bar codes on passports

[chazza]

Someone told me that you have to have a barcode on a british passport to be able to get into USA, and that this is a recent thing. Does anyone have any experience of this or know if it is true?

[vehelpfulguy]

You need a Machine Readable Passport.

More here (or search on Machine Readable Passport)

http://www.ukpa.gov.uk/news/news.asp?strAreaNo=320&intelement=808

[dzug]

It's not a bar code as such, but just precisely printed/formatted characters and all British passports (other than a few issued at obscure embassies overseas) have had it for years. It's a (fairly) recent requirement by the US.

[Trotbot]

If you do not have a MRP then the US Visa Waiver program cannot be applied and an entry visa must be obtained before travelling. Your passport almost certainly is an MRP - you can tell as the photo pages has chevrons and your name down the edge.

[Stu in USA]

The only "recent" changes regarding entry into the USA is that when passing through Immigration they take your fingerprints and I also remember being photographed. Just takes more time, which can be real pain, if you have connecting flight to catch!!