REGULATIONS AFFECTING SINGAPOREAN TRAVELLERS TO THE UNITED STATES

Pre-Entry Authorisation The US Congress has mandated that all citizens from Visa-Waiver Programme (VWP) countries - of which includes Singapore - bound for the US will have to apply for a pre-travel authorisation / approval through its Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) before they arrive at any US port of entry. This requirement becomes mandatory beginning 12 January 2009, but the ESTA will go online on 1 August 2008 for voluntary application (Note: The system will be available in other languages other than English from mid-October 2008). Once the requirement becomes mandatory 12 January 2009, visitors who are not in possession of an ESTA approval or relevant visa may be denied boarding or be denied entry at a US port of entry. An approved ESTA travel authorisation/approval is valid for up to 02 (two) years or until the traveller's passport expires (whichever comes first) and is valid for multiple entries into the US. The US Department of Homeland Security recommends that an ESTA approval be obtained no later than 72 hours before departure, although there will be a system to allow for the accommodation of last-minute and emergency travellers. Travellers with a valid visa will not require an ESTA. Full details of ESTA regulations including the relevant press release are available at all US Embassies' websites. For the US Embassy's website in Tokyo, visit http://tokyo.usembassy.gov.

Biometric (BioPass) or Machine Readable Passports Under the Patriot Act introduced by the United States of America (USA), from 1 Oct 2003, Singaporeans visiting USA under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) are required to have a passport which is machine-readable. Singaporeans travelling under the VWP are not required to apply for and obtain a visa to enter USA for trips not exceeding 90 days. Most Singaporeans are already holding passports that are machine-readable and can thus continue to enter USA without applying for a visa. However, there are some who may be presently holding valid non-machine readable Singapore passports earlier issued by our overseas missions. Those holding such non-machine readable passports would have to apply for a US visa before travelling to USA. In view of the above, the first step is for you to check whether your passport is in fact machine readable. To confirm if your passport is machine-readable, please check the following: 1) 2) 3) It is bar-coded on the bottom of the personal particulars page; It is issued after 2 January 1991; and The particulars are not hand-written.

More information of the above is obtainable from the website of the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority at www.ica.gov.sg Nevertheless, we would like to highlight that the grant of entry into a foreign country is the prerogative and sole discretion of the foreign immigration authority concerned based on its assessment / entry criteria. Hence, possession of a valid passport does not always guarantee entry to the foreign countries. For your additional information, most countries impose a minimum entry requirement of 6-month passport validity from the date of entry (although this is not applicable to travellers to Japan). It is thus not advisable to travel on a passport right up to its expiry date. You are reminded to renew your passport before its 6-month expiry for your travels. Note: There was a recent report that passports issued or extended after 26 Oct 06 are required to be biometric for the holder to enjoy visa waiver entry into US. Singapore started to issue biometric passports from 15 Aug 06 and such holders continue to enjoy the visa-waiver travel to US. If your passport was issued before 15 Aug 06 and has not been extended before, it is likely a machine readable passport and is still valid for travel to USA under visa-waiver too. However, it would still be advisable for you to enquire with the US Embassy or the airlines you are travelling on directly prior to the trip itself. If you are affected by the above or feel that you wish to apply for a biometric passport (biopass) instead, you may do so online or through us.