[Carey]

Just came across this old post but is it true?

Originally Posted by ShakerMike
Just a word of warning to those thinking of flying LAX. As far as I can tell, the US now insists that everyone has a machine readable passport (barcode), and the amnesty for Brits on this has now expired.

I am trying to check whether this applies to only to people travellling to the US or whether it applies to everyone, including those in transit to other destinations.

Will let you know when I get an update


UPDATE - I can confirm that you need a machine readable passport to transit through the US. For Brits, this probably means that if you passport is more than a couple of years old, you might have a problem

[Mels]

When was it originally posted Carey?

Mels

[Carey]

Good question! 05 I think, I'll check now, don't go away!

[Carey]

Yes Oct 05, so presumedly not applicable now? Typical me in a hurry and not reading it properly.....

[kanatakiwi]

Yes Oct 05, so presumedly not applicable now? Typical me in a hurry and not reading it properly.....

I think its still very much in effect. see info from US Dept of State website:

Important Notice:
International travelers, who are nationals of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries, seeking to travel to the United States without a visa, should review this important information on passport requirements for travelers under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). All VWP travelers, regardless of age or type of passport used, must present individual machine -readable passports. In addition, depending on when VWP travelers’ passports were issued, other passport requirements apply:

Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended on or after 10/26/06 – requires integrated chip with information from the data page ( e-Passport ).

Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended between 10/26/05 and 10/25/06 – requires digital photograph printed on the data page or integrated chip with information from the data page.
Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended before 10/26/05 – no further requirements.

Temporary, emergency, official and diplomatic passports are exempted from biometric digital photo and chip requirements, but must be machine-readable. Note that German temporary or emergency passports are not included in this biometric e-passport exemption.. Therefore, holders of German temporary or emergency passports must either obtain a valid, machine-readable regular German passport for VWP travel or apply for a U.S. visa to travel to or through the United States.

If a traveler cannot meet all of the requirements, he/she must obtain a visa for entry to the United States, and cannot travel without a visa on VWP. See Visa Waiver Program on the DHS, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website for additional information

[Mels]

Just checked Carey, 'cos brain is on strike and can't remeber a thing, machine readable passports are the ones with a load of numbers printed across the bottom of the page with your picture on it. OH's passport is digital and he got his in 2002, so I guess any after that will be too. But then you need to check the bio-metric stuff that Kanatakiwi has posted above.
HTH

Mels

[kanatakiwi]

?


I am trying to check whether this applies to only to people travellling to the US or whether it applies to everyone, including those in transit to other destinations.

UPDATE - I can confirm that you need a machine readable passport to transit through the US. For Brits, this probably means that if you passport is more than a couple of years old, you might have a problem[/I]

Yes and if my kiwi OH is anything to go by, you need this even when just transitting through the US. (doesnt apply to Canadians we supposedly have some special relationship with them)

[IanW99]

Yes and if my kiwi OH is anything to go by, you need this even when just transitting through the US. (doesnt apply to Canadians we supposedly have some special relationship with them)

Air NewZealand have some good information on US Entry and Transit Requirements (http://www.airnz.co.nz/before-you-fly/international-travel/entering-usa.htm) and machine readable passports.

Ian

[dilanium]

Wait, you need the passports with the microchips to travel to/through the US? :confused:

My US passport doesn't even have a microchip! :no One of the last few to made without from what I've heard.

[James 1077]

Wait, you need the passports with the microchips to travel to/through the US? :confused:

My US passport doesn't even have a microchip! :no One of the last few to made without from what I've heard.

You don't need the microchip ones unless they were issued relatively recently.

You do, however, need the ones with the machine readable code on them - otherwise you need a visa.

Or alternatively you could just fly via a country that actually likes foreigners! :)

[dilanium]

You don't need the microchip ones unless they were issued relatively recently.

You do, however, need the ones with the machine readable code on them - otherwise you need a visa.

Or alternatively you could just fly via a country that actually likes foreigners! :)

Ahh I misunderstood the "machine readable" part.

Thanks