Travelers to Get U.S. Passport Exemption

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON - Millions of visitors from Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and much of Europe are getting a temporary reprieve from a new U.S. requirement that they carry passports that can be read by scanning machines.



All were supposed to have the passports starting Tuesday. But the Homeland Security Department announced Friday that visitors from those countries who haven't gotten the new passports will be granted a one-time exemption.


Anyone granted an exemption will be notified that if they don't have a new passport the next time they visit they may be refused entry.


Border and Transportation Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson said the new policy will help make sure that people's first experience in the United States is positive. He said the rule will be reviewed after six months.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&ncid=693&e=10&u=/ap/20041022/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/border_security_passports

Looks like no bad folks ever come from these countries?? :eyes:

[rooboy]

1. But we still get the rubber glove up the ass, right ? n/t

[da_chimperor]

2. Yup, it's how we say 'Welcome to our country' in Amerika n/t

[Kellanved]

3. snarf

Most airlines won't take you aboard without a modern passport and the fingerprint/mugshot routine destroys any good experience one might have otherwise. It is actually not that big an issue: in emergencies a magnet band is taped on the old passport to make it machine-readable.



The passport deadline gets extended on and on since last year - rumor has it that the actual reason is that the US has no way to issue new passports the way European countries do.