Goin to America...do I need one of the new passports!!

Scruff101

Hi, going to America in a few weeks. I have an old passport as in not one of the new ones with the chip. Are they still accepting the old versions of the passport until they all expire? Know this is probably a stupid question but just in case!!! Thanks!!

mikedragon32

Provided it's machine readable and in good condition, there should be no problem.

Run_to_da_hills

Expect a bit more grilling by the feds, the authorities are doing their best to make carrying the old ones as awkward as possible. Some airports offer you an express passport clearance service with the new ones FOC while make you pay for the same service with the old ones.

Ponster

Question : How do I know if I have a machine-readable passport?


Answer :

A machine-readable passport is a passport with two typeface lines printed at the bottom of the photo page, which can be read by machine.
The two lines at the bottom of a machine-readable passport, for example, would look like the following:

LINE 1: P COUNTRY LAST NAME << FIRST NAME < MIDDLE NAME <<<<<
LINE 2: PASSPORT NUMBER COUNTRY DOB<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Almost all Irish passports delivered from Dublin and Cork since the 1988 have been machine-readable (except for some handwritten passports).

Sources :

WIKI
US Embassy



Question : Do I need a biometric (chipped) passport for the states?

Answer :

No. Your passport just needs to be machine-readable.

Tabnabs

IF you're going in a few weeks it may be already too late. The current PS go slow has dragged the Passport Office into its black-hole and delayed things drastically. I know, I'm watching the postman everyday!

Scruff101

Great thanks for that, going in just over a week so was bit worried! My boyfriend has the newer passport so was just wondering but looks like mine is of the machine readable variety so I should be ok!!!