Originally Posted by
Globaliser
Where did you read that? A machine-readable passport plus a digital photo are no longer good enough for the VWP. She must now have an e-passport. If she doesn't have an e-passport, she will need a visa.
The e-passport/biometric passport is indeed a condition of VWP use.
Personally, I think the phrase "biometric passport" is a ridiculous joke? Why? Because ordinary adult passports used by most (if not even all) of VWP countries have been biometric for at least the past two decades since the included face in the passport can be a form of a biometric. That said, having a photograph of the face and a machine-readable zone in ordinary passports are necessary conditions to use the US VWP; but those two conditions are not sufficient to have the passport be considered an "epassport"/"biometric passport" as far as the USG is concerned.
But here's some things to consider from the US, particularly the bold part:
Originally Posted by US DHS
Passports issued by Visa Waiver Program countries on or after October 26, 2006 must be e-Passports, which include an integrated computer chip capable of storing biographic information from the data page as well as biometric information, such as the required digital photograph of the holder. You can identify an e-Passport by the symbol on the front cover of the passport booklet (see the image to the right).
If your passport does not have this feature and you are a citizen of a country that joined the Visa Waiver Program prior to 2008, you can still travel without a visa if:
* You have a valid passport with a machine-readable zone issued before October 26, 2005; or
* If your passport includes a digital photograph and was issued between October 26, 2005 and October 25, 2006.
If you were issued a passport on or after October 26, 2006 and it is not an e-Passport, you will need to obtain a visa.