Travel to the USA

Visa requirements 
Advance Passenger Information 
US Visit Programme 

Visa requirements for travel to the USA

If you are travelling to or through the USA, you will need to be aware of the country's entry requirements for non-USA nationals.

Visa requirements and the Visa Waiver Programme

With effect from 26 October 2004, the United States Customs and Border Protection authorities introduced new regulations which require that all passengers intending to travel to the USA under the Visa Waiver Programme* (VWP) be in possession of a valid Machine Readable Passport (MRP).

This regulation was further extended from 26 October 2005 requiring that all passports issued on or after this date must also include a digital photograph in order to remain eligible for visa free travel. Alternatively you must obtain a USA visa prior to travel. Passports issued by visa waiver countries prior to 26 October 2005 need not contain a digital photograph to qualify for visa free travel providing they are machine-readable. View the Visa Waiver Programme time-lines here.

More about applying for a US Visa

This can take several weeks, so we strongly recommend that:

• All Visa Waiver nationals who hold a non-machine readable passport should obtain a Machine-Readable Passport before their next visit to the USA
• Children travelling on their parents’ passport should get their own Machine Readable Passport before their next visit to the USA

What is a Machine Readable Passport (MRP)?
This has the holder's personal details, e.g. name, date of birth, nationality and their passport number contained in two lines of text at the base of the photo page. This text can be read by machine.

Is a Machine Readable Passport the 'new style' passport versus the 'old style passport'?
Most of the 'new style' British passports issued in the UK since 1988 will be machine readable, but those issued outside the UK may not be.

How long has the UK been issuing MRPs?
Since 1988. However around 200,000 British passports issued overseas may not be machine-readable.

How long have British children been required to hold their own passport?
Since 1999. However a number of children will have been added to their passport’s prior to that date.

When did other Visa Waiver countries begin to issue MRPs?
Several countries, e.g. France, Italy and Portugal began issuing MRP's much later than the United Kingdom so it is possible that a large number of travellers from these countries may not hold a MRP and may be unaware of the new requirement.

When did bmi join the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP)?
We joined the Visa Waiver Pilot Programme (which became permanent in October 2000) as soon as we introduced our North Atlantic services. After the events of 11 September 2001, the Patriot Act has resulted in enhanced security requirements.

Which nationalities are currently entitled to use the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP)?
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

What are the other Visa Waiver Programme requirements?

• You must be travelling for business, pleasure or in transit through the US 
• You must only be staying in the USA for less than 90 days
• You must hold a return or onward ticket (or e-ticket receipt)
• You must present a completed I-94W form (arrival record) to the authorities on arrival in the USA - this must include the address and zip code for where you are staying (these forms can be obtained at check- in or on board the aircraft). When leaving the US, it is important to surrender your I-94 form (departure record) in order that your departure is properly recorded. This will ensure that your next visit is trouble free.

You may wish to check whether you are eligible to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Programme here.

Are there any useful sources of Visa Waiver information?
Visit the US State Department website.
Visit the US Embassy in London website.

More comprehensive information about travel to the US may be found here.

Advance Passenger Information for the US

The United States, as well as many other countries such as Canada and Spain requires bmi (and all other airlines) to collect and supply Advance Passenger Information commonly referred to as APIS. Accordingly, we are legally obliged to collect passenger information from all customers (including infants) who are travelling to, from and through the United states in order to provide electronic transmission to the US Department for Homeland Security (DHS), Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Additional APIS information can be found here.

In addition to APIS data, the USA requires direct access to our Passenger Name Record (PNR) data.  This is a copy of your electronic record created by us for the purpose of recording your flight reservations and which may include other information such as, but not limited to contact details and method of payment.  Follow the link for a more comprehensive explanation about the transfer of PNR data to the US authorities.

US visitor checks

If you're travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme or are a non-immigrant US visa holder you'll be required to enroll in the US-VISIT programme on entry to the US.

US-Visit forms part of a programme of measures introduced to improve safety and security for both visitors to the US and US citizens.

US-Visit procedures include all visitors travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) arriving at both air and sea ports of entry into the USA.

What does the US-VISIT programme involve?

US-VISIT requires the collection of unique data - in this case a scan of an individual's unique fingerprint by an ink-less scanner, in addition to a digital photograph. These details are collected by an immigration inspector during the normal immigration inspection process on arrival into the United States and will be repeated on each and every entry thereafter. The fingerprint is verified and stored on a US government computer together with the digital photograph.

All ports of entry are equipped with this scanning facility, and until recently in some locations it was necessary to record your departure from the US by providing your finger prints once again upon exit, normally by presenting your passport and finger prints at the designated self service kiosks located in the departure concourse.  

Effective 06 May 2007, international visitors are no longer required to use the US-VISIT exit kiosks when departing from the United States. However, non-US citizens who completed the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) form I-94, Arrival and Departure Record must surrender their departure form to an airline representative when departing the United States. This form is normally collected when you check-in at the airport or as you board the flight where self service check-in kiosk facilities are available.

The Department of Homeland Security plans to replace the current two-fingerprint scanners with new 10-fingerprint scanners at all U.S. ports of entry over the next year.

On 29 Nov 07, Homeland Security began the initial transition at Washington Dulles International Airport and now includes Atlanta, Boston & Chicago O'Hare. In early 2008, more U.S. airports will also collect additional fingerprints from international visitors. They include:

• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (Detroit, Mich.)
• George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport (Houston, Texas)
• Miami International Airport (Miami, Fla.)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (Orlando, Fla.)
• San Francisco International Airport (San Francisco, Calif.)

For more information on 10-fingerprint scanning.

If you'd like more information about this, please visit the US Department of Homeland Security.