PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION
Information Section

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Address: The American Center, P.O.Box 32053 Lusaka,Zambia.
Phone: (260)-1-227-993/4; Fax: (260)-1-226523; E-mail: embpas@zamnet.zm

REMINDER TO ALL NATIONALS OF VISA WAIVER PROGRAM COUNTRIES

Visa Waiver Program (VWP) country passports issued after October 26, 2004, and which are not biometrically enabled will not be valid for travel to the United States without a visa. Nationals of the 27 VWP countries (Zambia is not one of these) who possess passports issued on or before October 25, 2004, may continue to travel to the United States without obtaining a visa, provided that the passport is machine-readable.

Nationals of VWP countries may travel to the United States for up to 90 days to conduct business or tourism without a visa.

The requirements regarding machine-readable and biometric passports are not intended to discourage VWP nationals from traveling to the United States. Rather, this is the next step in increasing security at U.S. Ports of Entry for the safety of U.S. citizens and our foreign guests.

The United States continues to welcome international visitors and recognizes their contributions to our country and society.

Biometric passports are an effective addition to current techniques used to verify the identity of travelers and will further international efforts to counter terrorism, identity, fraud, and criminal activity.

The use of biometrics will ensure a higher standard of identity verification using human traits to confirm that a passport belongs to the person carrying it. By September 30, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will be enrolling VWP travelers in US-VISIT, DHS' automatic entry/exit system. Nationals of VWP countries who enter the U.S. with a visa are already subject to US-VISIT.

Enrollment entails collection of a photograph and electronic capture of two finger scans using an inkless, digital finger scanning device in a fast, convenient process.

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For more information or comments, please contact Dehab Ghebreab, Director of the American Center, on
Tel: (260)-1-227993/4 ; Fax:  (260)-1-226523 ; E-Mail: embpas@zamnet.zm
All visa queries sent by e-mail should be directed to ConsularLusaka@state.gov
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