Do I need a visa for the US?

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Apr 9, 2008 | 8:18 am

1trainer1

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Location: lancashire, england

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Do I need a visa for the US?

Hi,

I just want to know whether I need a visa for travelling to the US as I am a UK citizen and my passport was issued in july 1999. I dont think I do but im not 100% sure so was wondering if nayone had any advice.

I checked on the US embassy website and they showed a picture of the passport and said as long as the bottom two lines are the same it will be ok but i was wondering if anyone knew how i could find out for sure

Thanks

Apr 9, 2008 | 8:22 am

cpx

Join Date: Feb 2006

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I believe you would not need a visa.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wi...hout_1990.html

Apr 9, 2008 | 8:41 am

1trainer1

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Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: lancashire, england

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Thanks

the itnernet is full of so many websites that I keep on get conflicting information http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wi...hout_1990.html

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wi...hout_1990.html

Apr 9, 2008 | 9:42 am

1trainer1

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Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: lancashire, england

Programs: skywards, BMI, Qantas, Hilton honours

Posts: 213

I Have just spoken to a few people at work who have informed me that I will need to buy a new passport, to make things easy I think I am going to get a new passport for safety and peace of mind

Apr 9, 2008 | 9:48 am

cpx

Join Date: Feb 2006

Location: 99654

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Posts: 6,450

based on the link above... if I read it correctly

Quote:

Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended before 10/26/05 – no further requirements.

as long as your passport is machine readable, you should be okay.

Why not call the local US consulate and find out.

Apr 9, 2008 | 10:15 am

1trainer1

Original Poster

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: lancashire, england

Programs: skywards, BMI, Qantas, Hilton honours

Posts: 213

I tried to ring the consulate but it was a machine recording just repaeting what was said on the website at a cost of £1.50 per min, im going to speak to my local passport office

Apr 9, 2008 | 12:05 pm

alanR

Join Date: May 2005

Posts: 7,605

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1trainer1

I tried to ring the consulate but it was a machine recording just repaeting what was said on the website at a cost of £1.50 per min, im going to speak to my local passport office

They won't know the visa requirements for foreign countries

The main thing to find is does your passport have the following at the bottom of the picture page

http://travel.state.gov/images/clip_image001.gif

If it does (and you have never been arrested, charged or convicted of a crime of moral turpitude) then you can use the visa waiver program provided you qualify for the scheme

Apr 9, 2008 | 3:29 pm

wesmills

Join Date: Aug 2007

Posts: 273

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1trainer1

I tried to ring the consulate but it was a machine recording just repaeting what was said on the website at a cost of £1.50 per min, im going to speak to my local passport office

You're being paranoid.

According to both Wikipedia and a friend who's a citizen of the UK, machine-readable passports have been issued in the UK since ~1988. Your passport undoubtedly has the lines at the bottom required for the US Visa Waiver Program. Basically, the program will not accept a hand-written passport like my wife holds. Such passports are generally issued by local consular offices whenever a replacement needs to be provided and the person seeking it can't travel back to their home country in the time available before the passport is needed.

Your passport will be fine. Welcome, in advance, to the US!

Apr 10, 2008 | 3:10 am

1trainer1

Original Poster

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: lancashire, england

Programs: skywards, BMI, Qantas, Hilton honours

Posts: 213

Thankyou,

yesterday I was getting paranoid becasue I was unsure and I really want to come to the US as I have never been before and didnt want anything to hold me up or even worse stop me. my passport does indeed have the two lines at the bottom and also I have rang the local passport office who issued my passport and tehy have reassured me as well, they told me the worst that could happen if the passport was incorrect was that I would get a warning and would have to fill in a from at the airport to say the next time I travel to the US i would need a new passport. but at last pressure is off and i can start getting ready to travel now.

also found out today I have won a holiday to australia which is great

Apr 10, 2008 | 6:11 am

#10

Doddles

Join Date: Jan 2001

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posts: 81

Quote:

Originally Posted by wesmills

You're being paranoid.

Indeed. I have a UK passport that was issued outside the UK in 2000 and it is not machine readable. Fortunately I have a brand-spanking new machine readable, biometric Aussie passport that was issued in 3 days in London - much quicker than arranging either a new UK passport or a US visa.

Apr 10, 2008 | 6:58 am

#11

B-HQC

Join Date: Jan 2005

Posts: 1,678

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1trainer1

If your passport is machine readable and was issued prior to 10/26/05 there is no issue at all, however, this advise from the passport office could not be further from the truth. If you are determined to be inadmissible for any reason you will not get off with a warning and will most certainly be deported on the next available flight. Furthermore there is no form to fill out that says "the next time I travel to the US i would need a new passport."

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