Passport query?

[BIRD]

We're off to Florida for a family holiday on May 1st. Both of my sons passports expire in Oct 2006. Will their passports need renewing or will it be ok to travel? Thanks in advance.

[dzug]

As long as they meet all the other requirements for a visa waiver they'll be OK. The US only requires UK passports to be valid for the duration of the visit.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

i would check with the us embassy,you know what funny gits the yanks are,just to be on the safe side.

[lady_p_gold]

And make sure they have a machine readable passport ....

[dzug]

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/niv/vwp.html

has details, but always as well to check things haven't changed

[kazza12345]

dzug - i thought the passport had to be valid for a complete 6 monthe from the time you were due back (although come to think of it, i have no idea why)

[dotjhawkes]

Your passport does have to be valid for 6 months after you return, my son has had this problem, it will need renewing before travelling. Check the back of any holiday brochure

[dzug]

Yes I am sure

'If you are a passport holder from anyone of the following countries, the requirement that your passport be valid for six months beyond your date of departure from the U.S. is waived.' (UK is in the list)

from:

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/niv/sixmonth.html

specifically says so - it's the official US London Embassy website.

The US normally requires 6 months - as do many other countries. But they do not require it from UK passpott holders.

Brochures will always give the worst case so they cannot be wrong.

[BIRD]

Thank you all so much for your advice x

[Cathyhuns]

However you can renew passports up to 9 months before expiry without losing the unexpired time so why not renew them now and then there will no problems if you have come across a "jobs worth" US immigration officer.

http://www.ukpa.gov.uk/passport_renewing_when.asp