Passport for 16 year old

[badabing]

Hi,
Our son turned 16 on 12/07/05. His passport was issued when he was 14,and does not expire until 03/10/08.
Can he still travel to the USA under this passport, or will he need to apply for a new one? Our date of travel is 15/12/05.
I have spoken on the phone to the UK passport agency, and they say it is ok. I tried contacting the US embassy, but all I got was an automated answering service with a list of options as long as your arm, none of which were any help.
Has anyone been in a similar position before and can offer any advice? I am sure his passport will be acceptable, but the US immigration people may take a different view.
Thanks
badabing

[blott]

Why would you think his passport wouldn't be OK? As long as it's valid, is machine readable, ie it has <<<xxx>>> on the photo page and no-one else is on the same one, it's fine so far as I know.

[Lynnes]

I agree with Blott I don't see you should have a problem.

[steph_goodrum]

He will be fine. When our daughter was coming up to 16 we had to renew it (because of expiry) a month before her 16th birthday, we asked if we could get a full 10 year passport but were told that as she was under 16 we had to get the 5 year one and that she would be ok to travel on taht until it expires a month before her 21st birthday. She's used it several times since then including going to US to work for the summer (she's now 19) so your son will be fine.

It's not a case of you have to get an adult 10 year passport at 16 but that you can't get one UNTIL you are 16.

[Ray&Sarah]

Our son travelled to Florida this summer just after his 16th on his 5 year passport which was issued last year, no problems.[msnsmile]

[badabing]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply.
I think I was under the impression that you needed an adult passport when you became 16 irrespective of the length of time remaining on the child passport. I am glad to see this is not the case, as it will save us applying for a new one so close to our holiday.
Thanks
badabing