Passport to usa advice needed please.

gk172

Hi can anyone please advise me what i need and what is valid as ive tried the post office and the passport office and they are not much help at all. Im trying to find out what paperwork i need to travel to florida this summer (2 weeks), do we need visas or are passports the only thing we need and are the passports valid, mine and hubbys are the burgandy passports issued jul 02 due to expire 2012 and the kids i need to get new passports for, but ive heard that there be more that we require to apply for or something to do with going to london, sorry if it sounds daft i dont want to get to the airport to be told i cant fly.

Thanks in advance;)

meerustar

I'm pretty sure you only need your passports for a holiday there as long as they have at least 6 months left before they expire.

I think you only need Visa's if you are staying a while.

I'm sure someone more knowledgable will be along soon.

Have a great trip!

The_Lambton_Worm

Do a search. There's loads of threads about this.

Mercenary

At least 6 months left on passports needed.
You will have to pick up and fill in a visa waiver form for each traveller. These are apparently at the airport (also at the US Embassy of course).
They used to get you to fill these out on the flight, but different rules now, I suppose, along with the new security.

Speaking of which, have you checked the new hand baggage rules too?
http://www.gatwickairport.com/

http://www.heathrowairport.com/

Pick up some sealable (ziplock type) plastic food bags 20cm x 20cm (medium?) at the supermarket. You'll need one only each to put anything containing liquid or gel inside (even mascara!). The items must be 100mls or less and the bag must be sealed.
Luckily buying stuff in America is dirt cheap so you won't have to take much with you.:D

Oh Yes, do NOT make any stupid jokes to the Immigration and Customs people unless you want to see America's jail system up close and personal. They do not have much of a sense of humour.

We're re-visiting LA in May so I have been looking at all this too.

june1970_2

if you have been in trouble with the police you will need a visa.

plumduff-2

I understand that you only need a passport and that the visa waiver forms are handed out on the plane prior to landing in the US...

However, the US have done a crack down on people travelling who have criminal convictions.. which can even be traffic offences and if ytou have these, there is a section on the waiver about this...

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

If you have been arrested for any offences, look at the waiver visa wizard, which will tell you whether you can travel visa free, if you cant then you need to attend the MAerican Embassy to get a visa, although this is noguarantee that they will allow you in when you get there...

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/visa_wizard.html

Mercenary

@ plumduff-2 re the visa waiver, I refer you to a quote from Heathrow's booking email to us:

---

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO USA ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

---

Since 26 October 2004, non-US citizens wishing to visit
the USA must have either:

1. a Machine readable passport and a Visa Waiver form
(obtained at the airport on departure)
OR
2. a valid visa which must be obtained before travel
from the US authorities

Children travelling with a Visa Waiver form must
hold their own machine readable passport.

The nationals of some countries can only travel to the
USA if they have a valid visa as they are not eligible
or the Visa Waiver Programme.

The_Lambton_Worm

june1970 wrote:

if you have been in trouble with the police you will need a visa.

No you don't.

And I thanked you by mistake. (wish they'd move the poxy buttons away from each other).

june1970_2

The_Lambton_Worm wrote:

No you don't.

And I thanked you by mistake. (wish they'd move the poxy buttons away from each other).

what i meant was if you have any convictions you will need a visa.

The_Lambton_Worm

june1970 wrote:

what i meant was if you have any convictions you will need a visa.

No you don't. I've got plenty from when I was younger. Don't tell them. They can't find out from the UK Govt.

(Eeee I pressed the right button this time! :j )

mystic_trev

The_Lambton_Worm wrote:

They can't find out from the UK Govt.

Oh yes they can! You've (obviously) been very lucky!