UK Passport due to expire

[ncmurray]

Robert is right, there. It is usually the travel agents and airlines that will say that you need 6 months on your passport, and it is they that are creating the confusion.

You definitely don't need 6 months on your passport. It just needs to be valid for the dates of travel. We went to the US in May with only a couple of days left on our passports when we returned, and we weren't questioned once. The only comment made was to remind us to renew our passports as they were due to expire. We don't have visas, either.

I hope this helps.

Nuala

[Michelle]

We made an appointment to go to passport office, as our passports were due for renewal. . You fill in the renwal passport form take it up with you with relevant photos, they then ask you come back in about 3 hours to collect both passports. They do not touch USA visa page in your old passport,as we have USA visa in our old passport just means when ever you travel to USA you take both passports with you. Mind you it does cost you more for the renwal. But if you have a 6 months stay visitors visa, then you do need to have at least 6 months left on your passport.

[gkjones]

His Visa in his due to expire UK passport is valid for another 14 years. The UK passport expires 7 days after we arrive back from the US. I suppose we should fast track for a renewal just for peace of mind. Thanks for all your advice!

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:But if you have a 6 months stay visitors visa, then you do need to have at least 6 months left on your passport.[/quote]That is incorrect I believe; or perhaps you can point to the regulation that supports that statement.

The regulations really are clearly laid down in the US Embassy website; and that is that you can enter and stay in the USA up to the date your passport expires; it doesn't differentiate between visa and visa waiver.

Everyone who enters on a visa waiver has a potential 90 days 'permission' to stay in the USA, in the same way as a B2 visitors visa gives you a potential 6 months 'permission'.

So if you enter for a week using your visa or visa waiver and have 8 days left on your passport you are OK. You will only be granted 'permission' to stay until you passport expires.

Obviously if you intend to stay in the USA for the 6 months that your visa allows, then your passport must have 6months left.

[ellie]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by gkjones
His Visa in his due to expire UK passport is valid for another 14 years. The UK passport expires 7 days after we arrive back from the US. I suppose we should fast track for a renewal just for peace of mind. Thanks for all your advice!
[/quote]

Hope you manage to get your passports sorted, and that all goes well. Have a great holiday, and I am sure you will have no problems whatever you decide do to.

[ujpest doza]

It isn't Travel Agents and Airlines who "get it wrong" as such.

Some airlines will not carry you if you have less than 6 months validity on your passport so you must check with the airline as if they refuse to carry you in the first place whatever US Immigration tells you will be irrelavent.

The reason Airlines are picky about this is that they are responsible for the documents of their passengers being in order once they have boarded and took off and they suffer hefty fines if their any irregularities so cover their backs in this way.

[florida4sun]

Yep but they still get it wrong, they did with us. After a blazing row (I was spitting nails), and a call to the emabassey we were let on our way. Folow the rules is one thing but making up thier own is wrong.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ujpest doza
It isn't Travel Agents and Airlines who "get it wrong" as such.

Some airlines will not carry you if you have less than 6 months validity on your passport so you must check with the airline as if they refuse to carry you in the first place whatever US Immigration tells you will be irrelavent.

The reason Airlines are picky about this is that they are responsible for the documents of their passengers being in order once they have boarded and took off and they suffer hefty fines if their any irregularities so cover their backs in this way.

[/quote]

[ujpest doza]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by florida4sun
Yep but they still get it wrong, they did with us. After a blazing row (I was spitting nails), and a call to the emabassey we were let on our way. Folow the rules is one thing but making up thier own is wrong.
[/quote]

They don't have to carry you even if you have 5 years left on your passport though.

They can make as many rules as they want as its their aircraft you're flying on.

I had to get a new passport as i would only have had 5 months left on mine and Monarch are adamant they won't carry you with less than 6 months on your passport. It wasn't really an issue as you get up to 9 months on top of the 10 years on your passport if you have that time remaining.

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:The reason Airlines are picky about this is that they are responsible for the documents of their passengers being in order once they have boarded and took off and they suffer hefty fines if their any irregularities so cover their backs in this way[/quote]

But the point is that they are 'in order' if the passport is valid for the length of your stay as it then conforms with UK and USA regulations.

Why are Monarch any different to any other airline?

The most plausible reason is that they simply haven't removed that 6 month stipulation from their 'terms and conditions' and nobody can be bothered to find out if that condition is still valid.

IIRC Virgin made the same foul up and kept the 6 month stipulation in their terms and conditions long after the regulations changed - but eventually got round to changing them.

I expect Monarch will get round to changing them in a year or two!

Incidentally airlines registered with the IATA simply do not have Carte Blanche to make up "as many rules as they want".

[ujpest doza]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:
Incidentally airlines registered with the IATA simply do not have Carte Blanche to make up "as many rules as they want".
[/quote]

Not exactly no, but they can ban anyone they want from flying with them if they so wish.