GOING TO THE US? STILL NEED A VISA ?

I put this article from the newspaper is for my own information as well as for my family and friends. Whenever I try to search for certain information, it takes so long to find the right one.

Thursday November 29, 2007

IN THE latest clarification of its policy that has caught some travellers unawares, the United States said it requires passports issued or renewed from Oct 26 last year to be biometric – if the holder is to enjoy entry under the visa-waiver programme.

This requirement was conveyed to all travel agencies and airlines recently.

All Singapore passports issued from Aug 15 last year are biometric. But some Singaporeans still holding the old non-biometric passports – with the validity extended – have found themselves unable to enter the US without a visa, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

In a statement yesterday, the US Embassy here said travellers from countries under the visa-waiver programme, such as Singapore, must have machine-readable passports. In addition, any passport issued or renewed on or after Oct 26 last year must include a biometric chip in order for the holder to enjoy visa-free entry to the US.

The requirement does not apply to machine-readable passports issued or extended before Oct 26, 2005. Passports issued or renewed between then and Oct 26 last year must have a digital photo or biometric chip.

The ICA has advised Singaporeans holding non-biometric passports to check directly with the embassy on visa requirements before travelling to the US. They can also log on to singapore.usembassy.gov.

Or they can apply for a biometric passport, or BioPass. Visit www.ica.gov.sg for application forms.

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