Did you know this about passports?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know this.

Does anybody know why this is the rule? I find it strange.

My guess is that it is because a lot of people's travel plans change after they go. Some people who are traveling to visit family or for business have to extend their stay due to health issues, family issues, work extensions, etc. Visas expire with passports and it probably saves the state department a lot of time and money to ensure that passports are valid for possible extensions. Although many people come back when they plan to, there are probably enough people who stay for a few extra days or weeks to cause quite a lot of issues for US embassies and the state department that they have this rule in place to ensure that any temporary extension is still covered.

And by the way, the amount of time your passport must be valid for is not controlled by the US government. The actual duration of validity is specified by each country you are visiting. So, if you are planning on visiting more than one country, you need to check for each and every one of those countries. The dates range up to 6 months after your expected return.

Here are some other good tips to know:
http://www.chicagonow.com/raising-world-citizens/2014/01/passport-expiration-dates-when-you-cannot-travel-on-a-valid-passport/

[Anonymous]

I had no idea about this. Why would they put an expiration date that is not really the expiration date?!? Crazy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am currently abroad and my passport expires in August. I checked beforehand, and it was fine. I did know about some countries needing 6 months. My issue is that my visa for this country is put in my passport, and although my passport expires in August, my visa is good for much longer. If I return to this country, I will need to bring my new passport, and then my expired passport which has my visa. Never do something silly like cut a visa out of a passport. In the future, I will have to carry my old and new passports to this country.

You just need to bring your current and expired passport with the visa, no big deal, immigration officers are used to that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually just checked on this, as we have a summer trip to Canada planned, and my kid's passport expires 2 months after the trip.

Canada is fine, btw. Your passport must be valid for the duration of the trip -- no extra overlap needed. And if you use an online calendar, go put the expiration dates of your passports on it. Even if it's five years away.

This is true! We were nervous last year because DS's passport was set to expire a few days after returning from a trip to Canada. He was allowed to go but Canada must be the exception to the rule.

[Anonymous]

Some countries require 3 months, some require 6 mos, and some require no additional time. It's best to check before you get to far into planning!!

[Anonymous]

I knew this but I work for the State Department. I can't imagine I would know otherwise! I'm sorry that happened to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I knew this.

+1

Not to be snooty, but I thought this was common knowledge.

Same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were set to leave for Italy on Friday and were turned away at the airport because my 10 year old's passport expired 2 months AFTER we returned, and the passport needs to be valid for at least 3 months (to EU) and at least 6 months for many other countries. We have to scramble for an emergency passport but lost 3-4 days of our trip, not to mention hotel, etc. Please check that your passport (and especially kids, as they expire every 5 years) is valid for the required time after returning. Our airline ticketing person said he saw about 4 people a day who had the same problem, and I hope that this will at least enable others to avoid the same situation.

I'm sorry this happened to you!

Did you have a fleeting moment where you thought of leaving the 10yo behind?

[Anonymous]

Thanks, OP. I had never heard that.

[Anonymous]

No, I had no idea. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I knew this. Annoying, but I thought it was pretty common. I was always taught that 6 months is the minimum that should be left on your passport. 1 year, ideally.

[Anonymous]

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html

It talks about the topic on the US passport web site so I am not sure why this is such a surprise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I knew this.

+1

Not to be snooty, but I thought this was common knowledge.

+1

My son's passport was at under 6 months left before expiration so I knew I needed it renewed now.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry OP- that's tge pits. It sounds like some other people didn't know this either, so you did a good deed. I've seen it on departure information, but I wouldn't have given it any thought if I hadn't read it specifically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I knew this.

+1

Not to be snooty, but I thought this was common knowledge.

Not to me! Never heard anything of the sort before.

+1