EMMA DEIGHAN talks to local US Consular officials about the passport and Visa issues facing prospective travellers to the other side of the Atlantic

IF YOU'RE planning on travelling to America, can you travel under the Visa Waiver Programme - a scheme allowing you entrance into the United States for less than 90 days without having to apply for a visa?

This is just one of the many key questions confused travellers will be asking themselves this peak holiday season as they sit down to plan a transatlantic journey. However Consul General of the American Embassy in London, John Caulfield came to Belfast recently to highlight some crucial information you should know before taking a holiday to the States.

Speaking to Northern Ireland Travel News, he urged all those thinking about travelling to, or who have booked for travel to America, to ensure they qualify for Visa-free travel.

He said: "You can travel into America under the Visa Waiver Programme if you are staying in America for leisure purposes, for less than 90 days and your passport is bio-metric or machine readable and you're a UK/Irish citizen.

The majority of travellers from here already have machine readable passports. These include e-Passports that were issued or renewed on or after October 26, 2006. This passport has a computer chip that stores information on the passport holder. Also accepted are passports issued or renewed between October 26, 2005 - October 25, 2006 which include a digital photo printed on the data page. A digital photo is one that is printed on the page, not a photo that is glued or laminated into the passport. And finally, machine readable passports are acceptable. These are those issued or renewed before October 26, 2005 which have a 'zone' featuring two lines of text as letters, numbers and chevrons (<<<) at the bottom of the personal information page, along with the bearers picture.

"Your passport must be valid for travel too while you are there. My main advice would be that people check before booking a holiday, especially nowadays when so many travellers reserve flights online that are non-refundable bookings," continued Mr Caulfield.

To check that you qualify for Visa-free travel, you can log on to london.usembassy.gov or london.usembassy.gove/nitreland/index.html.

The Consul General added that although 4.5million people travel to the United States annually under the Visa Waiver Programme, prospective travellers shouldn't assume that they are able to.

People who need to apply for a Visa are those with non machine-readable passports; those who are travelling for reasons other than business or tourism (this does not include productive labour or services); those who have ever been arrested anywhere in the world; even if not convicted; those with a criminal record; those who have ever been refused entry to the United States before; those who have been deported from America; those who have previously overstayed the 90 days permitted under the VWP, or the period of stay authorised on a previous visa, those who are children on a parent's passport, those who are a British Subject, British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person, or a British Dependent Territories Citizen.

Applicants aged 14-79 must schedule an appointment for a personal interview if they discover they need a Visa and should be aware that waiting time for interviews can be around 30 days during peak travel season, Rebecca Pasini, Consul of the US Consulate General in Belfast, told NI Travel News.

The Visa Waiver programme was introduced in America in 1986, as a means of improving security and also preventing ID fraud, that is now impossible with the new photo-embedded, machine-readable, biometric passports.

It means, if you're travelling to the USA under the programme, you will have to fill in a form, more than likely on the aircraft before you land - answering questions about your intended stay in the USA.

Both Ms Pasini and Mr Caulfield advise strongly that you know your place of stay, have an address at hand to fill in on the form so as to avoid any complications at Customs when you land.

"People need to read the form fully and understand what they're signing," added Mr Caulfield. "Always answer truthfully."

When reaching Customs, travellers will have fingerprints taken which will reveal their previous American travel record (if they've been in the country before).

Those who have travelled to America before on a UK Passport, yet intend to travel on a recently purchased Irish Passport now may come under extra scrutiny added Mr Caulfield.

"It's always better to establish one identity, but you can explain that you are a dual national.

"However, I would advise using one passport and sticking to it," said the Consul General, who also urges parents to purchase separate passports for children instead of applying for Visas.

"You will be asked things like; how long are you staying in America for, what is your purpose of stay, where are you staying such as at a family member's home, a hotel etc.

"There are 50 million people travelling through US airports. Eight million Visas are issued worldwide, 150,000 of which are issued in the UK," he continued.

There are two places where you can apply for a Visa, The American Embassy in London or The US Consulate in Belfast.

Added Ms Pasini, who deals with all Visa applications in Belfast: "We get around 50 people every morning during peak times while London deals with around 800.

"After the interview, should the candidate be successful, the standard process period is around two working days, perhaps a little longer in London."

Although many people may feel it's a nerve-wracking process due the the nature of the request, Rebecca added: "It's like everything you've to ask for, it can be daunting but it's not a painful process.

"The interview can take around two hours and many problems are generally resolved but the key thing to remember is time. Plan well in advance."

It is wise to know that The American Consul in Belfast deals not only with Visa applications from those living in Northern Ireland, but also many people from the UK mainland, for whom travelling to Belfast is much more convenient than travelling to London.

If you have any questions about your eligibility for visa free travel, log on to the websites listed earlier or telephone: 09068 200 290 (60p per minute - recorded message) or 09042 450100 (£1.20 per minute - live operator).

Alternatively write to: Visa Section, American Consulate General, Danesfort House, 223 Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5GR enclosing a stamped, self-addressed envelope for reply, or email consularbelfast@state.gov