The passport and visa requirements for entering Puerto Rico are the same as for entering the USA.

Passports

Valid passport required by all; validity varies - for most countries it is required for the duration of the stay; check with the Embassy (see Passport/Visa Information).

New Requirements for Travellers: The US Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travellers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. In order to facilitate the implementation of this requirement, the Administration is proposing to complete it in phases following a proposed timeline, which will be published in the Federal Register in the near future. This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected by the implementation of this requirement.

For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html).

Note

(a) For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program (see below), passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry (except for nationals of Andorra, Brunei and San Marino, who must hold passports valid for at least six months beyond the intended date of departure from the USA).

(b) All travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program now require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.

(c) Passports issued on or after 26 October 26 2005, will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 requires a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).

Visas

Required by all except the following:

(a) Citizens of countries under the Visa Waiver Program (see 2. below);

(b) 1. Nationals of Bermuda and Canada provided holding valid passports;

(c) Nationals of Mexico provided holding a valid passport and a US Border Crossing Card.

Note: (a) Landed Immigrants of Canada and British residents of Bermuda who are citizens of, and have valid passports from, Commonwealth countries or Ireland are no longer eligible to enter the USA without a visa. (b) The Transit Without Visa (TWOV) and International-to-International (ITI) transit programs have been indefinitely suspended as of 2 August 2003. All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are now required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (see below).

Visa Waiver Program

(a) 2. The following nationals, upon presentation of a valid passport (see Note above), do not require a visa under the Visa Waiver Program: Andorra, Australia, Brunei, EU countries (except nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Slovak Republic, who do require a visa), Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Singapore and Switzerland.

To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport (see Note above), for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days.

If entering the USA by air or sea, passengers must hold a return or onward ticket or itinerary (if onward tickets terminate in Bermuda, Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands, travellers must be legal permanent residents of those countries), hold a completed form I-94W and enter aboard an air or sea carrier participating in the Visa Waiver Program (lists of participating air or sea carriers are available from most travel agents or the carriers themselves).

If entering the USA by land from Canada or Mexico, hold a completed form I-94W* issued by Immigration at the port of entry and a US$6 fee (only payable in US Dollars).

Note*: (a) Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form. (b) Members of Visa Waiver Program countries who want to work, study or remain more than 90 days in the USA must apply for a visa before travelling, as should those who have been previously refused a visa, have a criminal record, or are in any way ineligible for an unrestricted visa. (c) 3. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. Persons unsure about visa requirements (including those defined in 'Restricted Entry' above) should contact the US Consulate General or the Visa Department of the US Embassy (see Passport/Visa Information).

Types of visa and cost

Tourist, Business, Transit and Student. Other types of visa are also available, contact the US Embassy (website: www.usembassy.org.uk) for further details. The visa application fee is $100 (currently equivalent to US$108), regardless of whether the visa is issued or denied and regardless of the duration of the visa or entries required. The Embassy will provide a paying-in slip, which is attached to the application form DS-156. The fee must be paid in cash at a bank prior to submitting a visa application to the US Embassy, and the bank will issue a receipt of payment, which must be attached to the application form. The fee receipt, once paid, is valid for one year. Some nationals may also have to pay a reciprocal visa issuance fee - details are available from the State Department (website: www.travel.state.gov).

Validity

Visas may be used for travel to the USA until the date it expires, or if marked 'valid indefinitely' for up to 10 years. Some visas are valid for multiple entries. The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry but is generally six months; there is, however, no set time.

Note

(a) The Embassy no longer issues visas valid indefinitely. Any new B-1/B-2 visa issued will be valid for a maximum of 10 years. (b) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder's passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality.

Application to

Visa branches at Consulates General. Those residing in England, Scotland or Wales should apply to the Embassy in London (see Passport/Visa Information).

Application requirements

(a) Completed visa application form DS-156 and form DS-157, if required. (b) Valid passport (validity dependant upon nationality) and with at least one blank page. (c) One recent passport-size photo. (d) Embassy copy of the fee receipt endorsed by the bank. (e) Evidence of sufficient funds to cover all expenses while in the USA. (f) Documentation of intent to return to country of residence. (g) Supporting documents (such as purpose of visit) and/or issuance fees, where relevant. (h) Stamped self-addressed, special delivery envelope, for return by post. Business: (a)-(h) and, (i) Evidence of intended business activities in the USA, such as a letter from their employer.

Important Note: All applicants aged 14 to 79 are required to schedule an appointment for an interview (tel: (09055) 444 546; Mon-Fri 0900-1600). Applicants under the age of 14 and those 80 and over may be eligible to apply for a visa by mail. Also note Restricted Entry.

Note

Additional processing requirements and information are required for: (a) males aged 16-45; (b) nationals of Cuba, Iran, Korea (Dem Rep), Libya, Sudan and the Syrian Arab Republic. (c) nationals of China (PR), Northern Cyprus, the Russian Federation, Somalia and Vietnam. Please note that requirements are subject to change at short notice and any applicant should check with the US Embassy (website: www.usembassy.org.uk).

Working days required

Varies with each embassy; interview appointment waiting time is usually 25 to 30 days (27 days for London Embassy), and visa processing time is usually five to seven working days (three days for London Embassy). It is important to allow sufficient time for processing the visa, and final travel plans should not be made until a visa has been issued. Applications lodged during the peak travel season may take longer.

Temporary residence

The law in the USA is complex for those wishing to take up residence. More information may be obtained from the Embassy (see Passport/Visa Information).

Passport/Visa Information

Embassy of the United States of America in the UK

24 Grosvenor Square, London W1A 1AE, UK

Tel: (020) 7499 9000.

Website: www.usembassy.org.uk

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1730.

Consulates in: Belfast and Edinburgh.

American Embassy in the UK - Visa Services

Tel: (09068) 200 290 (24-hour visa information line; calls cost 60p per minute, UK only; identical information is available on the embassy website at no cost) or (09055) 444 546 (operator-assisted visa information)

Most visits to Puerto Rico are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Tel: (0845) 850 2829.

Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State

Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel