Travelling to USA on passport with 5 months left - will it be ok?

[noitsnotteatimeyet]

Dd’s going on a school trip to Texas in October but I’ve just realised her passport expires in early April 2019. Is this likely to be a problem? I know US border control can be a bit tricky ... anyone know if I need to get her a new passport before she goes?

You need to have at least 6 months on your passport so I wouldn't risk it and get her a new one.

It only needs to be valid for the duration of her stay.

She needs at least 6mths expiry on her passport. You’ll have to get her a new passport (and possibly a new ESTA as well).

(FCO website: "Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. You don’t need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this.")

My aunt had to buy a new ticket at Heathrow when she had less than 6 months on her passport on a trip to visit family in the US (and had stopped off in the UK to see us - and she had a green card).

She is fine with 5 months left, it only has to be valid for the length of stay.

You can renew it now & the remaining months will be added on.

But yes, if she’s already got her ESTA she’ll have to get another

Shes fine.

You need to need to get her a new passport. The six month is so they can track the holder down if there are any issues. As PP stated, she’ll need a new ESTA too as it must match passport number (friend though he had an ESTa, was against old passport number, managed to apply at airport). UK passport people should add the unexpired months of old passport to new one so you won’t lose out.

It used to be 6 months, however this rule changed a while ago! If you are travelling from the uk on a uk passport then you definitely only need the duration of stay. We go to USA often and this is definitely the rule!
Think it's to do with the visa waiver programme that the USA/uk have (sets rather than Visa)
I'm part of a USA travel group and there are so many travel agents etc still advise 6 months but you definitely don't need it

5 months is fine, the requirement is waived for UK passport holders (and some other countries too):

The requirement that a passport is valid for travel for six months beyond the holder’s stay in the United States is waived for certain nationalities, including British Citizens.

uk.usembassy.gov/visas/non-immigrant-visa-faqs/passport-and-travel-documents/

If she's travelling through other countries to get there where she needs to clear their immigration it can sometimes cause issues.

(additional source: DH used to work in the US Consulate)

Phew thanks! Last time I had to get her passport renewed it got caught up in one of the passport office’s periodic backlogs and took many anguished phone calls to get sorted out (the day before we travelled, by which time I had no fingernails left ..)