Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received a query from a person (details supplied) in County Meath regarding the status of their passport; if he will investigate the status of this passport as this person has encountered difficulties on entering the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20505/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The person in question contacted my Department last year regarding difficulties she was encountering when travelling to the USA. My Department confirmed that she held a passport which is valid until 2014 which should have met the requirements of the US visa waiver programme. I understand that the difficulties she has encountered in travelling to the USA have arisen because her identity details match those of a different individual on a US watch-list. On the advice of the US Embassy in Dublin, she applied for, and was issued with a ten year visa. Despite this, I understand that the problem has not been resolved.

Entry into the United States is a matter for the US Department of Homeland Security. My Department, having contacted the person concerned, is making further enquiries with the US authorities to see if a solution can be found. My Department will contact the person in question again shortly.