Visa Waiver Program

MACHINE-READABLE PASSPORT REQUIREMENT

Effective October 1, 2003, nationals of all countries in the Visa Waiver Program (list follows) wishing to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program must present a machine-readable passport issued by their government.

Some nationals of these countries still hold valid passports issued prior to the introduction of the more secure machine-readable passport. To use these passports for travel to the U.S. for tourist or business reasons on or after October 1, 2003, the traveler will be required to obtain a U.S. nonimmigrant visa.

There will be no change in entry procedures under the Visa Waiver Program for holders of passports that are machine-readable from Visa Waiver countries.

Travelers with machine-readable passports are advised that families and groups should obtain an individual passport for each traveler, including infants. This is because machine-readable passports generally have biographic data for only one traveler. All others whose names are not included in the machine-readable zone may be denied visa-free entry into the U.S.

Those nationals of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program who prefer to continue using their old-style passports are urged to plan well in advance and apply for their visas early. The nonrefundable visa application fee is currently USD 100. Please call the consular section at 498 03 35 to arrange a time to submit your application.

Information regarding visa issuance procedures in Azerbaijan and visa application forms may be found on the Embassy's website at baku.usembassy.gov. Further information regarding U.S. visa policy and procedures may be found at http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/ .