Requirements to enter USA

flyfto

going to NYC in January and have few questions about entry requirements.

I know we have to obtain an ESTA each (14$).

My wifes passport expires in june 2013, we have looked on few websites which indicates that this is ok, but I am sure i have seen somewhere in past you need at least 6 months validity on passport from your actual travel date ! can anyone enighten me.

Also guy in my work says that to obtain an ESTA you need the modern passport with chip and he says that her one might not be acceptable, but surely this is not the case !!!!

any advice much appreciated thanks

headpin

As long as the Passport is valid for length of stay, the expiry date is not an issue.

Your wife's Passport will be the previous style with a machine readable set of digits on the picture/information page and is therefore acceptable for entry in to the US.

Make sure you get your ESTA in good time. Remember it is valid for two years and not just this single trip.

The only thing you will have to worry about is the length of the queue (line in US parlance) to clear immigration. Do not be surprised to have to wait 2 hours+ to clear.

Enjoy your trip.

claire16c

Headpin is correct. Her passport is fine as long as its machine readable - with the digits going along the bottom of the photo page. The guy at your work is wrong.

alanrowell

headpin wrote: »

Make sure you get your ESTA in good time. Remember it is valid for two years and not just this single trip.

It's valid for 2 years or to the expiry date of the passport whichever is earlier. So OP's wife's ESTA will expire in June 2013. However the UK allows you to renew up to 9 months before the passport expires so she needs to renew it now then get the ESTA - DON'T do it too early as the 2 years starts from the date you apply not the date you first enter the US.

gem75

headpin wrote: »

The only thing you will have to worry about is the length of the queue (line in US parlance) to clear immigration. Do not be surprised to have to wait 2 hours+ to clear.

Enjoy your trip.

I've been to the States about half a dozen times now I think the longest wait was about 40 mins. However, we do pick seats as far forward as possible so as to be first off the plane and don't hang around walking as fast as we can to immigration, seems to have worked so far. Obviously it does depend what else has arrived at the same time.

denwhatshisname

alanrowell wrote: »

It's valid for 2 years or to the expiry date of the passport whichever is earlier.

Or if the answers to some of the questions change, example : criminality

flyfto

alanrowell wrote: »

It's valid for 2 years or to the expiry date of the passport whichever is earlier. So OP's wife's ESTA will expire in June 2013. However the UK allows you to renew up to 9 months before the passport expires so she needs to renew it now then get the ESTA - DON'T do it too early as the 2 years starts from the date you apply not the date you first enter the US.

Cheers for replies guys most helpful, but are you saying because her passport expires in june2013, she has to get a new passport in order to obtain Her ESTA?
I am a bit confused with what you wrote ! Could u explain cheers

Teahfc

For Approx Immigration clearance times this is a great site.

http://apps.cbp.gov/awt/

denwhatshisname

flyfto wrote: »

are you saying because her passport expires in june2013, she has to get a new passport in order to obtain Her ESTA?

When her passport expires, she has to get a new passport and then get a new ESTA

dzug1

flyfto wrote: »

Cheers for replies guys most helpful, but are you saying because her passport expires in june2013, she has to get a new passport in order to obtain Her ESTA?
I am a bit confused with what you wrote ! Could u explain cheers

No - if she gets an ESTA now it will be valid until her passport expires in June 2013

If she gets a new passport in the meantime that ESTA becomes invalid and she must apply for a new one with the new passport.

Fridge3

flyfto wrote: »

going to NYC in January and have few questions about entry requirements.

I know we have to obtain an ESTA each (14$).

My wifes passport expires in june 2013, we have looked on few websites which indicates that this is ok, but I am sure i have seen somewhere in past you need at least 6 months validity on passport from your actual travel date ! can anyone enighten me.

Also guy in my work says that to obtain an ESTA you need the modern passport with chip and he says that her one might not be acceptable, but surely this is not the case !!!!

any advice much appreciated thanks

Go here,

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/

Click on the country and got to Entry Requirements - Passport validity.

Current advice for US:

Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay; you do not need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this. However, it is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure.