October 25, 2004

Machine-Readable Passport Required for Visa Waiver Travelers

Beginning October 26, 2004, travelers applying for admission to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must be in possession of a machine-readable passport. As an alternative, travelers may obtain a non-immigrant visa in their current (non-machine-readable) passport. If, after October 26, 2004, a Visa Waiver Program national presents him or herself for admission to the United States without a machine-readable passport or non-immigrant visa, a Customs and Border Protection officer is permitted to grant a one-time exemption to admit the traveler to the United States. The traveler will be issued a letter explaining the U.S. entry requirements and his or her passport will be annotated that a one-time exemption has been granted. Once the traveler leaves the U.S., even for trips to Canada, Mexico or adjacent islands, the traveler will be required to present a machine-readable passport or non-immigrant visa to re-enter the U.S. If a traveler fails to obtain a machine-readable passport or a non-immigrant visa for subsequent visits to the U.S., they may be refused entry under the VWP.

In addition, each VWP applicant must present an individual machine-readable passport. This is a change for family members who have applied for admission under one passport in the past. Families must have individual machine-readable passports for everyone, including children. The one-time exemption may be applied to families as well.

An estimated 13 million visitors from Visa Waiver Countries enter the U.S. each year. Travelers from Visa Waiver Countries are allowed to enter the U.S. for up to 90 days for business or pleasure using only a passport.