UK Passport Help Needed

[Punkss]

Ok so I see the US are requesting the Brits use "biometrics" on passports issued after October 26th (whether new ones or renewals), which apparently our Home Office will be unable to do (great!). So instead we will all have to get visas.

However i am lucky that my passport will already overrun that date so i will not need a visa, however my girlfirends run out in 2005. So my question is, how many months left on the passport does US require for entry, is it 6 months, or more?

If any travel agents or in fact anyone could answer this it would be very helpful and most appreciated.

Thanks

 

[ogryn]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3378057.stm

explains it a bit. It seems by the wording that you will only need a visa if your passport expires between October 26th and mid-2005.

 

[djmatthews]

I was about to post something about this myself. Here are some Q&A's

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3378717.stm

I'm all for increased security, but this seems to have gone a step to far without it being though through properly. I think there will be very few British vistors to WDW between Oct 26th and mid 2005, its a shame, we would spend a fortune with the current exchange rate.

 

[RogueHabit]

Originally posted by Punkss
Ok so I see the US are requesting the Brits use "biometrics" on passports issued after October 26th (whether new ones or renewals), which apparently our Home Office will be unable to do (great!). So instead we will all have to get visas.

However i am lucky that my passport will already overrun that date so i will not need a visa, however my girlfirends run out in 2005. So my question is, how many months left on the passport does US require for entry, is it 6 months, or more?

If any travel agents or in fact anyone could answer this it would be very helpful and most appreciated.

Thanks

To answer your original question; thgis is from the USA Embassy website

If traveling under the Visa Waiver Program, the passport must be valid for at least 90 days from the date on which the holder enters the United States. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport. Note: Passport holders from Andorra, Brunei, and San Marino must be in possession of a passport valid for at least six months from the date of departure from the United States, even if traveling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_web/visa/niv/vwp.htm

 

[Punkss]

thanks so much for that, catch 22, its all clear now in my head........i think!

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Originally posted by Punkss
however my girlfirends run out in 2005. So my question is, how many months left on the passport does US require for entry, is it 6 months, or more?



Thanks

My question would be is as the passport is about to expire ie around 8-9 years old are you sure its machine readable? Im not sure when the passport changed, mine was done 2000 and Im sure its ok. Id check it out!

 

[Punkss]

Thanks Pumbas but its ok as it was only a under 16 passport 3 years ago and i know it is in fact machine readable and so is mine. That was checked first.

 

[barnum42]

For my first trip to WDW in the Eighties there was no visa waver, so everyone had to get a visa. If memory serves, I filled in a form with pretty much the same questions as on the visa waver - you know the one, "are you a communist?", "Are you planning to commit a crime?" etc. Then send the form and passport to the US Embassy in London, where they processed it and sent it back with the visa stamped onto a page. I don't think there was a charge for it.

So, whilst it was an inconvenience it was not the end of the world that I am sure the British media will be making it out to be.

 

[RogueHabit]

Originally posted by barnum42
So, whilst it was an inconvenience it was not the end of the world that I am sure the British media will be making it out to be.

The process is a little different now........ And costs £67.00 for the pleasure.

Applications now have to be made IN PERSON and involve a lot more checks.