Passport advice

big nuts · Oct 7, 2016

Looks likely I'll be travelling to Boston (New England) on Thursday 3rd November flying back on Sunday 6th and arriving back in London Monday 7th November.

Coincidentally my current passport expires on November 7th.

The Home Office website states the following:-

Passport validity
Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. You don’t need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this.

The question is should I renew now and get a new passport or use it to it's expiry.

Thoughts or previous experiences welcomed.

Easy 10 · Oct 7, 2016

Its USA, so you may well need 6 months on it. [edit] - apparently not.

Don't forget to get your ESTA.

ManOfSussex · Oct 7, 2016

Some countries require 6 months left on it, but the FCO travel advice to the USA doesn't state this as a requirement.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements

bognor gull · Oct 7, 2016

Returned from the States on passport expiration day before. You'll be fine

big nuts · Oct 7, 2016

bognor gull said:
Returned from the States on passport expiration day before. You'll be fine

I suppose the one potential pitfall of doing this, is if for any reason your flight gets cancelled or delayed you may have a problem.

beorhthelm · Oct 7, 2016

i gather you will have a world of hassle with a near expired passport, whatever the official guidance. renew.

Icy Gull · Oct 7, 2016

If you do decide to use your old passport make sure that it is biometric, ie with the small gold chip, otherwise you won't even get on the plane out of the UK

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...hout-biometric-passports-could-be-turned-away

Goldstone1976 · Oct 7, 2016

big nuts said:
I suppose the one potential pitfall of doing this, is if for any reason your flight gets cancelled or delayed you may have a problem.

Yep...personally, I'd go for getting a new passport before travelling - you have enough time. .gov.uk says that you'll get it back within 3 weeks using their standard service (£72.50), or you can pay £103 for the 1-week fast track service (which also requires a visit to the passport office).

big nuts · Oct 7, 2016

Goldstone1976 said:
Yep...personally, I'd go for getting a new passport before travelling - you have enough time. .gov.uk says that you'll get it back within 3 weeks using their standard service (£72.50), or you can pay £103 for the 1-week fast track service (which also requires a visit to the passport office).

If I were to renew would I be required to renew my ESTA as it's linked to my old passport? I renewed by ESTA Oct 15 but presumably, it's not given me the usual two years as my passport expired within 13 months so the expiry date matches that of my existing passport.

Goldstone1976 · Oct 7, 2016

big nuts said:
If I were to renew would I be required to renew my ESTA as it's linked to my old passport? I renewed by ESTA Oct 15 but presumably, it's not given me the usual two years as my passport expired within 13 months so the expiry date matches that of my existing passport.

Yep, you would (99% sure)... easy enough to do online though...

FatSuperman · Oct 7, 2016

Goldstone1976 said:
Yep...personally, I'd go for getting a new passport before travelling - you have enough time. .gov.uk says that you'll get it back within 3 weeks using their standard service (£72.50), or you can pay £103 for the 1-week fast track service (which also requires a visit to the passport office).

If you've got to go there you may as well do the one-day passport? Unless that is much more costly?

Notters · Oct 7, 2016

I would definitely renew!

Goldstone1976 · Oct 7, 2016

FatSuperman said:
If you've got to go there you may as well do the one-day passport? Unless that is much more costly?

It's def more (£30-40, from memory), and you have to hang around for a few hours while they do their stuff.

Official Old Man · Oct 7, 2016

Today is 7 October. You have time to renew, heck you've got to renew sometime so why not now.
On the other hand you could hope for the best, get to check-in and be turned away.
I know what I'd do. Start filling in the form now.

Thunder Bolt · Oct 7, 2016

My passport was due to run out in January. I renewed online, posted it from the PO, the following morning and got it back within a week, and it's valid until February 2027, so I haven't lost any months.
It's simple as long as the photo is ok.

Bozza · Oct 7, 2016

Renew. It's not peak season for this so turnaround will be well inside the 3 weeks.

The only risk might be your photo failing the rather strict rules. Best to use somewhere that knows what they're doing so it gets through the first time.

spence · Oct 7, 2016

We always use post office check and send. Never had a passport returned and never waited more than 10 days for it. Well worth paying for this service. Plus they have photo booths.

Mackenzie · Oct 7, 2016

Notters said:
I would definitely renew!

And me. Why take the risk?

The Spanish · Oct 7, 2016

big nuts said:
If I were to renew would I be required to renew my ESTA as it's linked to my old passport? I renewed by ESTA Oct 15 but presumably, it's not given me the usual two years as my passport expired within 13 months so the expiry date matches that of my existing passport.

New passport requires new esta.

Codner pharmaceuticals · Oct 7, 2016

Renew

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