Travelling to US with expiring passport and valid ESTA

[aspen]

Hi all,

I'm travelling to the US on Friday. My passport expires in Oct, I'm only going for two weeks so my passport will be technically valid for the duration of my stay. I also already have a valid ESTA, which is Valid until Feb 2011.

I was unaware that you are apparently supposed to have at least 90 days left on your passport to travel to America until this week. On the ESTA website it says my ESTA is valid until 2 years after it was granted or until my passport expires. So that seems fine. I called BA and they seemed to think the rules had changed since ESTA was introduced and I'll be fine. I've tried calling the US embassy on their premium rate number only to be told that calls are busy and I should call back later!

So my question is, does anyone know for certain if I'll be fine with my current passport or should I shell out £130 for a one day passport turn around? Anyone travelled with an expiring passport before?

[5potTurbo]

Don't you have to input all your passport details in ESTA to gain the approval anyway?

I would have thought, but I might be wrong, that if it was a problem that your passport was about to expire that the ESTA approval wouldn't have been given.

If you do pay £130 for a 1 day turnaround passport, you may also need to pay £14 for ESTA approval when you receive it as ESTA charges kick-in sometime next month - I think?

[aspen]

5potTurbo said:

Don't you have to input all your passport details in ESTA to gain the approval anyway?

I would have thought, but I might be wrong, that if it was a problem that your passport was about to expire that the ESTA approval wouldn't have been given.

If you do pay £130 for a 1 day turnaround passport, you may also need to pay £14 for ESTA approval when you receive it as ESTA charges kick-in sometime next month - I think?

When you apply for an ESTA, it states that you passport must be valid for 6 months. I was granted the ESTA in Jan 2009 and it is valid for two years from then OR until my passport expires. So I meet those requirements

I think I'm ok, I'll try the embassy later as someone there should know for certain but I don't like having to call repeatedly at £1.20 a minute!

[SwineFluPirate]

I recently went to Florida, and had only 2 months left on my passport, and had the same issue. I rang the US Embassy, and they said it should be fine, and it was.

[aspen]

SwineFluPirate said:

I recently went to Florida, and had only 2 months left on my passport, and had the same issue. I rang the US Embassy, and they said it should be fine, and it was.

Thanks, thats what I was wanting to hear.

So the embassy could only say that it 'should' be fine? Did the immigration officials mention it at all?

Still can't get through to the embassy, at the moment I'm thinking its safer to spend £130 on a new passport and avoid all doubt. I'd be somewhat disappointed if I get turned away at immigration.

[ViperDave]

what you are looking for is this
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/104770...

state.gov web man said:

Which travelers may use the Visa Waiver Program to enter the United States?

Review this VWP Quick Reference Guide (for new member countries) and make sure you review this webpage for detailed information. Nationals of the 36 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program may use VWP if:

They have received an authorization to travel under the VWP through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA
They present the appropriate type of passport valid for six months past their expected stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions) (link above). This is a requirement in addition to other passport requirements for all categories of passports -- regular, diplomatic, and official - when the traveler is seeking to enter the United States for business or tourist purposes, for a maximum of 90 days;

whole thing can be found here http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_...


We did this a few years back when OH passport was expiring, fairly nerve racking as end of the day all these things come down to the guy behind the desk having a good or bad day, but had no problems.

Edited by ViperDave on Tuesday 31st August 14:49

[aspen]

Thanks,

Also found this:

Foreign and commonwealth office website said:

Does my British passport have to be valid for six months beyond my date of departure from the United States?

No, if your passport is not valid for at least six months beyond your date of departure from the United States, it will not affect your eligibility to travel. The United States has an agreement with the United Kingdom automatically extending the validity of a passport for six months past the passport's expiration date. Therefore, your passport need remain valid only for the duration of your stay in the United States.

If you are travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program and your passport is not valid for 90 days, you will be admitted into the United States until the date on which the passport expires.

from: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/...

Says at the top of the page that it is valid information for todays date.

Thats good enough for me

[5potTurbo]

Ah, good stuff.

sorry, I read your original post too quickly and missed the part about your ESTA expiration date.