biometric passports

[mumoverseas]

Anyone know if you need them to go to the States now or will they still accept the old style (unchipped) ones?

AFAIK, if you want to enter the US without a chipped passport you need to apply for a visa in advance. DH needed to get a whole new passport when he mistakenly tried to board an airplane last year without either.

thanks for that. We are ok, its someone who has booked our villa who has just asked. They booked it a year ago. Why wait until the last minute then ask me!

They still accept non-biometric passports. I don't have one and was fine entering the US in Los Angeles at the beginning of the month. Just make sure you've applied for your ESTA at least 72 hrs in advance before arriving.

how do i know if ours are biometric or not, just out of interest?

On the front of the passport is a little symbol which looks like a camera and inside you can see a gold coloured chip.

thank you, i can see a little camera thingy at the bottom on the front cover on all of ours, but not sure where to look for the chip?

On the very back page. Once you open the back cover of the passport it should be staring you in the face.

right! Are we talking about a copper coloured rectangle with a small black bit in one corner?

That is the only thing I can find. {thick emoticon]

Yeah, that's the thing.

You can enter the USA without having a biometric passport. The "older style" unchipped purple passports are fine and you do not need a visa. The black passport is not machine readable so is no longer allowed.

UK citizens can still enter the USA under the visa waiver scheme.

As another poster has rightly mentioned the ESTA (electronic travel authorisation) must be completed for all members of your party at least 72 hours before departure for the US. No ESTA in place means no travel to the US!.

Only use the official ESTA website as well, there are a lot who charge for a service that is actually free!.

esta.cbp.dhs.gov

I'll have a look later, unless someone happens to have their passport knocking about next to them and posts to put you out of your misery.

oh thanks for that. we all seem to be up to date then!