Passport renewal

InsideInsurance

Whilst I am sure the Foreign Office try their best I personally would rather look at a US Governmental website for a US requirement rather than a UK Governmental one.

http://london.usembassy.gov/vwp3.html

In this case neither mention the requirement for 6 months validity (this was a pre waiver scheme requirement)

maggiesoop

I think that it IS the travel agents who are causing the problem. I called the Passport Office and they confirm that my son and I only need a valid passport to enter USA however when I popped into two different travel agents this morning both stressed "I wouldn't take the risk" which make me think OK lets just go for new passports.

I've just gone into the Post Office to hand in the forms. I was recommended to use their Fastrack Service (back within 2 weeks and they go through the form with you). The Post Office worker advised that as my son only held a junior passport previously and because he is now 19 he will be renewing it to adult status. She said this can sometimes take 6 weeks and also there may be a possibility of him having to go into the regional branch for an interview. This is simply driving me NUTS !!!! I was almost in tears at the counter and I'm still no further forward.

I've tried calling the US Embassy in London, its all automated. This is seriously depressing.

I really am scared that if I simply don't get the new passport, what's to stop someone on the American side telling me my passport isn't valid. Can I get anything in writing from someone in authority to confirm that I can use our current passports?

peachyprice

It's here, on the American Embassy blog website

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/visaservices/?p=485

The info is from the Public Affairs Section at the American Embassy in London on behalf of the American Embassy.

You're not going to get turned away from USA just for not having 6 months on your passport.

antonic

This is from Gov.UK

https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-passport

If you’ve had a child passport before, follow the process for renewing your passport to get your first adult one.
How long it takes

It takes at least 6 weeks to get your first UK adult passport.

The Identity and Passport Service may ask to interview you as part of the application process.

mountainofdebt

as far as I know the interview is only for adults who have never, even as a child, held a passport.

Even if he did have to have an interview, the passport is received a few days after the interview.

Voyager2002

maggiesoop wrote: »

Good morning all,

I booked flights to America departing 14 Dec 2012 with Barrhead Travel last week. At no time did the guy mention that passports had to be valid for at least 6 months when travelling to the US, it was pure coincidence that my brother mentioned it yesterday.

As several people have already explained, you do NOT need six months validity on your passports. You have been given links to official websites from both British and US authorities. That is it: end of story.

It beats me that you are still taking seriously comments from incompetent travel agents. And it is not surprising that the Post Office recommend the most expensive version of their service. I do hope that you have not sent off your passports for renewal, since by doing so you run the risk that the new ones will not arrive in time, and the certainty that you will be worrying about this for the next few weeks.

richardw

My renewed passport arrived today, took 2 weeks.

smudge56

If you have decided to renew your passports you can fast-track your applications @ the Glasgow office. One person can submit all the applications - all that is needed is a letter of authority.
Glasgow office does not process postal applications - the application that get posted there are transferred to Durham, Peterborough and Liverpool to be examined.
The Post office service is NOT A GUARANTEED SERVICE - all they do is ensure that the form is completed correctly. (Name, address and signature- enclose 2 photos and old passport - not difficult)
Postal applications can still take up to six weeks to process.

mum2one

I did DD's through check and send at Post office and we had her passport back within 8 days.

x

maggiesoop

Thanks to all replies, even though a few did in fact get it wrong. I have now established (through actually speaking to someone at Foreign & Commonweath Office) that neither my son nor I need to have 6 months extra on passport. As posted by a few, so long as the passport is valid and we have an approved ESTA we will get entry.

I am truly LIVID with all the Travel Agents I spoke to (not least Barrhead Travel who booked our flights) who went out their way to stress that I needed the extra 6 months. I sent my "rep" an email to this effect this morning only to receive a "thankyou for letting me know"..... Unbelievable!