I've heard you now need a visa for America, is this true?

The US is demanding all passports issued after 26 October this year contain biometric data (digital photo, fingerprint or iris-recognition pattern).

However, the earliest that biometric data could be included in British passports is the middle of next year. If your passport expires after 26 October and before the new passports are introduced you will need to apply for a visa to enter the US.

Current passports that are machine readable and have not expired are fine, as long as you qualify for the visa waiver programme - ie, you have no criminal convictions and are staying for less than 90 days.

How can I get a visa?

If you do need one, you must arrange an interview with an immigration officer at the US embassy (020 7499 9000) in London. You may be asked to prove you plan to return to the UK, by showing you have a bank account and a permanent address here, though cases will be judged individually. Visas cost £65 for UK residents. Anyone entering the US on a visa must have their fingerprints scanned and a digital photograph taken, a security measure brought in on 5 January.

What other new measures are there?

You may be told not to queue for the toilet on the plane. The US Transporta tion Security Administration has told airlines that passengers should not be allowed to congregate in groups in US airspace.

A spokesman for wAmerican Airlines (08457 789789) said: 'This is something the US airlines have been doing for a couple of years without a problem. Pilots ask passengers during their announcement if they could not gather near the toilets. This helps the cabin crew do their job as well as improve security. It is up to the cabin crew to use their discretion and professional judgment when enforcing the rule.'

With the recent groundings of flights to Washington, should I prepare for big delays?

The British Airways flight BA223o from Heathrow to Washington was delayed five times last week over terrorism fears, but a spokeswoman for the airline said the delays were on that flight only, and its other two daily Washington flights were unaffected. 'There is no way of knowing if there will be further delays. Safety and security is paramount, and we wouldn't let passengers travel if there was any risk.'

Do I need to get to the airport earlier?

Security measures are stricter since 11 September, but it should not take longer to get through checks. The main changes are that all luggage is now scanned and sharp implements are not allowed on board. Most airlines recommend checking in at least two hours before a flight.

Is it a bad time to travel to the US?

The Foreign Office is not warning people against travel to the US, but its website advice says: 'The US government has declared a high general threat from terrorism in the USA, including to aviation, as from 21 December 2003, when it raised its domestic threat level from elevated to high. You should be particularly vigilant in public places. Air travellers should expect longer and more stringent security checks.'

Virgin Holidays (0871 222 0306) says its security measures exceed those recommended by the civil and federal aviation authorities. A spokeswoman said: 'We operate flights to a number of US destinations. We have not seen any impact from terrorism fears over the past few months, and are taking high loads of people.'

Now is a great time to visit America from a financial viewpoint - the pound is at its highest for 11 years, and the dollar is weak, meaning it's never been cheaper to buy in the States.