US likely to extend biometric passports deadline

The issue over biometric passport requirements for entry into the US had a positive turn as European Commission sources said yesterday Washington now seems to be changing its original position and extending a deadline for the implementation of biometric EU passports.

Up to 19 EU countries, including Malta, will fail to make the grade by next October, as demanded by the US.

The EU has been asking the US since March for a second extension, from October 2005 to August 2006, for the introduction of high-tech travel documents that will have to include digital photographs and finger prints.

The new extension will not really have an impact on Maltese travellers to the US this year because they still require a visa to travel there. This is not the case for travellers from the old member states as their countries form part of an agreement, called the Visa Waiver Programme, granting visa-free US entry. Since its accession, Malta has been insisting with the US that this agreement should be extended to the new member states. However, the US has not given in yet, citing strict security reasons.

With regard to biometric passports, only six EU member states - Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg and Sweden - are on track with moves to include digital photographs and fingerprints.

Technical problems have dogged both EU and US plans to have biometric passports this year. America itself is not expected to have biometric passports until the end of 2006.

According to an EU directive, all member states need to have biometric passports in place by August next year.