to improve its ability to identify and track visitors. To do this, it is making three changes to its immigration procedures.
The most controversial is a requirement that all passports issued on or after October 26 should contain a chip of biometric data on the holder (such as digital images of fingerprints or an iris). This will make passports harder to forge and identities easier to check. The UK will not have the technology in place to issue such passports until mid-2005 at the earliest.
Most Britons will continue to travel under the visa-waiver scheme. However, all those who receive a UK passport after October 26 and before the introduction of biometric chips will need a visa (see below). This could affect up to 15,000 Britons a month bound for the USA, and countless more who are in transit through the USA, connecting to flights to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Australia.
From the same date, children must have their own documentation. About 4m British minors currently travel on a parents passport.
The third change has already been put into force. Since January 5, all those needing a visa have been fingerprinted and photographed on arrival.
Q Is there any chance we will meet the deadline?
A The UK Passport Service (0870 521 0410, www.passport.gov.uk) says not. The Foreign Office is negotiating with the USA to defer the date.
Q My passport expires after the deadline. What should I do?
A The Association of British Travel Agents suggests that if your passport expires before 2006 (by which time biometric passports should definitely be available), you might want to bring forward your renewal to ensure that the new passport is valid from a date preceding October 26.
Q What if I renew my passport after this date?
A As things stand, you will need to apply for a visa an arduous process.
Q My child is on my passport. What should I do?
A Your child will not be allowed to enter on your documentation from October 26, so you must apply for a separate passport for him or her; do this before the October deadline to avoid the need for a visa. Your passport will not need to be amended.
Q I do not need to renew my passport. Am I affected?
A If you have a passport that was issued before October 26, you will be able to travel on the visa-waiver scheme until it expires. This involves completing a green form during the flight, which you hand to a customs officer on arrival.
Q Who currently needs a visa to travel to the USA?
A Those who intend to work, study or spend more than 90 days there.
Those who have previously been arrested, even if the arrest did not result in a criminal conviction. Those with certain serious communicable illnesses. Those who have been refused admission into, or have been deported from, the USA. Those who have previously overstayed while on the visa-waiver scheme. Those with outstanding traffic offences who may have a warrant out for their arrest. Anyone whose passport will expire after October 26 and before the UK introduces biometric passports. From October 26, anyone with a British passport issued abroad that does not feature a bar code.
Q How do I apply for a visa?
A You must apply in person, and visas cost £67. Contact the US Embassy (020 7499 9000, www.usembassy.org.uk; interview booking line: 0905 544 4546, calls cost £1.30 per minute) to arrange an appointment. Allow at least four weeks before proposed travel. Interviews take place between 8am and 1.30pm in its offices in London (24 Grosvenor Square, W1 1AE) and Belfast (Queens House, 14 Queen Street, BT1 6EQ).
jj.............
