PLANS to toughen up US immigration rules for UK
visitors have been branded a “barrier to travel”.
The attack on the proposal by Federation of Tour
Operators secretary-general Alan Flook comes as the US government debates
bringing in new security measures.
Changes involve updating the visa-waiver programme,
which allows holidaymakers to visit the US for 90 days after they have filled
out an I-94 immigration form.
US politicians are now considering allowing the I-94
scheme to remain in place only with countries working towards0 introducing more
secure passports by October next year.
The new passports would contain biometric data – such
as fingerprint and eye scans – and anyone entering the US after October 2003 on
an I-94 form would need their passport to contain the scans.
Flook said: “This is a barrier to travel. If it is
just the US bringing this in, it will be a hindrance as biometric testing
should be brought in worldwide.”
If new rules are passed, as expected to occur later
this year, UK arrivals face the prospect of getting a visa or ensuring they
have one of the new passports.
Flook’s concerns have been highlighted to US
politicians by Travel Industry Association of America chief executive William
Norman. He told a hearing into immigration changes the US will not have the
resources to start issuing visas and delays would cause people to travel
elsewhere.
“People would vote with their feet and wallets to
travel to other destinations, many of which do not require a visa for entry,”
Norman told an immigration committee.
Virgin Holidays, the biggest UK operator to the US
with 300,000 annual passengers, will be at the forefront of lobbying against
dropping the I-94.
Director of sales and
marketing Kathryn Street said: “Changes would have an enormous impact on the US
economy and the practicalities of enforcement would be a nightmare.”