Passport question - what would you do?

[Clare D]

My passport expires on the 16 September and we travel on the 18 August to the 1st September and we all need new ESTA's.

I haven't been able to renew my passport as we are going away end of June with my husband's work for a week and I had given my existing passport information to his work. I checked on line a few weeks ago and saw that to renew would take around 3 weeks. At this point I renewed the kids passports and sure enough they have come back a couple of days after the 3 week period. I thought I would be OK as my form doesn't need to be countersigned or anything.

Now normally I am very organised but now I am starting to panic. If I go to the Post Office on the Saturday when we get home from the week away I will have 6 weeks until we travel to renew. I would use the check and send service. I need 72 hours before we travel for the ESTA's.

I have contacted US Airways today and they said as long as my passport is valid when I travel I will be fine. I know the Embassy information confirms the same.

Would you take the risk and renew beforehand, I'm happy to travel to Peterborough for the same day service if I can get in or should I leave it and renew on return?

I don't want to arrive and come across problems nor do I want to be without my passport.

Thanks Clare

 

[flortlebap]

It sounds as though you don't *need* to renew, so on that basis I would save the extortionate urgent application cost and just renew when you get back and next need it

I would seek written confirmation from the airline that they don't apply this daft six month rule though in case of a problem at the airport!

 

[chmurf]

you are not required to renew for your trip

but as you need to redo ESTAs you'll pay $14pp for just a couple of months. So you won't get your 2 years out of your ESTAs, if you plan another trip to the US after september, you'll need new passports AND new ESTAs

but the $14pp might be less than the express service.

You're travelling on a regular/scheduled carrier, so there should be no problem.
The US immigration won't bat an eye over the expiration date, as your passport is valid.

I would leave it as it is
You face a bigger chance of not getting your passports inside the 6 weeks before you go, than you have chances of getting into an argument with a gate agent at the airport (and even then the law says you're right)

 

[Elise79]

I would renew as you need a new ESTA - using check and send you should be fine

 

[baylie666]

Your passport used to have to have 6 months of validity from the day you return from your holiday.

I used to work at the passport agency but it has probably changed since then. You say your airline is ok with it so you should be fine.

 

[LeaversOnTour]

I wouldn't bother renewing.

Yes you will need to get another ESTA as they are associated with your passport number. But I would rather fork out $14 that's an extra £30 for speedy passport when its not "necessary" or worse do check and send and be having a coronary every day it didn't show up

With the so called back log - my nerves couldn't take the wait

 

[BlueGiraffe]

We had the same issue. DH's passport expires in January, leaving only 5 months on it when we return. He was going to renew it, then we saw all the fuss on the news about it taking so long, and panicked. We looked into it and the embassy says that as long as your passport is valid for the whole time you're there, there's no worries. So we haven't renewed.

On the other hand, we're still waiting for DS's to be posted to us (which I paid for online and sent off in May).

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/visaservices/?p=485
The 6 month rule has been waived for British passport holders. I guess that's one of the perks of the US and the UK having that 'special relationship' - that rule may not apply to other countries.

 

[Minniesgal]

My passport expires on the 16 September and we travel on the 18 August to the 1st September and we all need new ESTA's. I haven't been able to renew my passport as we are going away end of June with my husband's work for a week and I had given my existing passport information to his work. I checked on line a few weeks ago and saw that to renew would take around 3 weeks. At this point I renewed the kids passports and sure enough they have come back a couple of days after the 3 week period. I thought I would be OK as my form doesn't need to be countersigned or anything. Now normally I am very organised but now I am starting to panic. If I go to the Post Office on the Saturday when we get home from the week away I will have 6 weeks until we travel to renew. I would use the check and send service. I need 72 hours before we travel for the ESTA's. I have contacted US Airways today and they said as long as my passport is valid when I travel I will be fine. I know the Embassy information confirms the same. Would you take the risk and renew beforehand, I'm happy to travel to Peterborough for the same day service if I can get in or should I leave it and renew on return? I don't want to arrive and come across problems nor do I want to be without my passport. Thanks Clare

I don't think you need to renew but we were in a similar situation and my husband went and did the same day service and it was great. Saves us worrying about it. I would try and do that if you can save it bothering you and the ESTA will last longer.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

Don't think I would renew, however all the stories of backlog I have heard all involve "foreign" people I.e. Ex pats abroad trying to renew UK passport, or parents of a different nationality trying to get a UK passport for their child, ours were sent in May and came back in about three weeks two days. I haven't heard any backlog stories from UK people simply renewing a UK passport.

 

[BlueGiraffe]

ours were sent in May and came back in about three weeks two days.

Thats good news. Hopefully DS's will be here soon then.

 

[Clare D]

Thanks everybody. I've had a call back from the passport office to say that I can make an appointment for the same day service at Peterborough.

If I had a month or so left I would wait until we get home but I think 2 weeks is not enough. I'll let you know how I get on when I try and make the appointment this Saturday for 3 weeks time.