America at Short Notice

[Chassis 33]

What are the do's and don't of taking a trip to the States at short notice, say maybe a week or so. The Foreign Office site is not the clearest, basically it seems if you don't stay for more than 90days, have a machine readable passport, give 72hrs notice and have no convictions etc., you should be ok. Also my passport expires Feb 09, will that be an issue?

Regards
Iain

[bull996]

Your passport expiry maybe an issue..

[james_tigerwoods]

Don't try to fly with Zoom.

[Mosman]

I believe that as long as your passport is valid for the length of your stay you should be OK.

However as a general rule you should really make sure that you renew your passport at least six months before it expires.

Edited by Mosman on Friday 29th August 09:40

[bull996]

Mosman said:

I believe that as long as your passport is valid for the length of our stay you should be OK.

However as a general rule you should really make sure that you renew your passport at least six months before it expires.

It has been known for them to turn you away for less than 6 months AFTER the date of your RETURN.

I go regulaly and they are just getting stricter and stricter.

[Blue Meanie]

72 hours notice? The US has the visa waiver program. As long as you have a return ticket you will be fine.

[Fidgits]

you need at least 3 months on your passport from date of entry (though they are happier with 6)..

beyond that, there is nothing - ive done it frequently, just do the visa wavier you get on the plane..

[gingerpaul]

They might not notice. I managed to get in with a passport a year out of date once. I just hadn't spotted it was out of date, and neither did the immigration officer. Quite remarkable considering how strict they are. It got spotted on the way back though!

[Mikeyboy]

Their border guys get a bit nervous if you have close to 6 months on the passport and I believe for UK nationals its technically a requirement to have more than 6 months to expiration but you should be fine.

My advice though, don't wear a towel on your head, or play nervously with your shoes during the flight.

[Chassis 33]

gingerpaul said:

They might not notice. I managed to get in with a passport a year out of date once. I just hadn't spotted it was out of date, and neither did the immigration officer. Quite remarkable considering how strict they are. It got spotted on the way back though!

Know a chap who was stranded in Holland last week cos his passport expired in February 08, they let him out of the UK and only noticed on the way back.

I might renew the passport now, just to save the 6month hassle.
Regards
Iain