What's New

Biometric Passports: Travelers Alert!

Beginning on October 26, 2004, travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) will require a machine-readable passport.

The new Country passports are machine-readable. The old ones are not.

"Machine-readable" is NOT the same as "biometric." The new Country passports are NOT biometric. There will be a biometric passport requirement for VWP travelers, but it has been postponed until October 26, 2005.

Remember that the current machine-readable and future biometric passport requirements only apply to travelers under the VWP. Some types of travel to the USA require a visa, even for Country citizens. Travelers who need visas also need a valid passport, but do not need the machine-readable or the biometric passport in order to apply for entry to the U.S. Visas are required for students, journalists, temporary workers, etc.