USA travel advice

[Mobley52]

I am planning a trip to Washington DC next year. At the time of travel I will have 2 months left on my passport.

All the advice I’ve seen online says that to travel to the US your passport needs to be valid for the duration of your trip (which mine will be). Can anyone confirm this is definitely the case? I don’t want to be tripped up on something like ESTA needing 6 months or something else I hadn’t thought of.

Also BA and United Airlines have similar times for flights. Any advice on which airline is better?

And any advice on best things to do in DC?

Thanks!

Get a new passport.

110% get a new passport.
It's not worth planning this trip to get turned away at the airport.
Regardless of where I'm travelling I always renew 8months before expiry so I no it gets to me in time of the 6month threshold with a few airlines.

I’d get a new passport then apply for the ESTA 6 weeks before you go. They’re usually granted quite quickly but if there is a problem you need to be able to get to the American embassy for interview.

Oh and I don't know about DC itself but we booked with legit companies online.
for excursions when we went to San Fran. What time of year are you going? we went to both San Fran and NY for the Xmas holidays and even pre-booked at restaurants a few weeks before as after a lot of walking I was hangry and it saved a lot of waiting around.

I wouldn’t be travelling to the US at all at the moment. It’s just not safe.

check it here www.tui.co.uk/passport-checker

Don’t apply for your ESTA 6 weeks before. That’s madness. It needs to be ASAP. Get your new passport and do it straightaway. If you make a mistake or are declined you need to go to the American Embassy for a visa and that can take months to sort.

It doesn’t need to be valid for longer than the duration of your trip is my understanding (although I would check) so I don’t know why you would be turned away.

It is a waste of an Esta tho if you’re likely to go again during the period it’s valid as it’s linked to your current passport.

For the USA your passport only needs to be valid for the length of your planned stay there so you do not need a new passport.

The ESTA is valid only for the life of your current passport or for two years, whichever is shorter (so your passport in your case).

You should apply for the ESTA asap on the US governments official website. Do not use copycat websites who in addition could be scam sites.

Given a choice between United and BA I would go for BA.

Have a read of this from the FCO

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

The US is safe to visit but keep your wits about you and apply the amount of common sense you would use at home.

The TUI passport checker does not have the USA in its list of destinations.

If you will worry about out it get a new passport - you will need one soon anyway so you are saving only a tenner max if you always want to have an in date passport. Saves any worry and means, as others have said, if you happen you go to the US in the next 2 years you already have an esta.

DC is very easy to plan yourself. You only need to plan a few things ahead of time.

Pre book a Capitol tour ( free) and Washington memorial slot ($1) when the booking window opens to save having to stand in line for on the day tickets - advance slots go quick.

Some of the popular museums, though free, need a ticket. Again plan ahead for these.

The circular National Mall bus is handy when you want a rest from walking.

Each museum has a themed restaurant which makes for interesting and fun lunches.

Yep both DD and DS passports run out in January (different years) and twice we have visited the states in the December before (one each) and it was fine

that said - we went to Florida and had clear return flights and were clearly holidaymakers
Whether it is wise in this current climate not sure

It’s several months wait for a visa appointment (so anyone that’s been to Cuba since Jan 2021 needs to bear that in mind.).

Official US gov website confirms that a UK passport only needs to be valid for the period of your stay. Your ESTA is attached to your passport and expires after 2 years or when your passport expires if that is shorter.

www.cbp.gov/document/bulletins/six-month-validity-update