Second Guessing myself re passports???

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi again

I have just got out our passports with the plan of completing the ESTAs before the charges start and I know that I need to get a new one for Kai as his 5 year one expired earlier in the year, but DH's expires in May 2011, and we return home on 7th Jan.

I am sure I had a conversation on here back along with Wayne & Co, who confirmed that I don't need to renew Steves, but I just wanted to double double check myself!!!

I know a lot of people think that it should be vaild for 6mths from your return date, but I believe we determined that the ACTUAL rules just say that the passport has to be valid for your planned return date. Can someone just reassure me that I have got that right??

Plus - can I do Kai's ESTA if his passport is expired, or will I have to wait to do it once I've got his new one?? (I expect I know the answer, but was just hoping that I could do it before the charges come in as I don't think I am going to be able to sort out his new passport in time for the Sep date)

Many thanks for any info

 

[Chilly]

You might as well renew the passport as they'll tranfer up to 9 months onto the new one.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

You might as well renew the passport as they'll tranfer up to 9 months onto the new one.

I wanted to avoid the expense if I could, especially as we won't be travelling again until Oct 2012

 

[Elise79]

Amy

You need a valid passport to be able to apply for an ESTA as it is linked to the passport.

You do not need 6 months on a passport to get into the states but some airlines insist on it

I would always renew just incase but that me!

 

[dixonsontour]

You definitely don't need 6 months left to satisfy american immigration - it just needs to be valid for the duration of your hols.

BUT some airlines insist on 6 months. Check with your airline.

Virgin Atlantic don't insist on 6 months - i've just checked as we are having a similar debate re to renew or not.

 

[irisheyes123]

We went to florida the end of may for a week with british airways my sister's passport is up early september no one said anything about it...

 

[amystevekai&bump]

thanks everyone - we are flying with Virgin Atlantic also ,so I guess we are ok

It really annoys me that rules can't just be straight forward and clear for everyone - would save a lot of worry wouldn't it!!

thanks again