Passport Expiry Question

[blizzard]

Hi,

I was talking to my mother the other day, and she swears that she heard on the news that eventually the US will not accept passports that are within 6 months of their expiry date.

Note that I could not find anything that says they will be enforcing this right away, so don't have a fit if you are leaving tomorrow!

Has anyone heard anything about this? I know a lot of other countries tell you that you must have more than 6 months remaining, but if the US did this to Canada, it basically means that we will be renewing our passports every 4.5 years instead of 5. (I also read somewhere that the Cdn govt is considering making passports have longer expiry dates - 5.5 years maybe?)

Does anyone have any credible info on this information?

 

[drag n' fly]

That is a good question. Here is what I was told when I renewed my passport in May. My passport was not due to expire until jan07. I did not want to renew during the winter rush and with the impending passport laws changing. The agent told me normally they will not renew passports unless they are 6 months or less until renewal. She told me though since I was renewing 2 passports and applying for my three kids she would do them all that day. So if your Mom is correct they really are switching stuff around and really confusing everyone.

 

[SaraMc]

I dont think so, because well we just got a temp. passport for DS and its only good for 6 months so why would they issue that if I cant use it? Of course it is a goverment but still.

 

[sean-1966]

It is always a good practice to not to travel with a passport with less than 6 months on it. But, I can't see the States denying entry for a 2 week vacation because of this.

 

[nosnobunny2006]

This hasn't happened to me recently but a few years ago when DH and I were planning a vacation to an island, our TA told us that our passports could not be within 6 months of expiry on the date we left. Ours weren't so I didn't check any further. Whether or not it was accurate information - who knows?

Beth

 

[F4disneyfan]

I heard them talking about this in the passport office in London when were went in for ours last year a couple was heading to England and went in for renewals because the TA told them if thiers was 6 months from expiry it was pretty much useless.

 

[nosnobunny2006]

I suppose that means that our passports are really only good for 4 1/2 years and not 5. Pretty pricey!

Beth

 

[OntFamily]

Each country has there own requirement as to what amount of time remaining on a passport before they will accept it. Many Carribbean countries require 6 months remaining.

 

[mbb]

Huh.

That's funny, I always read the 6 month expiry as the 6 months after the date on your passport...

Meaning, I guess, that I figured if - for some weird reason - I didn't renew them at expiry time, they would still be ok for travel for the 6 months after.

The kids' expire in June...we were planning on a "graduation" trip to Halifax to get them renewed that month.

I think we'll be ok to do that, though.

I would really have a difficult time accepting that my passports - which clearly state expiry in June 2007 - wouldn't be valid to get me on a plane for international/transborder travel in May 2007.

Makes me a little cranky, in fact

Good question, blizzard.

 

[F4disneyfan]

I suppose that means that our passports are really only good for 4 1/2 years and not 5. Pretty pricey!

Beth

I call it the price of wanting to travel it is no different than buying a coffee everyday at timmies I know people that spend more on coffee in a month than the cost of a passport. It is pretty inexpensive piece of mind if you ask me especially if you want to travel to the US or overseas.

 

[Scratch42]

When we traveled last March Break, at Customs at Pearson, it was brought to my attention that my Passport, which at the time, still had DD on it, was due to expire in May! DUH! I knew that. I was also informed that DD would need her own passport! DUH! I know that too!

I told them that since we had just travelled in December ending in January and travelling again for March Break, did not want to chance not getting passports back in time.

So anything is possible! I wish our Government would make the Passports at least 10 years but then they will lose out on a lot of money so that will never happen!

j

 

[jtdl]

I call it the price of wanting to travel it is no different than buying a coffee everyday at timmies I know people that spend more on coffee in a month than the cost of a passport. It is pretty inexpensive piece of mind if you ask me especially if you want to travel to the US or overseas.

Being a Canadian citizen I think we are entitled to have a passport and not have to pay $100 every 5 years for it. Just as a birth certificate, there should only be a one-time fee and maybe a "small" renewal fee every 10 years or thereabouts due to the picture requirement. I know that'll never happen, but otherwise it should be good for at least 10 years, not just 5. These days trying to find a guarantor is basically impossible. My doctor refuses to sign them anymore (cause he can't charge for it!), and in the days of internet and self-serve banking not many people know a senior banker. I'm lucky in that I work for a doctor, but what about other people who don't have contact or know any of the other types of guarantors on the list?

 

[nosnobunny2006]

I call it the price of wanting to travel it is no different than buying a coffee everyday at timmies I know people that spend more on coffee in a month than the cost of a passport. It is pretty inexpensive piece of mind if you ask me especially if you want to travel to the US or overseas.

I agree and have had a passport for many years. It definately makes border crossings easier. However, it does get rather inconvenient having to renew it so frequently. Mine is due to expire next Nov. and it seems like I just got it. I really wish we would go the same route as the Americans and make it a 10 year passport. In this case I wouldn't mind paying more for the convenience. Being a government worker, I realize how much is involved in their processing.

Beth

 

[F4disneyfan]

Being a Canadian citizen I think we are entitled to have a passport and not have to pay $100 every 5 years for it. Just as a birth certificate, there should only be a one-time fee and maybe a "small" renewal fee every 10 years or thereabouts due to the picture requirement. I know that'll never happen, but otherwise it should be good for at least 10 years, not just 5. These days trying to find a guarantor is basically impossible. My doctor refuses to sign them anymore (cause he can't charge for it!), and in the days of internet and self-serve banking not many people know a senior banker. I'm lucky in that I work for a doctor, but what about other people who don't have contact or know any of the other types of guarantors on the list?

I am glad it is only good for 5 years especially with kids as they change so much in such a short time I guess I am one of the few that thinks 5 years is about as long as it should be valid for even a 3 year expiration would be ok with me. I guess I am kinda lucky though as I work in an industry where it is very easy to get teh guarantor signature for our documents and at no cost unlike some Dr's who will charge for it.