2005 Press Releases
Information on Visa Requirements for Tourism and Business Travelers
All countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program, such as France, are required by U.S. law to ensure their passports are as secure as possible in order to participate in visa-free travel. U.S. law has required that participating countries issue passports with biometric information on an electronic chip, and/or digital photos as of October 26, 2005.
France has started to produce electonic passports. However, people traveling to the United States for business or tourism with a French passport issued on or after October 26, 2005 that does not have an electronic chip will need to apply for a U.S. visa.
Please note that business and tourism travelers with passports issued before October 26, 2005 are not affected by the new law. Conditions for them remain the same: bearers of machine-readable passports, issued before October 26, 2005, may travel visa-free to the United States; bearers of older, non-machine readable passports will need to apply for a U.S. visa.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Question: How do I know if I have a machine-readable passport?
Answer: Compare your passport to this picture. If your passport resembles the photo, you have a machine-readable passport. If it was issued before October 26, 2005, you may travel visa-free to the United States for business or tourism purposes.
Question: How do I know if I have an older, non-machine readable passport?
Answer: Compare your passport to the picture. If your passport does not resemble the photo, you have an older, non-machine readable passport. You will need to apply for a U.S. visa.
Question: I have a valid but old, non-machine readable passport. What must I do to travel to the United States?
Answer: You must apply for a U.S. visa.
Question: I will obtain a passport after October 26, 2005 that is not likely to have an electronic chip. I understand I will need a U.S. visa. How do I obtain a visa?
Answer: Make an appointment with the U.S. Embassy at least two weeks before your intended travel to the United States.
Question: I already have a U.S. visa. Do I need to change my passport?
Answer: You may travel to the U.S. with a valid U.S. visa on any type of passport. Check the validity of your visa by looking at its expiration date. The expiration date is printed on the visa on the right hand side about halfway down the visa.
Question: I’m a student and I am going to study in the United States. I have a machine-readable passport issued before October 25, 2005. Do I need a visa?
Answer: Students, as well as some other types of travelers, such as journalists, need to have special visas. The date and type of passport is not important in this case.