Making Sure The Honeymoon Isn't Over : Newlyweds Advised to Avoid Post-Dated Passports if Travelling to the U.S.

14 January 2009

New Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) Recognizes Only Current - Not Post-dated - Passports

Travelers engaged to be married and planning to use a post-dated passport with a new surname to travel to the America for their honeymoon should be aware of changes in travel procedures that could affect their trip.

The Embassy is seeing a small number of women traveling under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) who are trying to use post-dated passports when applying for the new Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), now required before departure to the U.S. These passports include the new married name of the traveler but don't become valid until after the date of marriage.

ESTA - which will replace the green, I-94W cards that are completed en route to the U.S. - does not recognize post-dated passports. Travelers must enter onto the ESTA on-line form numbers of passports that are currently valid. Post-dated passports may not be used. Therefore, travelers can apply for the ESTA only when the post-dated passport becomes valid. While ESTA can accommodate last-minute applications, honeymooners may want to consider obtaining a new passport in their married name after their trip.

As of January 12, all nationals and citizens of the 35 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries - including the UK - are required by law to get travel authorization prior to boarding the airplane. It's strongly recommended - but not required - that travelers apply for ESTA approval at least 72 hours before departure. The U.S. Government does not charge a fee for ESTA.

Currently, more than 30,000 travelers are registering with ESTA each day. All UK citizens planning to travel to the United States in the future are encouraged to apply now. Travelers don't need to have specific travel plans in order to register. Registration is valid for two years or the life of the traveler's passport, whichever is shorter. So far, 99.6% of those registering have been approved - most within four seconds.

Additional information about ESTA may be found at http://www.cbp.gov/esta .

For more information and to arrange interviews, media may contact presslon@state.gov .