IMMIGRANT VISAS

Visa Waiver Travel To The United States Requires Machine-Readable Passports(August 2003)

Starting October 1, 2003, travelers entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must present a machine-readable passport (MRP) in order to be admitted.  Any VWP traveler without an MRP must obtain a nonimmigrant visa prior to travel.  The new requirement affects only passport holders of VWP countries.  Travelers from non-VWP countries with valid U.S. visas are not required to present an MRP for admission to the United States.  Because the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is not a participant in the VWP, there are no changes in passport or visa requirements for DRC citizens, all of whom must obtain nonimmigrant visas in order to enter the United States.

On and after October 1, 2003, U.S. immigration inspectors may deny entry to any traveler attempting to enter through the VWP who does not possess an MRP.  The new requirement is mandated by the U.S.A. Patriot Act of 2001.  Citizens of Belgium have been required to present an MRP for visa-free entry since May 15, 2003.  Countries participating in the VWP have long been required to have a program for the issuance of MRPs, however the Patriot Act makes the use of such passports mandatory for visa-free entry.  It applies to both adults and children, including infants, as well as to all categories of passport: regular, official and diplomatic.

Citizens of VWP countries are permitted to enter the United States for general business or tourist purposes for a maximum of 90 days without a visa.  The 27 countries currently in the VWP 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.

A machine-readable passport can generally be identified by the presence at the bottom of the biographical page of two printed typeface lines that can be read by machine.  These lines electronically provide some of the information contained on the upper part of the biographical page.  If a traveler has any doubt as to whether a passport is machine-readable, he or she should check with the passport-issuing authority for that country.

Machine-readable passports enhance security as they can be scanned at entry and exit points to verify the integrity of the passport data.  Because MRPs facilitate rapid and precise identification, they enable faster processing of travelers at ports of entry.  They also provide for advance passenger information so that border inspectors can do much of their processing before a flight arrives.

Citizens of VWP countries who do not possess MRPs and who are residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo may apply for a nonimmigrant visa at the U.S. Embassy, Kinshasa, Avenue des Aviateurs, no. 310.  The entrance to the Consular Section is located on Rue Dumi, opposite St. Anne’s Church.  All applicants must pay the worldwide U.S. visa application fee of $100 U.S. and appear at the Consular Section for an interview.  Interviews are by appointment only and can usually be scheduled within two weeks.  Applicants may telephone 880-3724 between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to schedule an appointment and obtain additional instructions.

Further information on the Visa Waiver Program can be found at the Department of State Visa Services web site at http://www.travel.state.gov