The following is posted at the state department's website,
www.state.gov.
Required Use of Machine-Readable Passport for Visa Waiver Program Travel
Starting October 1, 2003, travelers entering the United States under the
Visa Waiver Program must have a machine-readable passport. Any traveler
without a machine-readable passport will be required to obtain a visa before
coming to the United States.
This requirement is mandated by the USA Patriot Act of 2001. Immigration
inspectors may deny entry to any traveler attempting to enter on a
visa-waiver basis without a machine-readable passport after October 1, 2003.
Countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program have long been required
to have a program for the issuance of machine-readable passports, but the
October 1, 2003, requirement makes the use of such a passport mandatory for
visa-free entry. It applies to both adults and children. Citizens of Belgium
have been required to present a machine-readable passport for visa-waiver
entry since May 15, 2003.
-----Original Message-----
From: Management Education and Development Discussion
[mailto:
MG-ED-DV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU] On Behalf Of Hanson Mike
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 10:11 AM
To:
MG-ED-DV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Subject: Visa for USA now required
Last week I went to Prague and a colleague was refused entry onto the
plane because his passport expired on October 5, 2003 and he was told
that he would not be allowed to enter the country if his passport wasn't
valid for three months after the return date.
So, I thought of my international colleagues wanting to enter the USA
for academic meetings etc... you need to be aware that starting October
1st you will be required to have a visa to enter the United States. It
may take eight weeks to obtain... this new ruling applies to all the 27
countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program.
Mike Hanson
ESCEM School of Business and Management
France