Thousands of Irish people could be refused entry to US

Thousands of Irish people with a valid passport can still be refused entry to the US after a strict change in the country's entry requirements. From April 1, all travellers to America must have a biometric, or e-passport, or they won't be allowed into the country. Irish passport holders who have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), must also get a valid electronic passport. The US embassy in Dublin posted on their website: "The U.S. Embassy in Ireland wishes to remind all Irish passport holders who are able to travel to the United States via the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) that as of 01 April 2016, they must have a valid electronic passport." The passport must have a machine-readable zone on the biographic page and must be an electronic passport with a digital chip containing biometric information about the passport owner.