The US Embassy in London is reminding travellers that effective today, April 1, 2016, UK Citizens must have an electronic passport (e-passport) to be eligible for visa-free travel to the United States.

An e-passport contains an electronic chip which holds the same information that is printed on the passport's data page. Among their many benefits, e-passports help to securely identify the traveller, provide protection against identity theft and protect privacy.

The embassy advises that if one does not have an e-passport and still wishes to travel visa-free, then he or she should apply for a new e-passport before the next visa-free trip to the US.