Warden Notice 04/06 (26 February 2006)

1. Up-date on US Visa Waiver Programme And Biometric Passports:

The US Visa Waiver Programme covers British Citizens only.  It does not cover any other form of British Passport issued, (such as British Overseas Citizen Passport).

The US Department of Homeland Security announced, on 15 June 2005, a one-year extension of its Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) to 26 October 2006.

VWP countries, including the UK, are required to have a BIOMECRIC passport issuing system in place by 26 October 2006 in order to continue as members of the Programme and benefit from visa free travel to the US after that date.

The US also announced a requirement that all new passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 must contain a digital photo image to enable the holder to travel to the USA visa free.  This means that British citizens with machine-readable passports containing a digital photo image will not require a visa to visit the USA because they meet the criteria of the 26 October 2005 VWP deadline.  British citizens with machine-readable passports but without a digital photo will still be able to visit the USA visa free until the 26 October 2006 as their passport was issued before the 26 October 2005 deadline.

British citizens without a machine-readable passport must obtain a machine-readable passport or apply for a US visa before visiting the USA.

A British passport is machine-readable when there are two lines of letters, numbers and chevrons (>>>>>) printed at the bottom of the personal information page (page with photograph and personal details).  The text will be on a white strip on older machine-readable passports and directly on the pink page of newer passports.  If there are no lines of text, the passport is not machine-readable.

Further information about passport and visa requirements for the US is available on the US Embassy website:    www.usembassy.org.uk

2. BIOMETRIC PASSPORTS:

Biometrics are unique personal features which are being introduced into passports to avoid the scope for identity fraud. (The three most common are face, finger and iris.) 

The date for rollout of UK Biometric passports is in the period January-July 2006.  The British Consulate General, Jeddah has been given their rollout date of Saturday 25 th March 2006, when training will commence on the Biometric system.  From this date on you will only be able to apply for a Biometric passport.

As we will be using facial recognition for these passports, your photographs will be very important and the new specifications will be strictly adhered to.

Please see attached leaflet from UKPS on the background colour, size, what you can and can not have on your passport photographs or visit the UKPS website on : www.passports.gov.uk

You will also need to allow 10 working days (at least) for a Biometric passport to be produced, especially during the training period.

3. POPPY APPEAL 2005.

Thank you to everyone who supported the Poppy Appeal for 2005.  We have collected a total of SR4,917 @ a rate of 6.7217 to the £1 = £731.51 which has been transferred to the Royal British Legion, Aylesford, Kent.  Carole Vizard, the Overseas Development Officer, has written to say that she would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your very kind and continued support.

William John Neil
HM Consul

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Visit http://www.fco.gov.uk for British foreign policy news and travel advice; and http://www.i-uk.com - the essential guide to the UK.

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