Biometric Passports
The United States Government has pushed back the implementation of rules regarding all travelers from visa waiver states to carry so-called biometric passports. This new announcement stipulates that the date of implementation will be pushed back to October 2006, instead of October 2005 as earlier planned. When implemented, the US will not require the full biometric data as originally stipulated, initially only a digital photograph will be required.
The biometric passports should not be confused with the electronically readable passports that are now required for travel to the US. Iceland has since 1999 issued electronically readable passports, but has not yet started issuing biometric passports.
