Passport question?

[dixie]

Can you use your Passport up to the day it expires? Someone told us that you had to have 6 months on it to be able to use it.

Also how long does it take to renew your passport if you do it by mail?

Thanks for any info!

[Luanne]

By googling, I found this:

If possible, you should renew your passport approximately nine (9) months before it expires. Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six (6) months beyond the date of your trip. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met.

On this site:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get...renew_833.html

[dougp26364]

I believe it depends on the country you are traveling to and what they're rules are. I know that, at least in some cases, there must be at least 6 months left on your exisiting passport.

Best pracitce it to renew before this point. You never know what's going to happen to delay your return. I was speaking with a fellow tugger last week who's husband was sticken with a stroke while on vacation. If memory serves me correctly (my wife telling me), it was 4 months before he was released to go home. Even then it was either by air ambulance or with a private duty nurse.

While these rules may be inconvenient and seem ridiculous, they are there for your protection. Unexpected things can and do happen when traveling.

[tschwa2]

Originally Posted by dixie

Can you use your Passport up to the day it expires? Someone told us that you had to have 6 months on it to be able to use it.

Also how long does it take to renew your passport if you do it by mail?

Thanks for any info!

United States Immigration will accept a passport up to the day it expires. Some countries have entry requirements that may include passport valid 6 months from date of entry.

I wouldn't recommend traveling out of the country and returning on the day your passport expires. Flights get cancelled, etc. and it would be a big headache to return to the US without a valid passport.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get...renew_833.html
According to the government site mail renewals can be done in 2 weeks but I would think allowing 4 weeks would be safer.

Tracey

[Keitht]

You may also find different airlines interpreting the requirements differently for the same destination. As the airlines are the ones hit with the fines in the event that a traveller is refused entry some are more cautious than others.
Safest bet is to check both with your chosen airline and on tourist board sites for the country you plan to visit.

[NWL]

Renewed mine through the mail a few months back. It took less than 2 weeks from the time I dropped it in the mail until it showed up at home. Freaked me out! Renewals take much less time to process than new ones. Renew ahead of time to be on the safe side!

Cheers!

[Talent312]

Originally Posted by NWL

Renewed mine through the mail a few months back. It took less than 2 weeks from the time I dropped it in the mail until it showed up at home. Freaked me out!

Same here. My renewal showed up in the mail before the passport center even acknowledged receipt online.
And yes, many countries require 180 days validity for for admission. So you'll lose 6 months off your last passport... that's what $3-$4 of your last passport fee. Parking at Epcot costs more.

[Keitht]

Originally Posted by Talent312

Same here. My renewal showed up in the mail before the passport center even acknowledged receipt online.
And yes, many countries require 180 days validity for for admission. So you'll lose 6 months off your last passport...

You don't lose those 6 months in all countries. In the UK you can renew up to a year in advance and the new passport runs for the full period plus the unused part of the current passport.

[hibbeln]

I recently had my kids' passports renewed by mail (mailed to Chicago) and they were back in 6 days. But don't count on that.

I know 2 people that were turned back at countries for the "less than 6 month" rule. One in an Asian country and one in an Eastern European country. That's not what you want to hear when you climb off the plane after a long flight and get turned back around and sent home.

I think it falls into one of those "better safe than sorry" scenarios.

[GetawaysRus]

A different question about passports:

Our passports are filled with stamps and visas from all the countries we have visited. They are something of a souvenir of our trips.

When you renew, I believe that you are asked to send in your old passport. Do they return it to you, to keep as a souvenir, or not?

[beanb41]

I dont know about American passports but NZ expired passports are returned with a top right hand corner cut off and a cancelled stamp inside.

[NWL]

Originally Posted by GetawaysRus

A different question about passports:

Our passports are filled with stamps and visas from all the countries we have visited. They are something of a souvenir of our trips.

When you renew, I believe that you are asked to send in your old passport. Do they return it to you, to keep as a souvenir, or not?

You get your old passport back along with the new one. The old one has a hole punched in it. The passport people know we want to keep them for souvenirs!