visiting new york

[kierantaylor]

if i do not have a machine readable passport what do i need to travel to new york?

[sddsddean]

A machine readable passport. I don't think they let you in without one now. If you have got a new (maroon) UK passport, the back page has your photo, name etc. At the bottom there is your name etc again with loads of backarrows (<<<<<), thats the machine readable bit.

[Bangkok]

If you don't have a machine readable passport (typically Embassy issued) then you will need a visa (and fill in a white immigration form before entry), as the visa waiver program will not apply. 

[SteveD]

PART 1

 

Just to cheer everybody up, the US Immigration authorities are planning to change it again and insist on biometrically-enabled machine-readable passports from October 2005.  This is from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office web site:

 

"From 26 October 2004, all British passport holders, including children, travelling to the USA under the VWP will need their own machine-readable passports (MRP).

The US Government has agreed to extend to 26 October 2005 the date by which eligible travellers from VWP countries must have biometrically-enabled machine readable passports if they wish to enter the country without a visa. In the first instance, biometric passports will contain data about the holder's face, this could be followed by other unique personal information such as fingerprints or iris details. The UK is working on its programme to introduce biometric passports, but it will not be fully ready in time for the new US deadline. British Citizens who would normally travel under the VWP may therefore require a visa, which will include biometric data, to enter the US on or after 26 October 2005."

Having only just got a new machine-readable 10-year passport (not cheap!), I queried this with the British Embassy in Brussels. This is part of their reply :

 

"...It is therefore possible that you will have to renew your passport again in the future to get one with biometric data and we very much regret that but it is beyond our control when countries, in casu the USA, continuously change their passport/immigration policy."