Visa Services

Visa Waiver Program Updates

A) Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended
before 10/26/05 - no further requirements

B) Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended
between 10/26/05 and 10/25/06 - require a digital
photograph integrated into the data page or integrated
chip containing information from the data page

C) Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended
on or after 10/26/06 - require an integrated chip with
information from the data page

3. Any traveler whose regular passport does not meet the
biometric passport guidelines listed above must obtain a
visa or VWP-compliant passport to travel to the United
States under the Visa Waiver Program. Information on the
Visa Waiver Program and how to apply for a U.S visa is available
at www.travel.state.gov and/or www.unitedstatesvisas.gov or on
our Embassy web page, asuncion.usembassy.gov.  VWP passports
renewed or extended, whatever the circumstances, on or
after 10/26/05 must include a digital photo (or, as of
10/26/06, an integrated chip); otherwise, the traveler
will need to obtain a visa or VWP-compliant passport.  For
VWP countries which "automatically" extend all passports
(Italy, Luxembourg and perhaps others), the same guidance
applies (i.e. those passports extended after 10/26/05 must
include a digital photo or, as of 10/26/06 an integrated
chip).

4. As noted in ref A, temporary, emergency, official and
diplomatic passports are not subject to digital photo/chip
requirements noted in para 2 at this time, but must be
machine-readable to be valid for VWP travel.

5. German temporary/emergency passports will no longer be valid
for travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) as of May 1,2006. 
As of that date, holders of such passports must either obtain regular
German passports or apply for a U.S. visa in order to travel to the
United States.  Regular German passports remain valid for VWP travel.

Visa Waiver Program

E-Passport