Travellers Barred From U.S..

As from 26th June, US immigration has tightened the security noose around the neck of ineligible travellers across the Atlantic. Passengers who are denied permission to enter the U.S. will be flown back on the next available flight by the airline who transported them. What's more the airline will be fined ?1,800 for the infringment.

Since October 2005 anyone travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme i.e. no visa required for  nationals of any of the 27 countries signed up to the Visa Waiver Programme, Britain included - must have an individual (kids too regardless of age) machine-readable passport.  Customs and Border protection tended to be a little lax in enforcing this law, but all that has changed. Since June 26th, this law is strictly applied.

A machine readable passport is one that has  two lines of letters, numbers and chevrons at the foot of the photograph page. Most Brits have this since machine-readable passports have been issued as standard for a decade.

Other changes in the law requre digital facial images to be printed in the data page of the passport. However this becomes statutory after October 26 2005 and only applies to passport issued after that date.

Current machine readable passports remain valid for the length of their life.

27 June 2005