All applicants wanting short stay visas to the US will have to apply on-line from October 15.

However Bermudians and others who did not previously require a US visa, for instance Canadians and UK citizens, will still not be required to obtain a visa.

Travellers who do need visas and wish to apply at the US Consulate in Hamilton will be required to complete their applications on-line using the Electronic Visa Application Form or EVAF and then print them.

As of October 16, 2006, the Consulate will not accept hand-written or typed application forms or forms printed from the internet and then filled out by hand.

Applicants may start using the EVAF immediately, by logging on to http://evisaforms.state.gov or http:hamilton.usconsulate.gov. The form is accessible only on the Internet.

The format and the questions on the visa application have not changed. Visa applicants will still have to appear in person at the American Consulate to pay the necessary fees and have fingerprint scans done.

The EVAF can be completed and printed from your personal internet account or from the public library and internet cafes in Bermuda. Travellers who are not sure whether they require a visa or not should consult the Consulate?s website.

Most short-term visitors may travel on a passport alone.

For additional information, please refer to the American Consulate?s website at http://hamilton.usconsulate.gov or call 295 1342.

New rules go into effect on January 8, 2007, that will affect travel to the United States.

All travellers who fly or cruise to the United States from Bermuda ? US citizens, Bermudians, Canadians and others ? will be required to travel with machine-readable passports.

Air travel includes commercial flights, charter flights, private planes and corporate planes.

Private boats (sport fishing boats, yachts, pleasure sailing vessels, etc.) will be affected at a later date.

The new passport requirement is the result of the US Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.

The regulations will be extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel as of January 1, 2008.

The new rules are a change from prior travel requirements and will affect:

All US citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere, including Bermuda, who do not currently possess valid passports.

All Bermudians and most other foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States from Bermuda.

For more information, refer to the American Consulate?s website at http://hamilton.usconsulate.gov or call 295 1342.