E-passport requirement for visa waver scheme
Apr 1, 2016 | 5:03 am
#1
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E-passport requirement for visa waver scheme
a buddy is flying (with BA) to stay with us on Tuesday.....he got an email today (and no its not ............) saying as from April 1 the US requires an e passport and so his esta is cancelled !!!
so he has to hustle down to the US Embassy, ' can't help you for 5 days' over to the Passport office in Victoria ' come back Monday' and pray his new Esta gets ok'd the day before he flies !!!!!!!!!!
how can they leave it so late ??????? No previous notice or anything.
what if someone was flying today ?????
Crazy
so he has to hustle down to the US Embassy, ' can't help you for 5 days' over to the Passport office in Victoria ' come back Monday' and pray his new Esta gets ok'd the day before he flies !!!!!!!!!!
how can they leave it so late ??????? No previous notice or anything.
what if someone was flying today ?????
Crazy
Last edited by Oxon Flyer; Apr 1, 2016 at 5:26 am Reason: Enhance the title
Apr 1, 2016 | 5:09 am
#3
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This only affects a small window of passports I believe - those issued between 9.5 and 10 years ago, so your friend is rather unfortunate in the timing. Most folk would probably want a few months left on the document.
Also, the US are cancelling ESTAs based on the issue date of the passport, not whether they are actually the new passports or not.
All a bit messy tbh...
Also, the US are cancelling ESTAs based on the issue date of the passport, not whether they are actually the new passports or not.
All a bit messy tbh...
Apr 1, 2016 | 5:12 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2013
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Wasn't this announced months (a year?) ago? Surely you check the requirements around the time you book and not wait for the reminder email from BA.
When is he due to fly? I hope he can get it sorted before he leaves!
When is he due to fly? I hope he can get it sorted before he leaves!
Apr 1, 2016 | 5:12 am
#6
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How long are passports valid in the UK? I thought it was pretty much impossible to have a valid passport that isn't an e-passport nowadays...
Apr 1, 2016 | 5:15 am
#7
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If I understand right your friend got this email from BA today explaining the e-passport requirement.
Assuming U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the FCO had provided the information well ahead of time I don't think he's been "screwed" by anyone. He just hasn't done his research very well regarding visa requirements.
http://www.cbp.gov/travel/internatio...-system-travel
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-ad...y-requirements
Assuming U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the FCO had provided the information well ahead of time I don't think he's been "screwed" by anyone. He just hasn't done his research very well regarding visa requirements.
http://www.cbp.gov/travel/internatio...-system-travel
Q: What are the passport requirements to travel under the Visa Waiver Program?
A: Travel under the VWP is restricted to travelers possessing passports with specified security features. Visa Waiver Program requirements are:
The passport must have a machine-readable zone on the biographic page.
The passport must be an electronic passport with a digital chip containing biometric information about the passport owner.
As of April 1, 2016, all travelers must have an e-passport to use the VWP. An e-Passport, denoted by the symbol , is an enhanced secure passport with an embedded electronic chip. E-Passports are issued by the proper passport issuing authority and must meet international standards for securing and storing information corresponding to the passport and bearer.
A: Travel under the VWP is restricted to travelers possessing passports with specified security features. Visa Waiver Program requirements are:
The passport must have a machine-readable zone on the biographic page.
The passport must be an electronic passport with a digital chip containing biometric information about the passport owner.
As of April 1, 2016, all travelers must have an e-passport to use the VWP. An e-Passport, denoted by the symbol , is an enhanced secure passport with an embedded electronic chip. E-Passports are issued by the proper passport issuing authority and must meet international standards for securing and storing information corresponding to the passport and bearer.
Additionally, from 1 April 2016, all travellers wishing to enter the US under the VWP will need to hold a passport with an integrated chip (an ePassport). British passports issued since October 2006 are ePassports and carry this internationally recognised symbol on the front cover.
Apr 1, 2016 | 5:16 am
#8
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Apr 1, 2016 | 5:17 am
#9
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His was issued 9 years ago in December............and the wording says " you need a valid e passport" not you need a passport with a date of...........
he flies Tuesday
the email wasn't from BA it was from US CBP.....................as and when those bits on the website were added I have no idea
as to when it was announced I have no idea but to tell anyone on the day of expiry is a bit lame ? and he only renewed his Esta using the old passport in January............
he flies Tuesday
the email wasn't from BA it was from US CBP.....................as and when those bits on the website were added I have no idea
as to when it was announced I have no idea but to tell anyone on the day of expiry is a bit lame ? and he only renewed his Esta using the old passport in January............
Apr 1, 2016 | 5:19 am
#10
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Absolutely - but this appears to be a late change by the US. What are you supposed to do - trawl consular websites daily to see what's changed?
Apr 1, 2016 | 5:22 am
#12
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An ePassport has already been a VWP requirement for all passports issued on or after 26 October 2006, and British passports issued since then have been ePassports. So it sounds like his passport must have been issued before October 2006.
Apr 1, 2016 | 5:22 am
#13
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Apr 1, 2016 | 5:22 am
#14
Moderator: The British Airways Club, Marriott Bonvoy
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Sounds like an interesting Trip Report .... 
Folks, just a reminder of the FT rule : "Please create thread titles that are specific and descriptive and that contain an accurate (not misleading or sensational) characterization of the topic".
Folks, just a reminder of the FT rule : "Please create thread titles that are specific and descriptive and that contain an accurate (not misleading or sensational) characterization of the topic".