Help with passports please.

[Jules224]

I have just been told that you have to have had a passport for 6 months before you go to florida, is this correct?

[gilld]

No, your passport must have 6 months validity after your return.

[Jules224]

Thank you, :thumbsup2 the family who are coming with us for the first time were having a quick panic.

[TraceyL]

You'll be fine :)

[carolfoy]

Unfortunetely the media seem to be stating an awful lot of incorrect info regarding 'you DO need a visa to visit the states' etc,leading people to misinterpret the facts however they like, I'm sure this bad info is leading a lot of people to turn away from the USA in general - its mad!! BTW Tracey and Gill are right - they'll be fine

[Minniespal]

Unfortunetely the media seem to be stating an awful lot of incorrect info

Totally agree ~ Friends of ours are travelling to the USA in October. Both have relatively new passports - under 5 years. With all of the 'hype' in the media, they were panicking because they thought they would have to get new passports.

[carolfoy]

I know Florence, its maddening, I get a phone call practically every day from people asking about it.

[Minniespal]

I know Florence, its maddening, I get a phone call practically every day from people asking about it.

I've panicked myself though Carol ~ Even though I know my passport is the newer version, that can be scanned, I found myself worrying about it as well. Kept having this recurring dream where I get to the check-in desk and I have the wrong passport.

[carolfoy]

:rotfl2: me too! its so funny, I'm very confident at reassuring other people but constantly panic over my own arrangements! I've lost count of the number of travel agent things I've been on where the agents have forgotton/lost their passports/not got their visas/missed the flights etc.
Its true what they say about the cobblers children being barefoot

[Minniespal]

:rotfl2: me too! its so funny

Glad I'm not the only one :rotfl:

[Jules224]

Thanks for all your replies, but it's got me thinking, my DD passport runs out next march and we go january so i will need to renew hers, will i also need to apply for a visa for her seeing as it will be after october or should i apply for it before it october? Hope this makes sense.

[patdavies]

No, your passport must have 6 months validity after your return.

No, it doesn't. This is an urban myth.

A UK issued passport is valid for travel to the US for the entire period of its validity.

[patdavies]

Thanks for all your replies, but it's got me thinking, my DD passport runs out next march and we go january so i will need to renew hers, will i also need to apply for a visa for her seeing as it will be after october or should i apply for it before it october? Hope this makes sense.

You don't need to renew DD's passport - it is perfectly valid for travel - depending on your carrier.

However, as the US authorities will only accept biometric passports if the passport is issued after 26th October 2006 - and it is extremely likely that the biometric passports will be considerably more expensive than currently; then it makes sense to renew it now. Up to 9 months of current validity can be carried over.

[Claire L]

You don't need to renew DD's passport - it is perfectly valid for travel - depending on your carrier.

However, as the US authorities will only accept biometric passports if the passport is issued after 26th October 2006 - and it is extremely likely that the biometric passports will be considerably more expensive than currently; then it makes sense to renew it now. Up to 9 months of current validity can be carried over.

Biometric passports are now being issued and the current price reflects this AFAIK.

Claire ;)

[Claire L]

Bio passports (http://www.passport.gov.uk/news/news.asp?strAreaNo=320&intelement=1056).

Claire ;)

[Miffy2003]

Thanks Claire! I hadn't realised the first one had been issued.

[gilld]

No, it doesn't. This is an urban myth.

A UK issued passport is valid for travel to the US for the entire period of its validity.
That may be technically correct but most tour operators will not accept a passport that expires earlier than 6 months after return. Since 9 months can be carried over, there is simply no point in not renewing is there!

[patdavies]

That may be technically correct but most tour operators will not accept a passport that expires earlier than 6 months after return. Since 9 months can be carried over, there is simply no point in not renewing is there!


Absolutely nothing to do with the tour operator.

A carrier may require a period of validity beyond scheduled return as part of their contract of carriage.

Virgin Atlantic, as an example, do not.

[gilld]

Absolutely nothing to do with the tour operator.

A carrier may require a period of validity beyond scheduled return as part of their contract of carriage.

Virgin Atlantic, as an example, do not.
But if you book through a tour operator, your contract is with them and their terms and conditions CAN state you need 6 months on your passport. Don't blame me - I don't make the rules!

[Miffy2003]

Gill, I agree. I have seen this in several Tour Ops T&Cs.

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

As the questions on passports keep coming up with regularity and will continue to do so as we get nearer many people having to change to biometric passports, is it worth having a passport FAQ sticky?

[gilld]

Gill, I agree. I have seen this in several Tour Ops T&Cs.
Thanks Karen, I was begining to think I'd gone mad :teeth: which is always a possibility :teeth:

[Miffy2003]

As the questions on passports keep coming up with regularity and will continue to do so as we get nearer many people having to change to biometric passports, is it worth having a passport FAQ sticky?


Great idea! My only slight worry would be that we would need to ensure it gets updated as necessary.

Would you like to volunteer? :teeth:

[Miffy2003]

Thanks Karen, I was begining to think I'd gone mad :teeth: which is always a possibility :teeth:


Maybe we are both crazy, Gill ;)

:teeth:

[patdavies]

But if you book through a tour operator, your contract is with them and their terms and conditions CAN state you need 6 months on your passport. Don't blame me - I don't make the rules!

And just what exactly would a tour operator actually do if you turn up at the airport for a (for instance) Virgin flight without 6 months validity?

Answer: nothing - they won't even be aware.

If however, you were to turn up where the carrier requires additioanl validity and didn't have this, then you would be denied boarding.


So even if you book with TCD (who require 6 months) and they put you onto a VA flight (who do not) it doesn't matter. It is only the carrier's rules that matter

[gilld]

And just what exactly would a tour operator actually do if you turn up at the airport for a (for instance) Virgin flight without 6 months validity?

Answer: nothing - they won't even be aware.

If however, you were to turn up where the carrier requires additioanl validity and didn't have this, then you would be denied boarding.


So even if you book with TCD (who require 6 months) and they put you onto a VA flight (who do not) it doesn't matter. It is only the carrier's rules that matter
Whatever you say!