Flying to the US - anyone done this with a passport soon to run out? Can I do this?

[ciderinsideher]

Does anyone know?

I looked online and it seemed to say that it was fine to fly to the US with a UK passport with less than 6 months on it (I have about 3 months left on mine).

But then the woman at the passport office when I took my daughter's passport form in said you needed at least 6 months on your passport to fly at all, let alone to the States.

Can anyone please confirm as I'm due to fly in 3 weeks so urgently need to know if I need to renew my passport in a hurry??!

Thank you

You need 6 months, sorry I haven’t got better news for you

Yes 6 mths is required

No you don't need 6 months, the UK has a special agreement with the USA.

The U.K. is exempted from the 6 month rule for the US. It just needs to be valid for return flight and obviously you need an ESTA. I’ll find the US government website links and post them shortly. It’s a good idea to ring your airline and confirm that they don’t have a separate policy with regard to passport validity though.

Ooh hang on, I stand corrected:

I’m still somewhat sceptical though.

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements

www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2017-Dec/Six-Month%20Club%20Update122017.pdf

Also make sure you have a valid ESTA. It is not instant approval anymore and can take up to 72 hours.

I got back from the US last week. My passport runs out in June. You do not need 6 months

But you.will.need an ESTA and the ESTA is lonked to a passport number so although valid for 2 years will expire when the passport does.

You do not need 6 months. I travelled to the USA on a passport that expired within three months last year.

Thank you, especially to Hellohah and DoneAdulting for confirming they have done this recently.

I did see the links online above stating it was OK but wondered if airlines went over and above what US law stated re UK passports. Agree the guidance is confusing!

Still to apply for my ESTA but waiting for my daughter's passport to come back...

Out of interest, Hellohah and DoneAdulting, what airlines did you fly on? (Just in case it is airline-specific?)

I stand corrected, that's a huge relief for you OP!

I flew with Thomas Cook

It can't be airline specific as it's up to immigration officers if you're let in or not!

Airlines have their own requirements.

And looking at various websites it appears the rules for entering and exiting are different!

Countries on this list are exempt from the 6 month requirement. The UK is on there :)
www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2017-Dec/Six-Month%20Club%20Update122017.pdf

Moose - do you have a link to the rules for entering and exiting being different?

That sounds alarming!

We travelled to the US with 3 months on our passport fine. We flew with TUI x

Thank you!