Passport and Immigration Requirements
Passport and Immigration Requirements
Passports: It is a requirement for entry into the United States, Canada and Bahamas that all persons (including children of any age) hold a valid 10 year British Passport. It is the responsibility of the customer and all members of the party to obtain a correct passport and entry visa if required. Passports should be valid for at least 90 days after the completion date of the holiday. Visas: The majority of British visitors to the United States, Canada and Bahamas do not require visas provided they can fulfil the following conditions:
For the USA you do not require a visa if:
1. You are staying in the country for less than 90 days.
2. You have a full 10-year British machine-readable Passport with at least 90 days remaining after your intended return. Children of any age require their own passport.
3. You are a British Citizen.
4. You have not been refused a visa before, have not been refused admission to the USA deported or overstayed on a previous visit.
5. You are travelling on a major airline.
6. You are not planning to work in the USA.
7. You are travelling on a return air ticket.
8. You have no criminal record and have never been arrested (even if your arrest did not result in a conviction - you still need to obtain a Visa for the USA)
9. You have no communicable disease such as AIDS, HIV or tuberculosis, drug or alcohol addiction, or a mental illness that may render you a danger to others.
Please note: If you were born in the USA you must travel on a US Passport unless you have formally relinquished American Citizenship and can prove that you have done so. This applies even to infants born in the U.S. but who have lived in the UK most of their lives, who are now UK citizens and have full British Passports! Under U.S. law anyone born in the U.S. is considered a U.S. Citizen unless they have formally relinquished their U.S. Citizenship. U.S. citizens must be in possession of a U.S. passport to enter or leave the United States. This is true even if you hold a passport from another country (eg UK). If your U.S. passport has been lost or stolen, or if it has expired, you must apply to replace it before travelling the the United States. If you are in any doubt please check with the US Embassy.
Please note: British Subjects and anyone with a criminal record (even if it is "spent"), anyone who has ever been arrested (even if subsequently not charged), anyone with a drug or alcohol addiction must apply for a visa before booking their holiday, or risk being refused admission upon arrival, or denied boarding by the airline.
'Indefinite' US Visas to end: As of 01 January 1995, indefinite US visas will only be valid for 10 years from the date on which they were issued. Thus anyone holding and 'indefinite' B1/B2 visa which was issued more than 10 years earlier will need to apply for a new visa, or, if they qualify for the Visa Waiver Pilot Programme, travel without a visa.
In addition to requirements for visa-free travel the immigration authorities may wish to see proof of sufficient funds upon your arrival to sustain you if you are planning a long stay. They may contact any dependants or friends residing in the US or Canada who are listed by you as your sponsors to provide accommodation and/or sustenance during your stay.
Passports:
Many passports contain a digital photograph which is printed on to the details page. Older passports often have a photograph which is glued or laminated on to the passport. Passports issued after the 26th October 2005 to passengers wishing to use the US Visa Waiver Programme must contain a digitally printed photograph. A photograph which is glued on laminated will not be acceptable for travel. Passports issued before the 26th October 2005 are exempt from this requirement. For further details of UK Passports, procedures and applications go to www.ukpa.gov.uk
Should you have any questions regarding visas and visa-free travel to the USA you should contact the United States Visa Unit on 09068 200292. Calls cost 60 pence per minute. Or access the US Embassy website at: www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_web/visa/niv/mrp.htm
For information regarding Canadian immigration regulations please call 0891 616644. Calls cost 60 pence per minute. For details on visa requirements see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/index.html Tourism Information Network http://www.travelcanada.ca British citizens holding 10 year British Passports do not require a visa to for travel to Canada or the Bahamas provided they fulfil the same requirements as described above for visa-free travel to the USA.
For further information regarding immigration to the Bahamas please call 01483 448900 or visit the Bahamas website at http://www.bahamasnet.com
For up-to-date information regarding your destination country and advice from the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office please visit www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo
It is the responsibility of the passenger to ensure that they are correctly documented for travel to their intended destination. If you are in any doubt please contact the relevant embassy. The information above regarding Visa Free travel is intended as a guide and should cover most visitors, however Worldchoice Travel USA cannot be held responsible for any changes to the entry rules by the offices of the governments concerned, nor can we cover every rule and aspect of immigration procedure. If in doubt - ask the embassy!
Passports: It is a requirement for entry into the United States, Canada and Bahamas that all persons (including children of any age) hold a valid 10 year British Passport. It is the responsibility of the customer and all members of the party to obtain a correct passport and entry visa if required. Passports should be valid for at least 90 days after the completion date of the holiday. Visas: The majority of British visitors to the United States, Canada and Bahamas do not require visas provided they can fulfil the following conditions:
For the USA you do not require a visa if:
1. You are staying in the country for less than 90 days.
2. You have a full 10-year British machine-readable Passport with at least 90 days remaining after your intended return. Children of any age require their own passport.
3. You are a British Citizen.
4. You have not been refused a visa before, have not been refused admission to the USA deported or overstayed on a previous visit.
5. You are travelling on a major airline.
6. You are not planning to work in the USA.
7. You are travelling on a return air ticket.
8. You have no criminal record and have never been arrested (even if your arrest did not result in a conviction - you still need to obtain a Visa for the USA)
9. You have no communicable disease such as AIDS, HIV or tuberculosis, drug or alcohol addiction, or a mental illness that may render you a danger to others.
Please note: If you were born in the USA you must travel on a US Passport unless you have formally relinquished American Citizenship and can prove that you have done so. This applies even to infants born in the U.S. but who have lived in the UK most of their lives, who are now UK citizens and have full British Passports! Under U.S. law anyone born in the U.S. is considered a U.S. Citizen unless they have formally relinquished their U.S. Citizenship. U.S. citizens must be in possession of a U.S. passport to enter or leave the United States. This is true even if you hold a passport from another country (eg UK). If your U.S. passport has been lost or stolen, or if it has expired, you must apply to replace it before travelling the the United States. If you are in any doubt please check with the US Embassy.
Please note: British Subjects and anyone with a criminal record (even if it is "spent"), anyone who has ever been arrested (even if subsequently not charged), anyone with a drug or alcohol addiction must apply for a visa before booking their holiday, or risk being refused admission upon arrival, or denied boarding by the airline.
'Indefinite' US Visas to end: As of 01 January 1995, indefinite US visas will only be valid for 10 years from the date on which they were issued. Thus anyone holding and 'indefinite' B1/B2 visa which was issued more than 10 years earlier will need to apply for a new visa, or, if they qualify for the Visa Waiver Pilot Programme, travel without a visa.
In addition to requirements for visa-free travel the immigration authorities may wish to see proof of sufficient funds upon your arrival to sustain you if you are planning a long stay. They may contact any dependants or friends residing in the US or Canada who are listed by you as your sponsors to provide accommodation and/or sustenance during your stay.
Passports:
Many passports contain a digital photograph which is printed on to the details page. Older passports often have a photograph which is glued or laminated on to the passport. Passports issued after the 26th October 2005 to passengers wishing to use the US Visa Waiver Programme must contain a digitally printed photograph. A photograph which is glued on laminated will not be acceptable for travel. Passports issued before the 26th October 2005 are exempt from this requirement. For further details of UK Passports, procedures and applications go to www.ukpa.gov.uk
Should you have any questions regarding visas and visa-free travel to the USA you should contact the United States Visa Unit on 09068 200292. Calls cost 60 pence per minute. Or access the US Embassy website at: www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_web/visa/niv/mrp.htm
For information regarding Canadian immigration regulations please call 0891 616644. Calls cost 60 pence per minute. For details on visa requirements see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/index.html Tourism Information Network http://www.travelcanada.ca British citizens holding 10 year British Passports do not require a visa to for travel to Canada or the Bahamas provided they fulfil the same requirements as described above for visa-free travel to the USA.
For further information regarding immigration to the Bahamas please call 01483 448900 or visit the Bahamas website at http://www.bahamasnet.com
For up-to-date information regarding your destination country and advice from the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office please visit www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo
It is the responsibility of the passenger to ensure that they are correctly documented for travel to their intended destination. If you are in any doubt please contact the relevant embassy. The information above regarding Visa Free travel is intended as a guide and should cover most visitors, however Worldchoice Travel USA cannot be held responsible for any changes to the entry rules by the offices of the governments concerned, nor can we cover every rule and aspect of immigration procedure. If in doubt - ask the embassy!
