UK passport requirements for VWP
May 21st 2009, 2:53 am
#1
has lost The Game
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Chippendale, Sydney
Posts: 8,735
UK passport requirements for VWP
Hi folks,
I have been planning to come to the US for about 10 days at the beginning of July to visit a couple of friends and go to a wedding, returning to Australia on or about the 14th.
Unfortunately, my current UK passport expires on July 31st, and it has been brought to my attention that the VWP requires 6 months of valid passport beyond the date of departure from the US "unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions".
Can anybody tell me if the UK is covered by one of those country specific agreements, or if I am going to have to bite the bullet and order a (very costly it seems) new UK passport for this trip?
Annoyingly, I am almost eligible for an Australian passport, but am awaiting a citizenship ceremony and am in the hands of bureaucrats, which is unlikely to yield an Australian passport before the trip.
Thanks in advance,
S
I have been planning to come to the US for about 10 days at the beginning of July to visit a couple of friends and go to a wedding, returning to Australia on or about the 14th.
Unfortunately, my current UK passport expires on July 31st, and it has been brought to my attention that the VWP requires 6 months of valid passport beyond the date of departure from the US "unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions".
Can anybody tell me if the UK is covered by one of those country specific agreements, or if I am going to have to bite the bullet and order a (very costly it seems) new UK passport for this trip?
Annoyingly, I am almost eligible for an Australian passport, but am awaiting a citizenship ceremony and am in the hands of bureaucrats, which is unlikely to yield an Australian passport before the trip.
Thanks in advance,
S
May 21st 2009, 5:47 am
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,190
Re: UK passport requirements for VWP
IMHO you will have to pony up for the passport.
Do you have to get an Aussie passport as soon as you become a citizen?
Hopefully that ceromony won't be when you are off on your holidays
Do you have to get an Aussie passport as soon as you become a citizen?
Hopefully that ceromony won't be when you are off on your holidays
May 21st 2009, 5:48 am
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,190
Re: UK passport requirements for VWP
Last edited by Norri; May 21st 2009 at 5:49 am. Reason: Dupe for some reason
May 21st 2009, 7:21 pm
#4
American Expat
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,598
Re: UK passport requirements for VWP
Hi folks,
I have been planning to come to the US for about 10 days at the beginning of July to visit a couple of friends and go to a wedding, returning to Australia on or about the 14th.
Unfortunately, my current UK passport expires on July 31st, and it has been brought to my attention that the VWP requires 6 months of valid passport beyond the date of departure from the US "unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions".
Can anybody tell me if the UK is covered by one of those country specific agreements, or if I am going to have to bite the bullet and order a (very costly it seems) new UK passport for this trip?
Annoyingly, I am almost eligible for an Australian passport, but am awaiting a citizenship ceremony and am in the hands of bureaucrats, which is unlikely to yield an Australian passport before the trip.
Thanks in advance,
S
I have been planning to come to the US for about 10 days at the beginning of July to visit a couple of friends and go to a wedding, returning to Australia on or about the 14th.
Unfortunately, my current UK passport expires on July 31st, and it has been brought to my attention that the VWP requires 6 months of valid passport beyond the date of departure from the US "unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions".
Can anybody tell me if the UK is covered by one of those country specific agreements, or if I am going to have to bite the bullet and order a (very costly it seems) new UK passport for this trip?
Annoyingly, I am almost eligible for an Australian passport, but am awaiting a citizenship ceremony and am in the hands of bureaucrats, which is unlikely to yield an Australian passport before the trip.
Thanks in advance,
S
Here is the list of countries indicating that the UK is on it:
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/104770.pdf
Make sure that your passport meets the requirements of any country you will transit through on the way to the US.
Last edited by crg; May 21st 2009 at 7:25 pm.
May 21st 2009, 8:16 pm
#5
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 16,266
Re: UK passport requirements for VWP
Hi folks,
I have been planning to come to the US for about 10 days at the beginning of July to visit a couple of friends and go to a wedding, returning to Australia on or about the 14th.
Unfortunately, my current UK passport expires on July 31st, and it has been brought to my attention that the VWP requires 6 months of valid passport beyond the date of departure from the US "unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions".
Can anybody tell me if the UK is covered by one of those country specific agreements, or if I am going to have to bite the bullet and order a (very costly it seems) new UK passport for this trip?
Annoyingly, I am almost eligible for an Australian passport, but am awaiting a citizenship ceremony and am in the hands of bureaucrats, which is unlikely to yield an Australian passport before the trip.
Thanks in advance,
S
I have been planning to come to the US for about 10 days at the beginning of July to visit a couple of friends and go to a wedding, returning to Australia on or about the 14th.
Unfortunately, my current UK passport expires on July 31st, and it has been brought to my attention that the VWP requires 6 months of valid passport beyond the date of departure from the US "unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions".
Can anybody tell me if the UK is covered by one of those country specific agreements, or if I am going to have to bite the bullet and order a (very costly it seems) new UK passport for this trip?
Annoyingly, I am almost eligible for an Australian passport, but am awaiting a citizenship ceremony and am in the hands of bureaucrats, which is unlikely to yield an Australian passport before the trip.
Thanks in advance,
S
UK is one of those countries. However, do you have one of new "chip" passports? If your passport is expiring soon I have a feeling it is not one of those readable passports.
May 21st 2009, 8:25 pm
#6
American Expat
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,598
Re: UK passport requirements for VWP
However, the chip isn't required for a UK passport that is so old.
It likely only needs an ICAO compliant machine readable zone.
If it was issued or renewed after Oct 26, 2005 it needs an integrated photo instead of an attached photo.
If issued October 26, 2006 or beyond then it needs the chip.
The OP can check the VWP Wizard web page to be certain:
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new...sa_wizard.html
Last edited by crg; May 21st 2009 at 8:28 pm.
May 22nd 2009, 6:28 am
#7
has lost The Game
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Chippendale, Sydney
Posts: 8,735
Re: UK passport requirements for VWP
That's a good point because lack of compliance with specific passport requirements have caused so many problems with VWP travel.
However, the chip isn't required for a UK passport that is so old.
It likely only needs an ICAO compliant machine readable zone.
If it was issued or renewed after Oct 26, 2005 it needs an integrated photo instead of an attached photo.
If issued October 26, 2006 or beyond then it needs the chip.
The OP can check the VWP Wizard web page to be certain:
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new...sa_wizard.html
However, the chip isn't required for a UK passport that is so old.
It likely only needs an ICAO compliant machine readable zone.
If it was issued or renewed after Oct 26, 2005 it needs an integrated photo instead of an attached photo.
If issued October 26, 2006 or beyond then it needs the chip.
The OP can check the VWP Wizard web page to be certain:
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new...sa_wizard.html
Hi guys,
Thanks for your advice.
My passport was issued in 1999. I did the VWP wizard, and all looks good, so I think I will be ok.
Thanks again
S
