Machine readable passport?

ShockingPink

How do I know if it is?

We're going to NY in October and apparently you need a visa if you don't have a machine-readable one. I think mine is (it's got a scanned photo in it) but my Mum's is 5-yrs old and if I just phone her and ask, she'll have no idea! Is there a cut-off date for them?

Or have I misunderstood and she won't need a visa anyway?

BernadetteN

Machine readable passports have your details along the bottom, with chevrons dividing the details. Take a look.

gizmos

I got mine 6 years ago and its machine readable - all of the passports should be machine readable - there is a section on the passport website that tells you how to check. Also remember you need at least SIX months left on your passport as well

ShockingPink wrote:

How do I know if it is?

We're going to NY in October and apparently you need a visa if you don't have a machine-readable one. I think mine is (it's got a scanned photo in it) but my Mum's is 5-yrs old and if I just phone her and ask, she'll have no idea! Is there a cut-off date for them?

Or have I misunderstood and she won't need a visa anyway?

moonrakerz

gizmos wrote:

Also remember you need at least SIX months left on your passport as well

This "6 month rule" on your passport is a popular misconception peddled by the airlines, for some strange reason. Below is what the US Embassy in London says on their web-site.

Assuming of course, that you not from Andorra, Brunei or San Marino !

"If traveling under the Visa Waiver Program, the passport must be valid for at least 90 days from the date on which the holder enters the United States. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport. Note: Passport holders from Andorra, Brunei, and San Marino must be in possession of a passport valid for at least six months from the date of departure from the United States, even if traveling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program."

judderman62

the six month rule thing is something you'd be a raving lunatic to ignore - ensure you do have 6 months on your passport - if you don't you may be coming home rather sooner than expected.

Also for US many airlines now want API information in advance

moonrakerz

judderman62 wrote:

the six month rule thing is something you'd be a raving lunatic to ignore - ensure you do have 6 months on your passport - if you don't you may be coming home rather sooner than expected.

Just how do you arrive at that statement ?

The US Embassy is quite clear - if you have less than 90 days (NOT 6 months) validity, you will have to leave the US by the date your passport expires. Clear, concise and absolutely clear.

You would have to be a "raving lunatic" not to understand that !

"Also for US many airlines now want API information in advance"

Very profound - doesn't API stand for advance passenger information ?

UnitedFlyer

I've entered the US before with just 16 days left before my passport expired.
No one even mentioned it.

And a mate of mine entered the US and his passport expired while he was there (he didn't realise it had!). On the way back, the airline noticed it expired, so he had an emergency passport issued to him.

He got back home ok.

The 6 month rule is nonsense!!

judderman62

Ooooh I don't know maybe over 25 years in the travel industry might have something to do with it.

OK so to explain - ultimate responsibility for travellers holding correct documentation lies with the airlines and they are actually fined if they carry a passenger without the necessary documentation. As a consequence what happens is that airlines , not wanting to get caught out, err on the side of caution and often ask for 6 months validity on a passport (btw this is not just for the US , but more of that later) whether this is actually required by the arriving country's government or not.

If airlines are not satisfied with your documentation they will not carry you.

Some years ago a tale was relayed to me by the visa company we were using at the time of a family of four who arrived at the airport for their flight to the US for their holiday and back then ,as now, the US only required 90 days validity on one's passport - however the airline insisted on 6 months, sadly the wife only had 5 months and the airline refused to carry them. Result - lost holiday.

Now the rights and wrongs here are rather irrelevant as the family didn't get to have their holiday.

Ever since that day I have been going on and on to all our clients (I'm in business travel not leisure) about ensuring they have at least 6 months on their passports WHEREVER they were travelling outside of the UK.

I have, on numerous occasions, sent e-mails reminding about this to regular travel bookers and travellers to ensure the message was out there and clear to all.

Despite all this we do still occasionally get people being surprised when we check this, every booking we make we check on passport validity and note that we have done so in the booking to cover ourselves.

So sometime last year the top guy of one of our clients was travelling to Amsterdam (note Amsterdam - not even a long haul destination) for a business meeting. He purchased a non refundable air ticket (approx £350) and as usual asked his PA if he had more than 6 months on his passport - she was very vague about this (if information on this is not forthcoming we just note that we have advised that 6 months is required).

It is not unusual for PA's/travel bookers to ASSUME that travellers will have required validity and will know what is required.

So the guy gets to the airport and he only has four and a half months on his passport. The airline tell him he's going nowhere and as a consequence his business trip is lost as is his £350.

Not worth the risk - ensure you always have at least 6 months on your passport folks.

Trust this explanation will suffice any interested parties

moonrakerz wrote:

Just how do you arrive at that statement ?

The US Embassy is quite clear - if you have less than 90 days (NOT 6 months) validity, you will have to leave the US by the date your passport expires. Clear, concise and absolutely clear.

You would have to be a "raving lunatic" not to understand that !

"Also for US many airlines now want API information in advance"

Very profound - doesn't API stand for advance passenger information ?

trets77

getting back to the OP question.

your passport is either machine readable ( ALL full UK passports issued after 1992 are) or Biometric ( even better) if it was isssued in the last few months. you can always get a quick new passport by arranging a personal appointment at your local passport office, or use the Post offices checking service for a passport in about a month.

you can also usually add what time is left on your old passport to your new passport if it is under a year i think

judderman62

Indeed it's highly unlikely that your passport won't be machine readable - jsut ccheck the 6 months thing and check if you need to provide API (advance Passenger Information) check with your agent/website/airline

alanrowell

trets77 wrote:

getting back to the OP question.

your passport is either machine readable ( ALL full UK passports issued after 1992 are) or Biometric ( even better) if it was isssued in the last few months.

If your passport was renewed at an embassy or a consulate then for several years after 1992 it was likely you'd get a non-machine readable passport

Anyhow on the basis that a picture is worth a thousand words this is what a Machine Readable Passport looks like (page down a bit)