Last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that as of June 26, 2005, all citizens of the 27 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) who wish to enter the U.S. visa-free will be required to present a machine-readable passport (MRP).

The MRP requirement, which was originally set to begin on October 1, 2003, was extended to October 26, 2004, for 23 countries that requested an extension . The MRP has been required for visa-free travel since October, 1, 2003 for nationals of the 4 countries (Andorra, Brunei, Liechtenstein, and Slovenia) that did not request an extension . Belgian nationals have been required to have an MPR since May 15, 2005.

DHS has provided U.S. immigration inspectors at U.S. borders and ports of entry with the authority to grant a one-time entry to VWP travelers arriving without MRPs. This "grace period," which started on October 26, 2004, will end on June 26, 2005. After that date, all VWP nationals who are traveling to the U.S. for business or pleasure who do not have an MRP will be required to obtain a U.S. nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.

NOTE: The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Not all countries participate in the VWP. The 27 participating countries are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

For more information about the Visa Waiver Pilot Program and applying for a visa to the U.S., visit www.travel.state.gov and www.unitedstatesvisas.gov.