Passport Dilemma..Help!

trets77

If it is the ESTA you are worried about then why not apply now and see what happens?

With no criminal convictions I would say it is 99.9% certain to be approved on the spot (unless you are really are a World War 2 Nazi!). If it goes through no problem in your maiden name then logic says it will go through in your married name. Cost to you $10 and piece of mind.

Also I assume you have already paid for the Honeymoon? If the application gets rejected there is still the chance you might not get to go at all ( Married or maiden name) unless you get a VISA from the embassy. It is very unlikely you will get rejected for the ESTA unless you have criminal convictions or have overstayed in the USA before.

Like the website says you have up to 72 hours before departure to get the ESTA. A week should be plenty long enough as for most people the approval is instant.

thegirlintheattic

Why not change your name before hand and apply for passport now.

jackieblack

claire16c wrote: »

The price to change your name is the same price as a new passport so there is no point in renewing it in her maiden name - and the new passport wont expire for 10 years!

From this

Kelpla wrote: »

I can see on the ESTA site that I cannot use a postdated passport so would need to wait until the wedding date before I can apply. We have 7 days between the wedding and leaving for honeymoon and the website says I can apply no later than 72 hours before I travel. I am worried that a) this might be too late for some reason, b) what would happen if I am rejected (I have no convictions etc so cannot think why this might happen). Any thoughts or similar experiences will be very helpful!

I read the OP's dilemma as being she was worried about having to wait until only a few days before travelling to apply for the ESTA.

If OP renews her passport asap she can apply for ESTA as soon as she has the new passport and be confident that all is well.
There is enough stress already in the run up to a wedding, if one worry can be eliminated ahead of time this can only be a good thing!

She can also continue to travel on passport in maiden name for the life of the passport (providing they remember to book any trips in that name) or if she wants to change it later (which would be her choice, not a necessity) she can.

Cost of new passport vs Peace of Mind in run up to her wedding