Passport Question?

[MissKip]

We are just getting ready to book our honeymoon for next year, planning on a split stay between boardwalk and Saratoga with a cruise in the Middle.

My question is do I need to have a certain number of months left on my passport to enter the US?? My passport is due to expire in June next year and we will be travelling out at the end of April and home mid May. My current ESTA will still be valid. I know I can apply for a new passport in my married name in advance but I believe this is not really an option as I would need to apply for a new ESTA and my new passport wouldn't be valid until the day of the wedding?

Does anyone know? I am hoping if I can travel on my current passport then I can just change to my married name when I get home rather than having to renew in my maiden name only to have to change it again!!

Confused!

 

[peachiepie]

I'm fairly sure you need 6 months left on your passport I'm afraid.

 

[kristieuk]

I don't think it is a requirement of the US authorities, as long as your passport is valid until your return flight to the Uk. However, some airlines have the 6 month requirement, so I would check with whoever you are flying with.

 

[Princess Leia]

I had been told on a previous trip that you needed 6 months left. This trip I checked out actual requirements and this is not required. I was there in July and my DD's passport expires in September. I had no problem with immigration. I would make sure it has some time left given our experience of being stuck with the ash cloud a few years ago.

 

[wayneg]

If you are a British Citizen passport holder you are exempt from the 6 month rule. There is an agreement to extend our passports 6 months after the expiry date, see the FAQ answer on the US embassy website http://london.usembassy.gov/faq-passports.html#niv079

 

[flortlebap]

If you are a British Citizen passport holder you are exempt from the 6 month rule. There is an agreement to extend our passports 6 months after the expiry date, see the FAQ answer on the US embassy website http://london.usembassy.gov/faq-passports.html#niv079

That's interesting - I was also told I needed six months left!

 

[windy1968]

As a British Citizen if you you check the foreign office website it stipulates passport must be valid for 6mths from return date

 

[Elise79]

As a British Citizen if you you check the foreign office website it stipulates passport must be valid for 6mths from return date

No it doesn't - UK Government USA travel advice

It's says:

Passport validity

Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. You dont need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this.

Travel under the Visa Waiver Programme is restricted to travellers with passports that include certain security features.

DD will be travelling in December on a passport that will expire at the start of February.

 

[scousemouse09]

We always book with Thomas Cook and they state your passport needs to be valid for another 6 months. The last time I went out with my family, my sister's needed renewing because she had 5 months left on it after our return date.

 

[flortlebap]

I suppose the end result is still the same - ie, the USA might let you enter, but the airline won't take you! Lol.

Seriously though OP - give your airline a ring to check their policy, to see if it conflicts with the actual legal requirement.

 

[talbot3186]

My boyfriend had to renew his passport before he went on his mates stag do to Las Vegas as it only had a few months left on it.

 

[edinburghlass]

I flew with BA in May and my passport was due to expire in July. As long as you have a current ESTA to get in to US that is all they are concerned about.

 

[kristieuk]

Essentially, the answer to the question is for US immigration purposes, as long as your passport covers the period of travel you are fine. Some airlines have a 6 month rule, so check with them. Most scheduled carriers ie BA, Virgin, AA etc will be fine, it's usually the charter carriers that have more stringent rules.

 

[MissKip]

Thanks for the info. My passport expires mid June and I will be home mid May so from what you have said and from the link wayneg posted I should be fine.

We always fly with BA so I'll double check with them.

I guess the only issue would be if I need 6 months left to enter the Bahamas? I seem to remember the last time I was on the Wonder we had our passports stamped to say we had left the US and then returned?

 

[chmurf]

for US entry, the UK, as well of EU countries are part of what is called "the six month club", it's a list of countries whose residents DO NOT need to comply with the 6 month validity rule

this means that, as long as your passport is valid for your length of stay, you're good to go

some airlines will not let you board the plane, because they fly to countries where there is a 6 months rules, so they don't care where you're going, enforcing the 6 month rule is just standard.
They do get fined if they let a passenger board a plane without proper documents, so to stay on the safe side they require 6 months on your passport even if the country you're flying to does not require those 6 months (such as the USA)

But this also means that, since you're allowed to enter the USA for a maximum of 90 days under the visa waiver program, your passport should be valid for that period of time, since your passport should be valid for your length of stay which can be, but not to exceed, 90 days.

here is the official CBP statement https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/de...requirements-for-passports-(machine-readable)

 

[jtlover]

I had this very issue a few years back. I only had 2 months left on my passport.

As I was flying with Virgin it was ok as I did not have to have 6 months left. I found out that Virgin and BA allow you to travel with 2 months left but Thomson and a few others you must have 6 months.

 

[wayneg]

We always book with Thomas Cook and they state your passport needs to be valid for another 6 months. The last time I went out with my family, my sister's needed renewing because she had 5 months left on it after our return date.

My boyfriend had to renew his passport before he went on his mates stag do to Las Vegas as it only had a few months left on it.

Then they were given wrong info, some airlines and many travel agents give wrong info because they can't be bothered to check for individual needs, its far easier to just say 6 months, that covers everyone and no come back on them.

 

[wayneg]

I had this very issue a few years back. I only had 2 months left on my passport.

As I was flying with Virgin it was ok as I did not have to have 6 months left. I found out that Virgin and BA allow you to travel with 2 months left but Thomson and a few others you must have 6 months.

If you ring Thomson then they will more than likely give the wrong info, their website tells you to check gov.uk for latest correct info. The staff at the airport know the correct info. I have read posts in the past travelling with them with no issues, the main problem is the call centres won't deal with individual requirements only give a blanket 6 month rule.

 

[MissKip]

Just to update...


Entering the US on my current passport is fine and BA have confirmed that I do not need 6months left on it.

However, I DO need 6 months left on my passport to enter the Bahamas while on the cruise.

New passport in my maiden name it is!

 

[OrlandoMagic]

From the Thomson website...

What sort of ID do I require for travelling International journeys?
Passengers must hold valid ID with a photograph i.e. International Passport or EU National ID. EU National IDs must be valid for entry into the country of intended destination. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid photo ID. British Citizens must hold a valid 10-year passport. Please note that certain destinations insist on at least 6 months validity from the return date. UK Citizens can check out the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for passport, visa and health information, at www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo. Other nationalities should check with their own governments.