The US Senate passed a bill giving Visa Waiver Program countries an additional year to begin producing new passports with biometric technology.
The US House passed a similar one-year extension on 14 June.
Current law requires the 27 Visa Waiver Program countries to begin issuing the new passports at the end of October.
But the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), which lobbied heavily for the bill, said that virtually none of the countries could meet that deadline.
Said William S. Norman, TIA president and CEO:
“Congress’ prudent and quick action has averted major disruptions of late summer and early fall travel to the US.”
He said the Visa Waiver Program accounts for two-thirds of all overseas leisure, business, student and medical travel to the US. About 14 million international visitors a year fall under the program.
President Bush still has to sign the bill.
Report by David Wilkening
