Millions face refusal to fly to US after passport debacle

Around 2.7 million Britons issued with passports between April and October 2006 cannot travel to the US unless they update their travel documents.

They have been hit by changes to American border controls introduced after December’s San Bernardino shootings which claimed 14 lives.

Amid demands for tighter border security, the US introduced the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, which led to a requirement for anyone entering the US under visa waiver to have a passport with a biometric chip.

Previously the requirement for participation in the visa waiver scheme was that the countries issued “e-passports”.

Britain complied in October 2006, but this has left about 2.7 million people in limbo because their passports were issued between April and October 2006. Around 3.8 million British nationals visit the United States every year. 

Already travellers have been denied boarding because of the new requirements, including Vic Ryan from Lincoln, who posted details of his ordeal earlier this week on Facebook.

He wrote: “I was supposed to be on a flight travelling to Florida for a holiday with my family booked through Thomson's, we saved long and hard for this holiday and filled in all the necessary online forms including API and ESTAs only a couple of weeks ago only to turn up at the check in desk to be advised that I would not be allowed to travel as I did not have a biometric passport whilst the rest of our family had them, despite calls to the USA from the lady on check in they would not permit travel.”

He has since had to spend more than £500, including finding an alternative flight, to salvage his holiday.

Will Day, a Briton living in the Cayman Islands, was unable to travel to the UK via the US for his father’s funeral, because he did not have an e-passport.

Several airlines, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, have alerted passengers to the new requirements.

“We have no way of knowing whether a person has a valid passport,” a British Airways spokesman said.

American Airlines said it verifies data at the airport, when it can establish if there are problems with the passport.

We need to wait until they arrive at check in to validate their passports. We have to have the passport in our hands and the person in front of us.

“The problem is that people can make mistakes when entering information online, which is why we have to double check it.”

An ABTA spokesman said it warned members of potential problems at the beginning of the year.

“Any customers who may have been caught out by this would have been more likely to be travelling independently.”

A spokesman for the US Customs and Border Protection, said it had sent emails, where possible, to ESTA holders, if their passport details were no longer valid.

Gus Hosein, executive director of Privacy International, said the change was a huge step: “This is what happens when you get caught two legal systems especially when it comes to borders."

The confusion comes as the US attempts to improve its border experience and increase its visitor numbers. 

What to do if you're travelling to the US

If you are one of those caught in the limbo of having acquired your passport between April and October 2006, you will need to renew it before travelling to the US to ensure it has a biometric chip. This will cost you either £72.50 or £82.25, depending on the service you choose, and should take about three weeks. The time left on your passport will be added to your new one. 

If you already have a biometric passport, it needs to be valid for the duration of your stay. 

I'm travelling this week

Then you better be quick about it. The passport office has a number of services for travellers who need a passport urgently, with the most pressing a one-day premium service. This will require you to book an appointment at a passport office in one of the following cities - London, Liverpool, Belfast, Durham, Glasgow, Newport or Peterborough - and will cost from £128. 

What about ESTAs?

An ESTA, or Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, is required to enter the US by air or sea, even if you have a biometric passport. You are allowed to visit the US under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) for up to 90 days without additional documentation, but visits of any length of time require an ESTA, obtained at least 72 hours before travel from the official website. Visitors arriving by land do not need an ESTA.

I've just got back from Libya

Then you might have an issue with entry to the US. If you have travelled to Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia or Yemen since March 2011, you will not qualify for entry under the VWP and will need to apply for a visa well in advance of travel. Likewise, if you're a duel national of Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria. 

See here for a full guide to visa application processes around the world.