Travelling with Old Name Passport?

2real4u on 10/07/2018 - 22:04
Last edited 11/07/2018 - 09:18 by 1 other user

So I've had a name change a year ago.

I haven't updated my passport to reflect the new name, and it it still has 5 years till expiry.

Can I continue to use this old passport for overseas travel as long as my flight ticket is under my old name (and so matches my old passport?)

If i can get away with it, is it fraud? I don't want to break any laws ideally… I want to visit the USA really soon due to family emergency and might not have time for a new passport - do I then declare my old name on all documentation when I arrive?

If anyone has experience with this or who best to contact would be appreciated.

TY

Travel

Comments

  • 2real4u on 10/07/2018 - 22:09

    Meant to post under 'travel' doh

  • Randxyz123 on 10/07/2018 - 22:12
    +4

    If you hold a passport with at least two years validity remaining, and you change your family name to reflect your new relationship status, or any of your names following gender transition, you can apply for a replacement passport in your new name to be issued free of charge. The replacement passport will have the same expiry date as your original passport. You may need to provide additional documentation in order for the fee to be waived.

    https://www.passports.gov.au/have-you-changed-your-name

    Does the above apply to you OP?

    • 2real4u on 10/07/2018 - 23:36
      +3

      unfortunately not. though..that gives me an idea for a free passport replacement:

      step 1) change name from Michael to Michelle (free due to gender transition)
      step 2) wait 12mths
      step 3) change from Michelle to John (free due to gender transition)

      i should post this hack as a deal

    • sagrules on 12/07/2018 - 11:04

      Thank you for this info, I recently got married and didn’t know about it

  • [Deactivated] on 10/07/2018 - 23:13
    +5

    It takes two days to get a new passport

    Don't mess with American immigration, no matter how white you see

    • Nalar on 10/07/2018 - 23:29
      +2

      10000% agree, US immigration is scary! Heard some horror stories (Held up at land border for 6 hours then sent to prison for 4 months due to overstaying visa because the clock went past midnight into the day after he was meant to leave)

      • 2real4u on 10/07/2018 - 23:38

        :(
        Side question, if i cross the border to canada by car, then return to usa by car, is the same usa visa valid or do i need a new visa/etsa or whatever it is? also i don't need a visa for canada by car, looking at their gov site?

        • [Deactivated] on 10/07/2018 - 23:40
          +1

          Visa depends if it's single or multiple entry.

          ESTA is only for arrival by air or sea.

        • 2real4u on 10/07/2018 - 23:44

          @Drew22: so if I arrive by air I use the esta. But once I'm there if I daytrip USA to Canada by car and come back by car, I'll need a visa? Could I trouble you for the link?

        • [Deactivated] on 11/07/2018 - 00:11
          +1

          @2real4u:

          You won't need a visa by car because that comes under the visa waiver program

        • Nalar on 11/07/2018 - 00:38

          @Drew22: not a visa, but I think you'll be called into the office and have to pay a waiver fee again since it's a different type of waiver? My info is approx. 4 years old so might have been fixed since. Just be prepared when you enter/exit for a slight delay.

        • [Deactivated] on 11/07/2018 - 01:06
          +1

          @Nalar:
          Nah, you just drive through.

          They'll stamp your passport at a booth, and you're on your way. Don't even have to get out of the car.

          There is no "waiver fee" and there never has been one. ESTA is the only thing you pay for.

        • orourke on 11/07/2018 - 07:34
          +1

          @2real4u:

          The info you’ve been given is slightly wrong. You will initially enter on your esta when flying into the states and be allowed to stay for 90 days. When you depart for Canada that 90 day clock will keep ticking and won’t be reset when you renter the USA because you have remained in the US Visa Waiver Program zone (all of North America and the Caribbean). Yes, you still have to enter the US at the border, answer questions etc. the CBP officers incredible power, so you could be denied entry etc. but when you are allowed back in your 90 day tourist visa that you flew in on (esta) is what you’re entering with.

          A quick google brought me to the usefully informative us embassy in nz page:
          https://nz.usembassy.gov/visas/travel-to-canada-mexico-or-th…

        • Randxyz123 on 11/07/2018 - 08:59
          +1

          @Nalar: What you’ve said is wrong. The ESTA visa is valid for multiple entries(max 90 days per visit) so you can cross the boarder into Canada and back again on the same ESTA.

          @2real4u: You will need a visa /visa waiver for Canada as well. Same(basically) process as US just a different website.

        • geoffs87 on 11/07/2018 - 10:53

          yeah hmm, ive got the ESTA for my upcoming trip, but i'm going Australia - USA - Bahamas - USA - Australia. Wonder how that works for me?

      • Randxyz123 on 11/07/2018 - 09:09
        +1

        Heard some horror stories (Held up at land border for 6 hours then sent to prison for 4 months due to overstaying visa because the clock went past midnight into the day after he was meant to leave)

        Calling BS on this right now. You wouldn’t be thrown in jail for 4 months because of that. If whoever this is wasn’t at the airport past midnight maybe… How long did he (you?) overstay ?

        Also leaving on the day your visa expires is very risky.

        It isn’t scary. Apply for the correct visa and answer questions truthfully. If you try doing dodgy stuff they’ll interrogate you.

      • HighAndDry on 11/07/2018 - 10:07

        Held up at land border for 6 hours then sent to prison for 4 months due to overstaying visa because the clock went past midnight into the day after he was meant to leave

        Is it wrong I don't have much sympathy? You should be planning to be out of the country at least a full week or so before your visa expires, not pushing it to the hilt, and I bet there were other factors involved. Want to link the news story?

    • onevstheworld on 11/07/2018 - 12:21

      I've been to the US embassy in Sydney… completely no-nonsense place. I ended up OK, but the guy in the next booth was having his story/excuse completely torn to shreds and a big fat "NO" on his application.

      Best not to risk being pulled aside for that type of questioning at the border. They will turn you around if your story isn't solid and you'd end up with your name on their watch list.

  • SmiTTy on 10/07/2018 - 23:22
    +2

    Don't see an issue with it. I have family with different names on passport and license. Who is going to know so long as passport, ticket and visa matches exactly

  • SydneySwan on 11/07/2018 - 09:59
    +1

    You are under no obligation to change your passport name. My wife's passport is in her maiden name as are all her FF memberships and she always books her flights under her maiden name. Everything else (credit cards, driving licence, etc.) is in her married name.

    • djsweet on 11/07/2018 - 10:54
      +2

      When you are married you can legally use both your maiden name and married name. This is not the same as having legally changed your name which it seems OP has done.

      • 2real4u on 11/07/2018 - 11:36

        Yeah, had a misspelling in my name when I moved to Australia 15 years ago, decided it was time to correct it..

        • Randxyz123 on 12/07/2018 - 13:24

          Confused what that actually means. Why didn’t you fix it when your passport expired ? Or better still when you noticed the error..?

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