How the US passport rule changes affect you, and what you can do about it
While we were all preoccupied by the elections – both over here and across the pond – the US government only went and made a crucial change to its passport rules.
As of 1 April 2016, those travelling from the UK to the US who don't want to apply for a visa because they'll only be staying for 90 days or less now must be in possession of a valid e-passport. However, it wasn't until yesterday that the UK media started kicking up a fuss.
An e-what now?
An e-passport, otherwise known as those newfangled ones with the chip in them and the little symbol that looks like a camera on the front. The first ones were issued in 2006 but they got an upgrade, which included moving the personal details page to the front of the book, in 2010. As passports are typically valid for 10 years, there's, in theory, only a handful of people who could find themselves caught out, but Sky News has reported that some travellers have been caught out by the change and refused entry to the US.
Remind me, what exactly are the rules on travelling to the US without a visa?
Citizens from certain countries, including the UK, Australia, Germany and France, are permitted to take a trip across to the US without first obtaining a visa under the Visa Waiver Programme. As with most things in life, it's not quite as straightforward as that – you can only stay for 90 days maximum with no option to extend your stay, you can't use the programme if you're going for employment reasons and you're also generally not eligible if you've travelled to Iraq, Iran, Syria, or Sudan since March 2011 – but that's basically it in a nutshell.
Other than having to have a chip in it, are there any other things I need to know about my passport?
With a few exceptions, your passport must be valid for at least six months after the date you plan to leave the US.
Well, I'm going to need a new passport. What do I need to do?
Like most things these days, you can apply for a form online but, if you're the more traditional type, you could opt to pick one up from the Post Office or ask the Passport Adviceline to post you a form. Once you've got your hands on said form, you'll then need to fork over £72.50 for a renewal of a 32-page passport or £82.25 if you want to take advantage of the Post Office's Check and Send service.
I may have kind of left it to the last minute…
Passports typically take three weeks to renew, but don't lose hope yet: there are options for those who need to get a new one urgently. You can book an appointment at a Passport Customer Service Centre for a premium service to get your passport in one day, or a fast track service if you can hold on for a week. However, this type of luxury does come at a cost, with premium services setting you back £128 for an adult 32-page passport and a fast track service £103.
Actually, on second thoughts, I'm not ready for a chip in my passport. Am I banned from travel to the US then?
Those who don't have an e-passport can apply for a non-immigration visa, which you can do at a US Embassy or Consulate, according to the Home Office website.