visa

[babalicious]

myself, my husband and two year old son are hopefully going to florida next april, from the uk! none of us have ever had a passport before and are going to apply for them soon. does anyone know if we have to have a visa because i read somewhere that if you are getting a passport after oct 2005 and before the new biometric ones come in you have to have a visa??

[NORMANTHEDOG]

I think im right in saying that they have put it back another year, before it comes into effect,but if im wrong,someone will say so.

[redcrx]

As far as i know the visa system in USA for Uk residents is very simple. I last travelled there in Dec 2004 and the visa application is a form that they give you on the plane for you to complete. Its asks general questions about your stay, length of hol, place of residence when there etc.

When you get to the airport in USA you go through immigration points where they stamp your passport if they are allowing you entry. Its very straight forward.

You can always check with your travel agent if your unsure or not a UK passport holder.

[lou 26]

it looks like the date for biometric passports is 26th October 2006. try this link, think it should give you the info you need

http://www.passport.gov.uk/general_biometrics.asp

[morg_monster]

My boyfriend applied for a new passport in March and received a biometric passport, so if you apply you may get one - the link that lou 26 posted says they are introducing them gradually over 6-9 months (from feb or march 2006 I believe), so some people will get the biometric ones and others will receive 'old' style ones. Since you aren't going to florida til next April, if you aren't going to need them before then, why not wait a bit til you apply, maybe til after christmas 2006 (it takes 4-6 weeks to receive the passport). That way, by the time you get yours, they will have done the complete switch and you'll definitely get a biometric one. That will save you money and from the sounds of it a fair bit of hassle on getting a visa for the USA.

[morg_monster]

I just wanted to add one other thing, after looking at the passport site. Until biometric passports are completely rolled out, biometric and normal passports both cost the same (�51) although you can't specify which you get. Once the changeover is done and only biometric passports are issued, the price will rise (don't know by how much, but it could be a lot). So you could do it this year and take the chance for a cheaper one!

[dzug]

If you get your passports before October they will be good to enter the US for ten years whether they are biometric or not.

It is only NEW passports issued after October that have to be biometric to avoid getting a visa.