View Full Version : Passports almost expired?
Big Mack
22-03-2004, 14:09
Guys
I am looking for some reassurance! Our family held our first Florida Trip meeting last night (Bit sad i know but it was usefull!)
Anyway i discovered that my mother and father in law's passports will have only seven months to run once we come BACK from Florida. They have contacted the passport office and were told that it would not be a problem, however i have heard that some airlines will not let you travel if you do not have a certain amount of time left on you passport.
Is this true and do you think it is worth them getting new passports just in case? (We dont go until September this year)
Many Thanks
Mack [msnsad]
Nostromo
22-03-2004, 14:22
I think there should be no problem if there are at least 6 months left. But if you are going after 1st October 2004, there are certain new VISA rules that apply which you should check.
Where do we find info on the new visa rules??
huckleberry house
22-03-2004, 14:26
Your passport only has to be valid for the duration of your stay and not the 6 months which is commonly believed.The new visa rules in force from October 2004 only apply to anyone renewing their passport between Oct 2004 and Oct 2005.You can apply for a new passport up to 9 months in advance and this is added to the length of the passport duration so you would not be losing any time if you apply early and would also avoid having to apply for a visa if the new visa rules were to apply to you.
Lesley
I have been told that it is the airlines who impose the rules about the length your passport runs after you return to the UK, but I do not know which airlines have which restrictions.
The airlines only follow the local immigration rules, as they can be fined for carrying people that cannot enter.
When US immigration grant you access they give you a visa waiver that allows for a maximum of 90 days (for holidays, work etc..), any longer than that and you have to make your application for a Visa (reasons etc..) before you go.
The principle thing that they will be looking for is that there are at least 90 days left on the passport from the date of departure.
The following link takes you to UK passport office, and has lots of info, also attached the US embassy website for entry requirements - which should set your mind at rest about the 90 days.
http://www.passport.gov.uk/
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_web/visa/niv/vwp.htm
Big Mack
22-03-2004, 17:23
Thanks everyone.
Sounds like i dont have anything to worry about.
One of the guys that i work with was telling me that his passport had less than 6 months to run, US immigration told him it would not be a problem as there was no requirement to have a certain amount of time left. However when he called his airline (BA) to double check they told him that they would not let him board the flight unless he had at least 6 months left. According to them this was a requirement laid down by US immigration and that they would get fined if they let him travel!!!
Sounds like a bit of a mix up in comunications somewhere.
He ended up getting a new passport instead of taking the gamble. [:0]
firsttimer
23-03-2004, 01:39
Airtours/mytravel said we had to have 6 months left on passports.
Claire M
23-03-2004, 01:49
When we booked with BA they also said that we have to have 6 months left. I have read the info on the us embassy site and that says basically you have to leave the country before your passport expires[msnscared].
Mine is expiring in September this year so I will change it before we go in June anyway. My daughters expires early next year, I will also get this changed before October just in case the Biometric ones are not available before we go go next year.