Travellers to US from Visa Waiver Program Nation's face Deadline

Following new rules being implemented by the US department of homeland security, all travelers from countries under the Visa Waiver programme must carry a machine-readable passport.

The rule was enforced in October 2004 but to facilitate travelers, the department's customs and border protection bureau had given officials at ports of entry the discretionary authority to grant one-time exemptions on a case-by-case basis to Visa waiver program travelers without a visa or a machine-readable passport.

However, the department of Homeland security will end this exemption policy and being full enforcement of machine-readable passport requirements on June 26, 2005. All travelers from visa wavier program countries are urged to obtain machine-readable passport (or visa) prior to travel to the U.S. As of June 26,2005, travelers without machine-readable passport (or a valid visa) may be denied entry to the U.S.

The June 26,2005 machine-readable passport requirement applies only to the citizens of U.S. visa wavier program countries. Pakistan is not a visa wavier country and Pakistani travelers may continue to the use non-machine readable passport with valid U.S. visas.

Nationals of visa wavier program countries may travel to the United States for up to 90 days to conduct business or tourism without a visa. The requirements regarding machine-readable passport are not intended to discourage visa wavier program nationals from traveling to the United States. Rather, this is the next step in increasing security at U.S. ports of entry for the safety of U.S. citizens and our foreign guests. The United States welcome international visitors and recognize their contribution to our country and society.

Source: The PakTribune