Passport Validity Question

[1andrea]

My passport expires in early Jan 2016 and I have trips to Florida planned Mid February and Mid July this year!

I've always thought I needed my passport to be valid for a minimum of 6 months but I wasn't sure if it was 6 months on entry to USA or 6 months before the planned exit date.

So I googled it and I've found on some sites it says 6 months and on some it says there isn't a validity requirement as long as its valid for the duration of the trip.

Does anyone know the definitive answer??

Thank you xx

 

[DLPDreams]

There is no 6 months validity anymore for the US. However, I always err on caution and would be looking, if possible, to renew your passport after your Feb trip. You can carry forward unexpired months - think it's 6 months, but you could check that on the passport website, so you probably wouldn't lose anything by doing this (perhaps a month or two). I have done this before.

Just remember about your ESTA too if you do change passport!

 

[Elise79]

Unless you have a cruise planned there is absolutely no need to renew!

My DD travelled on her passport to Florida with only a month left - it wasn't questioned at all. The only difference instead of being admitted to the country for 90 days she was admitted until her passport expired.

Some cruise destinations do have 6 months rules over if you are just visiting the USA it only has to be valid for length of planned stay.

 

[wayneg]

As said, 6 months is not required for UK passport holders travelling with an ESTA.

This is the full list of countries that have an agreement with the US, what they do is extend passports from these counties for 6 months after they expire.

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/104770.pdf

Details here https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/826/kw/passport validity 6 month/suggested/1

So totally not needed but on the other hand you can carry 9 months over from an old passport to a new one so most people would rather renew early.

 

[DLPdaft]

In your shoes OP I'd renew my passport after I'd been on my July trip this year .

 

[1andrea]

There is no 6 months validity anymore for the US. However, I always err on caution and would be looking, if possible, to renew your passport after your Feb trip. You can carry forward unexpired months - think it's 6 months, but you could check that on the passport website, so you probably wouldn't lose anything by doing this (perhaps a month or two). I have done this before.

Just remember about your ESTA too if you do change passport!

Thank you, i would have forgot to change the Esta!!

 

[1andrea]

Unless you have a cruise planned there is absolutely no need to renew!

My DD travelled on her passport to Florida with only a month left - it wasn't questioned at all. The only difference instead of being admitted to the country for 90 days she was admitted until her passport expired.

Some cruise destinations do have 6 months rules over if you are just visiting the USA it only has to be valid for length of planned stay.

Thats good to know, Im not sure whether to renew before our July trip (as Im a panicked!) but its good to know that you wasn't questioned with only a month left.

We're returning on August 9th so I will still have 5 months left so I might just leave it and try to be brave!!

x

 

[1andrea]

Thanks Wayne, if i can hold my nerve I think I wait to renew until after our July trip and get the extra months added on. If I wanted to renew earlier in order to get the full 9 months added without loosing any Id have to renew in April and with us going in July I think it would make me nervous!!

x

As said, 6 months is not required for UK passport holders travelling with an ESTA.

This is the full list of countries that have an agreement with the US, what they do is extend passports from these counties for 6 months after they expire.

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/104770.pdf

Details here https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/826/kw/passport validity 6 month/suggested/1

So totally not needed but on the other hand you can carry 9 months over from an old passport to a new one so most people would rather renew early.

 

[1andrea]

In your shoes OP I'd renew my passport after I'd been on my July trip this year .

I think I will try and hold my nerve but I might just have to renew earlier.

Sometimes I wish I was more easy going

 

[Kath2003]

Just so you know, you can renew your passport up to 9 months prior to expiration and have those 9 months credited to your new passport (ie it's valid for 10 years 9 months). They will do this automatically if you renew early and it doesn't cost anything. This is what I did with mine as I needed 6 months on it for another trip and was pleasantly surprised to see it returned with my "lost months" added to my new passport!

But, with a new passport, you need a new ESTA.

(Sorry, just realised Wayne had already said this...! Never mind, it never hurts to hear things twice!)

 

[Elise79]

Thats good to know, Im not sure whether to renew before our July trip (as Im a panicked!) but its good to know that you wasn't questioned with only a month left.

We're returning on August 9th so I will still have 5 months left so I might just leave it and try to be brave!!

x

If your ESTA is valid for both trips I would just leave it and renew on return - I never even considered renewing DDs early as her ESTA was still valid.

You will have no problems

 

[A Small World]

To put your mind at rest this question has been asked before on here and quite a few people have said they have travelled to and from USA with less than 6 mths on their passport with no problems.
I was fine with less than 6 mths going to California a couple of yrs ago

 

[wilma-bride]

I last went in October 2014, returning on November 2nd. My passport was due to expire on 19th Jan 2015 and nobody even gave it a second glance.

Just so you know, though, I sent my passport off to be renewed last Tuesday and it arrived back yesterday - so just a week from posting it to receiving it back. Pretty good service I thought There would be absolutely no reason to be nervous if you were sending it off in April for a July holiday.

 

[theminx08]

I came on here to ask the same question as I knew you Dis'ers would help me. I phoned the passport office who said they couldn't advise me but referred me to the foreign entry requirements page on their website. I entered the USA and it confirms your passport only needs to be valid for the duration of your trip. We go 2nd March and my daughters runs out in July. We have valid ESTAs. I too shall hold my nerve! Xx