By Debbie McGoldrick

A couple of news items with regards to U.S. passports — all visitors entering the U.S. as part of the visa waiver program must do so with a machine readable passport starting on June 26. Legislation passed in the wake of September 11 required travelers taking part in the program — which allows for a 90-day stay in the U.S. without having to obtain an entry visa — to have the required passports by October 1, 2003.

However, the vast majority of the 27 visa waiver-eligible countries — Ireland included — did not have the passport technology in place at that time, and requested an extension from the U.S. government. A new deadline of October 26, 2004 was granted, and citizens who still didn’t have the required passport at that time were granted one-time exemptions to enter the U.S. under the waiver program.

That exemption ends on June 26. Those who do not have the proper passports will either have to obtain one, or apply for an entry visa at a U.S. consular post.

In other news, those looking to renew a U.S. passport can now do so using online technology provided by the State Department. Passport applications can be completed online, and then printed for submission using required procedures. The application itself cannot be submitted electronically.

To complete the form online, go to http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds11/ds11_842.html.