Passport refund for non-digital photo

SunriseSunset_2

Hello,

We're planning on going to America at the end of September. I went to the Visa Waiver Programme website and it mentioned this:

"Visa Waiver Program requirements are:

The passport must have a machine-readable zone.

October 26, 2005 – Each Visa Waiver Program passport issued on or after this date must have a digital photo.
October 26, 2006 – Each Visa Waiver Program passport issued on or after this date must be an electronic passport with a digital chip containing biometric information about the passport owner."

"Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended on or after 10/26/05 through 10/25/06 must meet the following requirements. A digital photograph printed on the passport data page is required OR an integrated chip containing information from the data page (e-passport). A digital photo is one that is printed on the page, not a photo that is glued or laminated into the passport."

My dad's passport has the machine-readable zone. He was issued his in March 2006. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a digital photo or chip, so I'm worried he'll be denied entry and kicked out of America. He went there in May 2007 and no one said anything about this. Do you think they'll let him in again?

If not, we must get a new passport or a visa. We don't want to spend £100 on a visa for one country, plus we don't know if it'll be sorted in time, so we're going for a new passport. This is the passport office's fault, so do you think we can get a partial refund? He's got 5 yrs left on his current passport and they only carry 9 months over to the next if you renew early.

Thanks in advance!:D

HXDave

This is the passport office's fault, so do you think we can get a partial refund?

Sorry, but can you please explain why this is the passport office's fault? The rules are set by the US government, not the passport office...........

Perhaps you should ask the US Government for a partial refund, as it is they who have set the guidelines, not the UKPA!

Alternatively, have you read the fllowing, from the ESTA site:

Visa Waiver Program requirements are:
The passport must have a machine-readable zone.

• October 26, 2005 – Each Visa Waiver Program passport issued on or after this date must have a digital photo.
• October 26, 2006 – Each Visa Waiver Program passport issued on or after this date must be an electronic passport with a digital chip containing biometric information about the passport owner.

EXCEPTION: To be eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, persons presenting United Kingdom passports must possess the unrestricted right of permanent abode in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man
EXCEPTION: Citizens and nationals of Slovenia may use only the red cover Slovenian passport for admission under the Visa Waiver Program (Visa Waiver Program).
EXCEPTION: Effective July 1, 2009, Visa Waiver Program countries’ emergency or temporary passports must be electronic passports.

• Citizens of the following Visa Waiver Program countries are required to present electronic passports: Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovakia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Republic of Malta, South Korea, and Greece.
• Citizens from Visa Waiver Program eligible countries other than Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovakia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Republic of Malta, South Korea, and Greece must present a machine-readable passport. A machine readable passport contains two lines of text with numbers and chevrons (<<<)at the bottom of the personal information page with the passport bearer's picture. Document requirements vary according to the date a passport was issued or renewed as follows:
  • Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended before 10/26/05 have no additional requirements.
  • If a passport was issued or renewed/extended on or after 10/26/05 and does not meet the following requirements, the traveler must obtain a visa:
    1. Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended on or after 10/26/05 through 10/25/06 must meet the following requirements. A digital photograph printed on the passport data page is required OR an integrated chip containing information from the data page (e-passport). A digital photo is one that is printed on the page, not a photo that is glued or laminated into the passport.

Regards

HXDave

SunriseSunset_2

HXDave wrote: »

Sorry, but can you please explain why this is the passport office's fault? The rules are set by the US government, not the passport office...........

Perhaps you should ask the US Government for a partial refund, as it is they who have set the guidelines, not the UKPA!

Alternatively, have you read the fllowing, from the ESTA site:


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Regards

HXDave

I thought they were at fault because some people got digital photos and some didn't.

Okay, thank you. I quoted from that. Are you saying the passport isn't all right, then?

ferf1223

SunriseSunset wrote: »

I thought they were at fault because some people got digital photos and some didn't.

??

Did the UK issue passports with digital photos at the time your dad got his?

dzug1

It's 99.999999% certain that your dad's passport DOES have the required digital photo - it isn't obvious that it does, but it's there

SunriseSunset_2

Thank you!:D I just didn't want to get sent back and miss my uncle's wedding.:T

claire16c

Im sure your Dads will have a digital photo if he got it in 2006! Mine is older than that and Ive got one.