Passport Advice

[Tammy Stringer]

We know this has been asked hundreds of times before but believe it or not we cannot find it on the Virgin Atlantic site or the US Embassy.

The girls have just pointed out that their passports expire of 4th March next year - we return from America on 25th August so this is just over 6 months out.

Are we correct in thinking you need just 6 months still to run on your passport?

Hope so - don't want the expense of new passports

Tam

 

[paulh]

as long as you have 6 months from date of return should be ok
Paulh

 

[Elise79]

You only need 6 months from return or so Virgin told me! However remember the passport agency have announced the cost of passports is going up again in October so you may want to renew them a bit early (and they now add on upto 9 months of unexpired time )

HTH

Elise

 

[TraceyL]

US immigration and Virgin do not require validity past the date of return

Does my British passport have to be valid for six months beyond my date of departure from the United States?
No, if your passport is not valid for at least six months beyond your date of departure from the United States, it will not affect your eligibility to travel. The United States has an agreement with the United Kingdom automatically extending the validity of a passport for six months past the passport's expiration date. Therefore, your passport need remain valid only for the duration of your stay in the United States.

If you are traveling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program and your passport is not valid for 90 days, you will be admitted into the United States until the date on which the passport expires.

From the US Embassy website

 

[prue]

Tammy,

Although you have six months on the girls' passports you may want to get new passports as I have just done, although I had over 9 months I wanted an updated (piece of mind and all that) one and you get the biometric passport (whoop de doo!!). I am a nervous enough passenger without worrying about not having what immigration want as since I got my last passport they have changed them twice.

I did the post office check and my new passport with implant arrived within 10 days!

No doubt they will continue to change the passport and keep uping the price.

Also just wanted to say I have so enjoyed the Stringer holiday reports. They have all been great to read and I hope you have a very happy time this year at disney. cant wait to read about your latest adventure.

best wishes,
Prue

 

[jen_uk]

When I went in 2005 I only had 3 months on my passport and it was fine. I checked with both the US embassy and Virgin before I went and they said it only had to be valid for the length of stay.

 

[Chilly]

You might as well get them Tammy as the price will only go up and they can put the unused months one the new passports.

 

[sunminnie]

My Ds only had 3 weeks left on his passport after we came back from florida last july and everything was fine. We telephoned the American and British Embassy and virgin and they all said it was ok. Personally i wouldnt get a new one yet its all more expense isnt it!

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
We travelled with new passports last month and because they were biometric we were allowed to use one of the USA residents desk in immigration, saved us loads of time as there was no line.

Mick.

 

[Disney owl]

Ive recently renewed DS & DD passports & It took just a week which was great & I didn't use the post office check service which I don't agree with!

I'm posting to say bear in mind that there is going to be postal strike! It would be aweful if passports which are OK to use for your hols got stuck in the post!

My advice would be to renew after your hols but before the price increase.