Travel Industry Successful in Extending Passport Deadline

August 12, 2004

Travel Industry Successful in Extending Passport Deadline
August 12, 2004 – President Bush signed a bill on Tuesday that extends the deadline for the Visa Waiver Program by one additional year.

The 27 Visa Waiver countries were originally given an Oct. 26, 2004 deadline to begin producing new passports containing biometric technology. Concerns arose that very few of those countries would be able to meet the deadline. With so many countries likely to miss it, the requirement posed a risk to the U.S. travel industry and would have significantly reduced inbound travel to the United States from many Visa Waiver Program countries.

Many within the travel industry, including NTA, expressed support of the Bush Administration proposal to extend the deadline.

NTA praises the quick action taken to secure travel experiences for all inbound travelers to the United States.