Passport question - going to USA

[Eve]

Going to USA in August and for some reason ... In my head I have a vague worry that we need different passports to the ones we have.

We all have normal UK passports that have 2-3 years left to expire. Are they OK... Do we need some fancy new biometric ones?

I know we need to do ETSA visa things... But am irrationally worried we turn up at airport with 'wrong type' of passport.

Don't worry your passports will be fine. I've got the new type but DH has the older one and he wasn't refused entry!
Don't forget when doing the ESTA make sure you go through their own website so you aren't paying over the odds.

I travelled recently on a standard British passport with an ESTA clearance and it was fine.

ESTA was 14 dollars btw. Don't pay more!

The passport requirements are a bit complicated - it depends on when your passports were issued. Details here...

There is in theory an issue with some UK passports issued prior to some date in 2006. I've never heard of anyone turned away because of it though. I will see if I can find a link.

Just checked, oldest was issued 2010.

So thankfully all ok...

Thanks all.

This is the issue I was thinking of. The photo needs to be digital (printed on the page rather than stuck on) if your passports were issued in a certain time window. Info here.

www.usembassy.org.uk/visaservices/?p=420

X-posts. Enjoy your trip!

Your passports are fine.

Use only the official US government website to apply for the ESTAs (one per person is required) however. ESTAs cost US $14 each and are valid for 2 years from date of issue.

They should have an epassport logo on them. If so you're fine.