Daughters passport 4 months left

[PAUL GIZZI]

Hi all

Just filled out the esta, but then saw the daughters passport ( first 5 year passport ) run on in september and we go in May, so will i be ok or have to renew, and pay the esta again

cheers

[Snapper]

You'll be OK Paul. The rules as I understand them are that when the immigration chappie grants you access to the US on ESTA based travel they will stamp your passport with a must-depart-by date that is 90 days into the future ... unless your passport expires before then, in which case they will reduce the number of days you are allowed to remain in the US such that you must depart before your passport expires.

Either way, if you're out in May it looks like your daughter's passport expire will fall just outside the 90 days so the immigration officer won't even need to adjust the date on their stamper. They may remark about the passport being close to expiry and remind you that you'll need a new ESTA when you get a new passport.

It's a beautiful time of the year to be over there BTW. Top choice!!

[ellie]

You could always renew your daughter's passport early as they will add the unused months onto her new passport, then you need only do the one ESTA application and it will last 2 years - this would save time and money! [msnwink]

Ah, just re-read your post and it seems you have already done your ESTA - sorry! [msnsad]

And yes, you will have to pay to redo the ESTA when she gets her new passport.

[Gerry Reed]

Not sure if you get a totally new passport when renewing a child' s passport after the first 5 years - I think they may just update the photo and keep the same passport number - they don't charge the full rate for a new passport do they. In that case as the esta is linked to the passport number I think you would be OK to renew the passport and still use the same ESTA. I am not sure about this but it would be worth phoning the passport office to ask.
Sue

[DANESKA18]

You have to get a completely new passport after the original 5 years - they don't extend them anymore. The fee is not as much as for an adult - can't remember the exact amount but its on the Passport Office website. When you renew any passport you have to get a new ESTA and pay the appropriate fee. This is the same for children and adults.

[PAUL GIZZI]

Thanks for the replies, i try to go in may every other year great weather and smaller queues, maybe worth phoning the passport office to check?

[Jill]

If your daughter's passport does not expire until September 2013 then you are fine to travel to the States this May on her existing passport. It is not a requirement to have 6 months remaining on a passport after departure for the States. This way you will not have to renew the Esta until after you have renewed your daughter's passport.

[gpullan]

We travelled with only 5 weeks left on a passport and as mentioned, the immigration officer will just change his stamp to the day before the passport expires. Bit of a pain for him but totally legal. You wont have this issue so no probs.

[steph_goodrum]

We travelled with only 5 weeks left on a passport and as mentioned, the immigration officer will just change his stamp to the day before the passport expires. Bit of a pain for him but totally legal. You wont have this issue so no probs.

it may be legal but year before last when we did this with hubby passport expring at end of feb and us travelling in december, he got taken in for secondary and even though the man at the desk said you dont need six months he said he still had to pass him on for secondary questioning. in there they were quite stroppy with hubby and kept insisting he did need 6 months not something he wants to got hrough again, so next time there will be no doubt. hes travelled 3 times since and not been taken in again, he was worried it would be flagged and hed get taken in every time.

[Lyn]

I have found in the past that the immigration officers do not seem to know the laws of the land they are protecting, so although you don't need and extra time on your passport anymore it might be better to renew just for peace of mind.