Passports

[ravtino]

I know someone on here will be able to tell me!
We are going back to Orlando next year and taking my 12 year old neice with us, now I know she is classed as an adult, but her passport runs out in Jan 2006 and I thought you had to have 6 months remaining on your return, but when I looked on US embassy site it says 90 days is this right or I have I misunderstood?

[tuzanne]

I would renew your child passport now. My children's run out in 6 months time and I intend doing it now. It is not worth not being allowed in the country. The US customs are not to be messed with. Don't take any chances. Here is a summary about new visa requirements.


PASSPORT AND VISA REQ FOR USA
Summary

If you are a British Citizen and have a Machine Readable Passport (MRP), you
can continue to enter the US, for periods less than 90 days, under the US
Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) i.e. fill in form on the plane.

From 30th September 2004, the US VISIT programme will apply, and means you
will be digitally photographed and fingerprint scanned on entry into, and
departure from, the U.S.

If your passport is not MRP, from 26th October onwards, you will actually
need to have a visa, to enter the U.S., issued by the U.S. embassy, before
you travel.

All applicants for immigrant visas and most applicants for non-immigrant
visas are now required to have a personal interview at a US Embassy or
Consulate prior to issue. The waiting time for an interview can be up to 3
weeks.

To comply with US law, which requires biometric identifiers to be collected
from visa applicants by 26 October 2004, the US Embassy in London will start
finger-scanning applicants for immigrant visas on 17 May, extending to
non-immigrant visa applicants in August 2004. Each applicant, will be asked
during the visa interview, to place their index finger on an electronic
scanner.

The key thing is whether or not your passport is a " Machine Readable
Passport" (MRP). There are instructions below on how to find out if it is
or not. If it is MRP, there is no change in that you can enter for up to 90
days on the Visa Waiver Programme, as has been the case the last 10-15
years. If not MRP, then, after 26th October, you will have to apply for a
visa to allow entry into the U.S.

The US will be introducing changes to its entry requirements, with effect
from 26 October 2004, for those wishing to enter the US under its Visa
Waiver Programme (see 'ENTRY REQUIREMENTS').

[E. Cosgrove]

If you renew your passport earlier you will be "credited" with the extra months. At least that is what happened to my husband when he renewed his passport 4 months early so as to have 6 months remaining when we travelled to the Bahamas.

[steph_goodrum]

You can have up to 9 months credited to your new passport.
Although your niece is paying adult fare she isnt actually classed as an adult, when she renews her passport it will still be a childs 5 year one, only after 16 can you get the full 10 year one. we couldnt even get it a month before our daughters 16th birthday and had to get a 5 year one.
The 90 days is how long you are allowed to stay under the visa waiver and all the US sites still say you must have 6 months validity on your passport although it seems to be a bit discretionary.

[ravtino]

Yes but is it 6 months from when we arrive????
The UK passport says that they will not issue the new paasports and from Oct 2004 the US president haas extened another year, so i am not worried about that it was the lentgh of time left when entering the country.

[huckleberry house]

The 6 months remaining is a myth, your passport only has to be valid for the duration of your stay to travel to US, it isnt discretionary at all, that is what the rule is, and while children only get a 5 year passport you can also extend this by another 5 years free of charge.


Lesley

[huckleberry house]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by huckleberry house
The 6 months remaining is a myth, your passport only has to be valid for the duration of your stay to travel to US, it isnt discretionary at all, that is what the rule is, and while children only get a 5 year passport you can also extend this by another 5 years free of charge.


Lesley
[/quote]


Here is a link to the Us embassy site

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_web/visa/niv/vwp.htm


and the relevant paragraph

"Passport Validity: If traveling under the Visa Waiver Program, the passport must be valid for at least 90 days from the date on which the holder enters the United States. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport. Note: Passport holders from Andorra, Brunei, and San Marino must be in possession of a passport valid for at least six months from the date of departure from the United States, even if traveling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program"

I have travelled myself with less than the 90 days ( after going through the same agonising worry as I had left it too late to take action ) and nobody blinked an eyelid (Before travelling I had already checked all this out with BA , the passport agency and the embassy who all gave me the correct information)


Lesley

[ravtino]

Thanks Lesley, this is what I thought, just wanted to check on here, did't want any slip ups as this will be her first time and we want to make it something to remember for the right reasons - HA HA

[steph_goodrum]

It may be a myth but it is perpetuated by the USCIS (the official website for the immigration office in the US and should be the rules which are applied by immigration officials.
following the link on their website you come to this.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvis..._waiver.html#7

which under the requirements lists
"What Do I Need to Enter the United States under the VWP?

To enter the U.S. under the VWP, travelers from participating countries must:

Be a citizen of a Visa Waiver Program country;

Have a valid passport issued by the participating countrythat is valid for six months beyond your intended visit; Have a machine-readable passport (MRP), following the required due dates for MRPs explained above;

Be seeking entry for 90 days or less, as a temporary visitor for business or pleasure. You will not be permitted to extend your visit or change to another visa category under the VWP.
"