Irish holidaymakers should ‘familiarise themselves with US entry requirements’
THE Department of Foreign Affairs has updated its travel advice for transgender people heading to America after a major rule change.
Irish citizens travelling to the US must have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorisation or by obtaining an US visa.
ESTA and visa application forms to the US now require travellers to declare their sex.
In an update this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs noted: “The US authorities have indicated that this should reflect, what they term, the traveller’s biological sex at birth.
“Travellers who have an “X” marker on their passport or whose sex on their passport differs from sex assigned at birth should contact the Embassy of the United States of America in Dublin for further details on specific entry requirements.”
Ireland is the latest European country moving to update its travel guidance regarding how people’s gender is listed on their travel documents.
Denmark and Finland have also updated heir travel guidance for transgender people planning to visit the US last week.
Finland has warned its citizen that US authorities may deny entry if the gender on an applicant’s passports differs from the gender listed at birth.
Travellers who have an “X” marker on their passport or whose sex on their passport differs from sex assigned at birth should check with US authorities beforehand.
And the UK has also revised its travel guidance, noting that British citizens who fail to meet entry requirements when travelling to the US could face arrest or detention.
Germany has also informed its citizens that having an US visa or entry waiver does not guarantee entry into the country.
‘SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES’
The Department of Foreign Affairs advised Irish citizens intending to travel to the US should “familiarise themselves with US entry requirements.”
They added: “Previous convictions in the United States, misleading information about the purpose of your stay, entry without inspection, or even a slight overstay during travel can have serious consequences.
“Failure to adhere to US immigration law can lead to refusal of entry at the border, detention, and/or removal from the US.
“As an Irish citizen, if you are detained, you have the right to contact the Embassy of Ireland or the nearest Consulate General of Ireland.”
At his inauguration speech Trump announced that US government policy would only recognise two genders, male and female – ending the practice of providing a third gender option in some settings.
Trump described “a society that is colour-blind and merit based” as he set out his vision of a United States “respected again and admired again”.
Days later he signed an order to rid the military of what he called “transgender ideology” and effectively ban transgender troops.
Source: The Irish Sun