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Biometric passports likely to cause confusion to British travellers Biometric passports likely to cause confusion to British travellers
(4 months later)
Jon Darch has a colleague’s close attention to the news to thank for being able to fly to New York on Saturday. Without it, he – like tens of thousands of other Britons – would be unaware of new rules blocking tourists without a biometric passport from visiting the US.Jon Darch has a colleague’s close attention to the news to thank for being able to fly to New York on Saturday. Without it, he – like tens of thousands of other Britons – would be unaware of new rules blocking tourists without a biometric passport from visiting the US.
A friend of Darch, who is a digital marketing manager at upmarket paint company Farrow & Ball, asked on Thursday night if he had an e-passport after reading stories about the changes. Upon checking, he realised he still had one of the old-style documents that lack an electronic chip – prompting a panicked dash across the country to the nearest passport office. The trip is likely to be mimicked by thousands more as the summer holiday season approaches.A friend of Darch, who is a digital marketing manager at upmarket paint company Farrow & Ball, asked on Thursday night if he had an e-passport after reading stories about the changes. Upon checking, he realised he still had one of the old-style documents that lack an electronic chip – prompting a panicked dash across the country to the nearest passport office. The trip is likely to be mimicked by thousands more as the summer holiday season approaches.
Related: Britons flying to US without biometric passports could be turned away
Late last year the US quietly announced new rules requiring any travellers taking advantage of its ESTA visa waiver scheme to hold a biometric passport. The new rule came into effect on 1 April, but a lack of publicity about the change meant that many travellers only became aware of the issue when trying to check in for their flights. To further complicate matters, it was possible to obtain ESTA clearance even with an old-style passport.Late last year the US quietly announced new rules requiring any travellers taking advantage of its ESTA visa waiver scheme to hold a biometric passport. The new rule came into effect on 1 April, but a lack of publicity about the change meant that many travellers only became aware of the issue when trying to check in for their flights. To further complicate matters, it was possible to obtain ESTA clearance even with an old-style passport.
Darch, who lives in Bournemouth, was able to secure an appointment at the Passport Office in London on Friday to get a new document. Had he not been able to do so a trip to Peterborough would have been necessary. The one-day premium service costs £128 – £25 more than the one-week “fast track” service.Darch, who lives in Bournemouth, was able to secure an appointment at the Passport Office in London on Friday to get a new document. Had he not been able to do so a trip to Peterborough would have been necessary. The one-day premium service costs £128 – £25 more than the one-week “fast track” service.
After waiting four hours, Darch had a shiny new biometric passport and was set for his business trip to the US.After waiting four hours, Darch had a shiny new biometric passport and was set for his business trip to the US.
“I’ve been quite fortunate – lots of other people will have had no idea until getting to the airport,” he said. “If it had been a holiday I would have been pretty upset – it’s not cheap to fly to the States.”“I’ve been quite fortunate – lots of other people will have had no idea until getting to the airport,” he said. “If it had been a holiday I would have been pretty upset – it’s not cheap to fly to the States.”
Others were not so fortunate. Kevin Nash went to Stansted aiport early last month to fly to Florida with his partner Hannah Elphick and their two-year-old daughter, Kloe. However, he was not permitted to board and was forced to stay behind in London while his partner and child went ahead.Others were not so fortunate. Kevin Nash went to Stansted aiport early last month to fly to Florida with his partner Hannah Elphick and their two-year-old daughter, Kloe. However, he was not permitted to board and was forced to stay behind in London while his partner and child went ahead.
“It was awful – we were all pretty upset,” Elphick told BBC Radio 5 live. It cost Nash more than £700 to get a new passport and book another flight, finally arriving in Florida two days later.“It was awful – we were all pretty upset,” Elphick told BBC Radio 5 live. It cost Nash more than £700 to get a new passport and book another flight, finally arriving in Florida two days later.
Darch does not believe there was enough publicity about the change. Even if airlines and travel operators could not easily determine which passengers did not hold biometric passports, a blanket email to all travellers clearly stating the new requirements would have helped many, he said.Darch does not believe there was enough publicity about the change. Even if airlines and travel operators could not easily determine which passengers did not hold biometric passports, a blanket email to all travellers clearly stating the new requirements would have helped many, he said.
Asked whether there had been enough publicity about the changes, the Home Office said it was a matter for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.Asked whether there had been enough publicity about the changes, the Home Office said it was a matter for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Even after getting to Heathrow airport on Saturday afternoon to check in for his British Airways flight, the hassle was not completely over. Because Darch was now travelling on a new passport, Darch’s existing ESTA approval was now invalid and he had to go online to reapply.Even after getting to Heathrow airport on Saturday afternoon to check in for his British Airways flight, the hassle was not completely over. Because Darch was now travelling on a new passport, Darch’s existing ESTA approval was now invalid and he had to go online to reapply.