THE US government is expected to delay its
controversial biometric passport requirements for two years after secretary of
state Colin Powell admitted tourism would “suffer gravely”.
In a letter to Congress, Powell and US homeland
security secretary Tom Ridge warned tourists would go elsewhere unless the
passport rules were pushed back. That would cost the US “billions of dollars”
in lost revenue, the letter said.
Under the requirements, passports issued after October
26 this year will have to contain biometric information. But the UK and a host
of other countries are not due to start issuing biometric passports for two
years.
Powell asked for the scheme to be delayed until
October 26 2006. People with passports issued within that timeframe will have
to apply for a visa to enter the US.
Visit Florida UK director Colin Brodie said: “Common
sense must prevail. I don’t think the October 26 deadline will happen.”
ABTA said a change of heart from the US would be a “welcome
move”.