Travelling to USA and Mexico - Passports Nearly Expired

ArnoldSchwarzenegger on 12/07/2023 - 22:48
Last edited 13/07/2023 - 19:35

Hi All,

I will be travelling with the family to USA and Mexico in December - January later this year, our return flight is on 16 Jan. My passport expires end of March and my kids’ passports expire 31 Jan. I have checked the customs and border protection websites for both countries, and they say that for Australian travellers, our passports only need to be valid for the period of travel, i.e. don’t need at least six months of validity. So based on info from website we should be ok. However, my wife is worried that we are travelling so close to the expiry date of the passports, especially in the case of the kids, so she wants me to get new passports. I’d rather not if I don’t have to as it seems like a waste since we already have valid passports.

Has anyone had any experience travelling to USA and Mexico with short time frames remaining on the their passports? Did you experience any problems entering/leaving the countries?

Edit: Thanks for all the comments, doesn’t seem like anyone here has tried travelling to US/Mexico with less than 6 months on passport. I was interested to see if anyone had actually tried it and what their experience was, seems like there are too many variables and risk is too great for the reward. I’ll just get them renewed as close to the date of travel as I can, I’m thinking September/October should be pretty safe.

Travel

Comments

  • Hybroid on 12/07/2023 - 22:50
    +1

    Apply for your ESTA: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

    Once you've got that approved and passports still valid for when you leave, then good to go for USA. No idea Mexico.

    Edit:

    To travel to Mexico, it is necessary to have the following:

    1. A valid passport with more than six months of validity (Mexican authorities require a passport to be valid for the duration of the stay in Mexico, but transit countries and airline companies may have other requirements).

    https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/finlandia/index.php/traveling/vis…

    But then this page says:

    The Mexican government only requires that your passport must be valid during the entirety of your trip.

    https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/washington/index.php/servicios-…

    Maybe contact the embassy tomorrow to confirm?

  • thatonethere on 12/07/2023 - 23:10
    +6

    Another thing to check for is that the airline will accept it too (as they are responsible for sending you back if immigration boots you at the gate)

    • ArnoldSchwarzenegger on 13/07/2023 - 19:30

      Good point about the airline, I didn’t even think of that. I thought it solely depended on the government of the countries you were travelling to.

  • Mechz on 12/07/2023 - 23:21
    +16

    I'd just get them renewed. You don't want the headache if something comes up.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 13/07/2023 - 09:30
      +3

      From my experience, current passport renewal times are quick, less than 2 weeks for me, this month.

      I wouldn't want to be refused, at the gate, by the airline due to a marginal date on a passport.

      • 87percent on 13/07/2023 - 12:50

        US Customs are buttheads

        Few years ago I went to Hawaii. About 6 months later, I went to LA. When I left Hawaii, customs was meant to stamp something in my passport but never did.

        Customs in LA basically blamed me and said “how do I know that you weren’t sitting In the terminal for the last 6 months after leaving Hawaii?”

        Then told me he could refuse me entry but he was “being nice”

        • ArnoldSchwarzenegger on 13/07/2023 - 19:28

          Yeah, that’s the risk, even if I’m legally ok, I could get some border control officer who is having a bad day and wants to take it out on me.

    • Sinnerator on 14/07/2023 - 09:00

      what if they get kidnapped in Mexico and overstay their passport expiry dates?

      • Mechz on 14/07/2023 - 09:16

        Just gotta make sure you visit the right places, it's easy to find yourself in a bad situation driving about the place.

  • jv on 12/07/2023 - 23:34

    @ArnoldSchwarzenegger

    If authorities give you any grief, look them in the eye and say: “I'll be back!”

    • jjjaar on 12/07/2023 - 23:53
      +2

      Nah, just scream to the family to “get to the chopppaaaa”

    • ArnoldSchwarzenegger on 13/07/2023 - 19:24

      I was thinking more along the lines of, hasta la vista, baby!

  • Wiadro on 12/07/2023 - 23:45
    +8

    Omg do we need this question?

    Just renew them if you think it may cause issues….

    • jv on 12/07/2023 - 23:54

      $325 each

      • hasher22 on 12/07/2023 - 23:57
        +5

        A small price to pay, better than getting grief from border security and researching valid passport time frames. If they're travelling to USA and Mexico, OP can afford to renew a few passports.

      • foxmulder on 12/07/2023 - 23:58
        +2

        Cancelled plane and hotel will cost more.

      • freefall101 on 13/07/2023 - 10:20

        Unless OP plans on never travelling again, it needs to be renewed in a few months anyway. They'll lose out on 6-9 months worth, or about $15-20.

      • Mechz on 13/07/2023 - 12:29

        They have to be renewed within 9 months anyway so it's still going to cost regardless.

        • jv on 13/07/2023 - 12:30

          They have to be renewed within 9 months anyway

          No they don't.

          They might not travel OS again for many, many years…

          • ArnoldSchwarzenegger on 13/07/2023 - 19:17

            @jv: That’s exactly right, I don’t know when I would next be travelling overseas again. So I could be paying for years of having the passport for no reason.

  • hasher22 on 12/07/2023 - 23:54
    +2

    Renew them, its so easy online to renew.

    Why would you go through so much stress when its only July and you can get your new passports within 1 month.

    I got 2 passports, 1 renew of an expired passport and I accidentally put that passport in the washing machine and had to get a new passport due to damage. Both passports took less than 1 month delivered to my door.

    The last thing you want is border security interrogating you on passports when you could have prevented it by a simple renew online.

  • [Deactivated] on 13/07/2023 - 00:10
    +2

    This is not an instance to be a tight wad, Arnie - just renew the passports.

  • Stopback on 13/07/2023 - 00:15

    Will you not travel again for five years?

    • foxmulder on 13/07/2023 - 01:06

      10 years for adult.

  • savingM on 13/07/2023 - 09:13

    Assuming the following:

    You are AUS nationalities;
    You are going as tourists;
    Flying to MEX (airport) via LAX (airport) via any airport from australia;
    You have ESTA;
    No damages to your passport/s;
    return tickets leaving USA

    Then technical nothing to worry about if you were travelling in a week, this information is general only, seek more information from the embassy.

    Warning:
    But thing can change in the course of days. New requirements can be added on or removed, so since its 4-5 months away, thing can change. Also if you were to get the ESTA now on your old passport/s depending on the airline check in supervisor (varies with airline) or the border force in America who they will call to get an approval, they MAY even require a new ESTA to be completed on the new passport/s; if you were lucky they may accept the visa on expired passport/s but more stuffs to carry every-time. A new ESTA can takes minutes/ hours or can take up to 74 hours. Seen it happen before on other people.

  • blonky on 13/07/2023 - 09:45

    We renewed 2 weeks ago using the standard service.
    Submitted the form at Auspost on a Friday afternoon and passport received 3-4 days after in the mail.

  • djkelly69 on 13/07/2023 - 09:50

    I thought US required 6 months validity beyond entry (or something similar) as well.

  • Drifta on 13/07/2023 - 19:06

    Same experience as Blonky. Recieved new passport within a week. I was expecting 6 weeks minimum and so decided to get in early just in case. Ended up getting in too early!

  • cookie2 on 13/07/2023 - 20:33

    Ensure you have 6 months validity past your return date. That's what checkin staff are trained to ensure so don't risk being denied boarding.

  • Cherry12 on 14/07/2023 - 21:48

    Are you crossing to Mexico by road? I doubt they check when the passport will expire. As long as ESTA vez ves you the approval you should be fine. If you go by plane the airlines are more strict.

    I'd be more concerned that you ensure you are going only to "safe" places.

  • wilsondavid93 on 27/07/2023 - 20:37

    It's better to renew it before moving there. Trust me, you don't want to deal with US customs.

  • derrko on 28/07/2023 - 00:48

    $325 for a passport is just a rip off.

    • wilsondavid93 on 28/07/2023 - 20:54

      Yes kind of rip off but isn't it better than the hassle later?

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