I recently read in Rick Steve's Amsterdam book that "You may be denied entry into certain European countries if you passport is due to expire within three to six months of your ticketed date of return." My wife's passport is expiring in mid-May and we are traveling to Amsterdam and Paris in early April.
Is The Netherlands or France one of the countries that may deny entry due to the impending expiration on her passport?
What can we do?
You will want to immediately have her passport renewed, while there is still time.
This is an issue where you don't want to take any risk of being wrong, since if you're wrong it could be a trip-ender, your wife might be denied boarding or denied entry.
You have time, get it renewed. The call is always the immigration officer. What they do not want happening is for someone to be delayed leaving the country because of an accident, illness, etc., and the passport expires. When this subject has been discussed before some argue that it will not make any difference but why take the risk.
I recently renewed mine using the expedited processing. It didn't take long at all, but it cost quite a bit!
Schengen countries (Holland and France) require three months validity. Even if you did come across a sympathetic immigration officer willing to let it go, the airline is supposed to check for this as well and they are obligated to deny boarding if things aren't kosher with your passport. Airlines are increasingly using automated check-in desks and gate barriers, so they are getting more strict about it. In the past when humans were manning the desks they didn't always check for this.
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/services/expedited.html
The best strategy for expedited service is not to need it at all. Check the validity of your and your family’s passports as soon as you think about traveling. Applying for passports and/or renewing expired ones early is the best first step to relaxing travel. However, if you are caught in a bind, here are your options for expedited service.
A friend did a one day expedited service. He called that Seattle office and made an appointment for the following day. Drove to Seattle and done.
Department of State Passport Agency Find a passport agency near you.
You must pay the expedited fee for each application submitted in
person at a Passport Agency or Center. Appointments are required at
all agencies. There is no charge to make an appointment at a passport
agency, and customers should not pay anyone or any business charging
for this service. To schedule an appointment 24/7, please call our
National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778. Will-call
service is offered at passport agencies for life-or-death emergencies
and immediate travel. Proof of travel is required at most passport
agencies. Proof of travel is not required at the Arkansas Passport
Agency, Buffalo Passport Agency, Colorado Passport Agency, Detroit
Passport Agency, El Paso Passport Agency, Minneapolis Passport Agency,
San Diego Passport Agency, Seattle Passport Agency, or Vermont
Passport Agency.
I would agree to get the passport renewed now, no sense having it become an issue when you have time. Even if you pay a bit more for the expedited service it's worth it to have the passport in hand in plenty of time to avoid any stress. When you spread the cost over the 10 years of the passport validity, it's miniscule.
I renewed both my and my wife's passports in January, took less than 4 weeks using the "normal" process. You can expedite just in case with no worries!
Most post offices have the paperwork you need to send in. They also will take passport photos for you. My PO charges $15 for photos.
Also, PO's will send in the required paperwork. I have rec'd my new passport along w/ the old in 2 weeks. With spring break & summer vacations coming up I suggest getting the paperwork in ASAP. My trips require me to have a passport with an expiration date that is a least 6 months later than my return date.
You still have plenty of time to get it renewed before your trip. I would do it just so that it won't be an issue, instead of worrying if it will. There is no need to expedite at this point. It should only take a couple of weeks.
I sent the renewal for my passport the last week in December, got the new one 7 days later. I couldn't believe it. I think you have enough time to do it without paying the expedited fee. Do it now!
Thank you everyone for the wise advice. We sent off her passport yesterday for expedited renewal. One less thing to worry about now. Thanks again!!!
I renewed my passport last May, and it took 4 weeks. So, unfortunately, it is not possible to know how long it will take. You did the right thing for your peace of mind by sending it expedited. Also, I was surprised when a TSA agent mentioned to me when I still had 7 months on my old passport, that I was going to need a new one soon!
Have a great trip.
Yep, TSA employees have been known to look at that.
I just received my renewed passport, expedited going and coming it took eight calendar days.
I did a LOT of research before a recent trip because my passport was perilously close to that "magic" 3 month cutoff. I decided I'd feel better if I could cross that off my worry list, all the info pro and con made my head hurt and there really is no consensus. So I paid an expediter to do my renewal in a week. Worked like a charm, but yes it ain't cheap.
Here's one irony - I wanted to go to the passport office in LA and do my expedited there. You can only do that if you are really, really close to leaving, I think it was a week. Because I wasn't yet in that uncomfortable zone I didn't qualify! Serves me right to plan ahead.
Pfred,
You could have made an appointment at the San Diego office. Proof of Travel is not a constant for some offices including San Diego. Of course these is an expense going to SD from LA.
The post office expedites passport apps & renewals.
