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US delays need for biometric passports
An October deadline for UK travellers to the US to have biometric passports has been delayed for a year.
The move by the US Senate came after pressure from the travel industry on both sides of the Atlantic.
But travellers who do not have machine-readable passports must apply for one by 26 October or they will need to obtain a US visa.
Also, children will have to have their own machine-readable passport (MRP) by 26 October or they will be refused entry into the US.
The delay in the imposition of the entry new rules to the US means that UK passport holders will continue to be able to enter America using their existing passport and travel without a visa under the US Visa Waiver Programme.
The decision – which still needs approval by president George Bush – was welcomed by the Visit USA Association, which feared UK travellers would be put off travelling to the US if they did not have MRPs.
Association chairman Matt Bates said: “We are absolutely delighted with these changes to US entry legislation. There were obvious difficulties with the original introduction date. This extension to 26 October, 2005, will help to ensure the orderly introduction of biometric identifiers into UK passports.”
Report by Phil Davies
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