Passport....minimum months remaining after travel

[Ju]

Does anyone know what the minimum length of time is allowed on a passport when going to the US? (ie fly in Feb 2006 and passport runs out in May 2006)

Somewhere deep within my little brain I thought it had to be more than 6 mths.

Any help would be great,

thanks

Julie

 

[malibuconlee]

This site says 6 months. It's Customs & Border Protection.

 

[angel659]

Yep its 6 months

 

[kristieuk]

This has been asked a few times, and I think that the conclusion is that because the Visa Waiver scheme allows admittance for six months, the advice is often given that your passport has to be valid the entire period (otherwise obviously the Americans would technically be stuck with you at the end of period when your passport expired.) This is the reason they give that advice.

However, if you don't have six months left on the passport, they will simply stamp your admittance date only to the date that your passport remains valid.

The wise advice always is if you have less than 6 months remaining, get a new passport because you can carry up to 9 months forward to the new one, and you won't lose anything.

I have copied the following passage from the US Embassy website:-


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Passport Validity If traveling under the Visa Waiver Program, the passport must be valid for at least 90 days from the date on which the holder enters the United States. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport. Note: Passport holders from Andorra, Brunei, and San Marino must be in possession of a passport valid for at least six months from the date of departure from the United States, even if traveling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.


</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[Ju]

Thanks everone, looks like we'll have to send DH passport off before we go just in case those Yankies tell him he's an Alien and can't come in!!!

 

[patdavies]

This has been asked a few times, and I think that the conclusion is that because the Visa Waiver scheme allows admittance for six months

Maximum stay is 90 days

I have copied the following passage from the US Embassy website:-


Passport Validity If traveling under the Visa Waiver Program, the passport must be valid for at least 90 days from the date on which the holder enters the United States. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport. Note: Passport holders from Andorra, Brunei, and San Marino must be in possession of a passport valid for at least six months from the date of departure from the United States, even if traveling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.

This means that your passport has to be valid for the length of your stay. If your passport is valid for less than 90 days then your entry stamp will expire at the same time as your passport. IOW, if you have 25 days validity left on your passport, you will be admitted for 25 days only. this is a concession for UK passport holders - most others are required to have passports that expire well past the 90 day visit limit.

This is the legal situation - personally if I was that close to expiry, I would renew my passport (unused validity can be carried forward up to 9 months), since most airlines are unaware of the above and will refiuse boarding unless you meet the 'common' criterion as opposed to the UK criterion.

One of these days, I must email Virgin and challenge them as to why their criterion is so miuch harsher than the legal requirement for entry.

 

[carolfoy]

One of these days, I must email Virgin and challenge them as to why their criterion is so miuch harsher than the legal requirement for entry.

ITA Pat, they can be real sticklers for the details that aren't really valid!
off topic: I had a problem with a company getting a child to Egypt as they insisted the child had to have a full ten year passport and children are alsways issued five year ones, some companies don't really know what they are talking about!

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

The Foreign & commonwealth Office does not help the situation
" Some countries have an immigration requirement for a passport to remain valid for a minimum period (usually at least six months) beyond the date of entry to the country. Therefore, ensure your passport is in good condition and valid for at least 6 months at the date of your return. This is a requirement of the country concerned, not the UK Passport Service. Any questions should be addressed to their Consulate or Embassy."