Passport Question

One of the staff has just asked a question about their passport and I thought the best and quickest place to find the answer would be to ask the experts here.

They are querying the date you passport has to be valid to after you visit the US. I thought it had to be valid 6 months after the date you returned but someone thinks its only 90 days from the date you leave.

Anybody any clues ?

thanks

David

I had this problem when I travelled to Detroit with my mother. I only had about 3-4 months left.

I went to the US embassy's website to check and it did mention six months should remain but as long as your return ticket was prior to the expiry date of your passport it was okay.

However, I am not very trusting of these things and just in case I printed out the relevant page from the Embassy and highlighted the section stating this and took it with me.

Thankfully though I had no problem and no one even queried it.

I'd certainly look at doing something like this if the passport is is close to the expiry date just to cover all eventualities.

Thanks for quick reply

David

Back in 2002 my wife was fined 300USD on arrival for only having 4 months left on her passport. This was despite the fact that she had a Visa stamped in it for the whole year.

Phil FM

P.S. I think the 90 days be based on the fact that the Visa Waiver Scheme gives you three months so they want 3 months grace between the latest date you can legally leave and the expiration of your passport. Guess it makes sense to someone somewhere. [?]

I've had one friend who was refused boarding at Heathrow with less than a month on his passport, though I've travelled before on less than six months. Airlines are much more congnicent of this now and face fines from the US if people are refused entry. However demonstrating that you have a return ticket within the expiration will help.

Problem is that this rule, like many others, is being enforced more and more ... my best advice is to get a new one and be safe. If you're in London it's really easy to do in a day at the passport office in Ecclestone Square, though I see you're in the Borders and don't know where the nearest is to you or your colleague.

Originally posted by slinky09
I've had one friend who was refused boarding at Heathrow with less than a month on his passport, though I've travelled before on less than six months. Airlines are much more congnicent of this now and face fines from the US if people are refused entry. However demonstrating that you have a return ticket within the expiration will help.

Problem is that this rule, like many others, is being enforced more and more ... my best advice is to get a new one and be safe. If you're in London it's really easy to do in a day at the passport office in Ecclestone Square, though I see you're in the Borders and don't know where the nearest is to you or your colleague.

Anyway know if new passports and those issued by Ecclestone Square are the new biometric ones that America keeps on about??

[buns]

Originally posted by slinky09
I've had one friend who was refused boarding at Heathrow with less than a month on his passport, though I've travelled before on less than six months. Airlines are much more congnicent of this now and face fines from the US if people are refused entry. However demonstrating that you have a return ticket within the expiration will help.

Problem is that this rule, like many others, is being enforced more and more ... my best advice is to get a new one and be safe. If you're in London it's really easy to do in a day at the passport office in Ecclestone Square, though I see you're in the Borders and don't know where the nearest is to you or your colleague.

be warned This is a busy time of year for the passport office. They will not see you without an appointment and are very strict on that. A work colleague discovered this to his cost earlier this week, so yesterday he had to fly to Belfast where the office there had appointments free in order to obtain replacement passports for his kids in advance of going away next week[:0][:0] Right now the scottish and Belfast Offices have appointments because kids there broke up from school a few weeks ago

BTW such passports run out at £83 each

buns

Originally posted by buns4vs

BTW such passports run out at £83 each

buns

Another example of ripoff Britian.
MrsPVG just got a five year extension to her five year passport in china. It cost £1.50 and was delt with within a week by going to the local police station! Best thing is, it IS just an extension, so still contains her valid visas.