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France Meets U.S. Requirements for E-Passports

May 4, 2006 - The Department of Homeland Security announced today that new digital passports issued by France are compliant with U.S. technical requirements for countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

French e-Passports are fully compatible with U.S. e-Passport readers. They also comply with digital photograph requirements that the United States put into effect for VWP travelers on October 26, 2005. Travelers with e-Passports issued by France will immediately be entitled to enter the United States without a visa if they are otherwise eligible for the program. Individuals holding French passports that are not electronic and issued after October 26, 2005, will continue to require a visa.

An e-Passport contains an embedded, contactless integrated circuit chip that stores a passport holder’s biographic information and biometrics, such as digitized photographs and finger scans. Congress has required that all of the 27 countries participating in the VWP issue fully compliant e-Passports by October 26, 2006.

E-Passports are part of a multi-layered approach to reduce the widespread use of fraudulent passports without impeding the flow of legitimate trade and travel to the United States. With e Passports, visitors traveling to the United States under the VWP – approximately 13 million people per year – can transmit their biographic and biometric information quickly, conveniently and securely to readers at U.S. ports of entry. Travelers applying for admission under the VWP are allowed to enter the United States for up to 90 days for business or pleasure without obtaining a non-immigrant visa.

Through the International Civil Aviation Organization, VWP countries, including France, spent the last few years working with the United States to test and perfect technical standards making e Passports interoperable with U.S. readers.

Visitors who wish to verify whether their passport meets the requirements and deadlines for VWP travelers, can go to www.dhs.gov or contact a U.S. consular office in their country.

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