The Caribbean - Passport validity for BVI?

I am planning a trip to the BVI and will have just over three months left on my US passport. Will this be sufficient to enter the BVI? The State Dept. doesn't list a validity requirement, although I see that the British Foreign Office advises that passport holders should have 6 months.

Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks.

Some people in this forum report entry problems with passports expiring in less than 6 months.

http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=bvi&Number=1015610&page=6&fpart=4

BVI Immigration is pretty inconsistent. I've never been denied entry, but I've been given the Nth degree entering with 7 years left on my passport, while have been basically waved in with 2 months left on my passport. I personally wouldn't risk it, and would renew your passport beforehand.

If I may ask, how are you entering the BVI, and though which port?

BVI Immigration is pretty inconsistent. I've never been denied entry, but I've been given the Nth degree entering with 7 years left on my passport, while have been basically waved in with 2 months left on my passport. I personally wouldn't risk it, and would renew your passport beforehand.

If I may ask, how are you entering the BVI, and though which port?

Thanks, I think I'll take your advice and make an "early" visit to the DC passport office.

This particular trip is the end of a European award ticket, so we'll be routing MAD-MIA-SJU-EIS. I haven't purchased our return tickets yet - we'll either be taking the ferry to St. Thomas and departing from there (which might draw extra scrutiny anyway), or we'll take LIAT to SJU or SXM and make our way back from there as one-way tickets on AA from EIS appear prohibitively expensive. Do you recommend any of these options over the other?

In all of BVI, the immigration controls at EIS are the most professional. However even at EIS, there are no formal exit controls. At West End (the ferry terminal to STT), sometimes the computer system is turned off and passports are not scanned.

The official rule is six months validity (as per an acquaintance working for the Immigration Department), although this is rarely enforced with anything other than an admonition to get your passport renewed.
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13F

In all of BVI, the immigration controls at EIS are the most professional. However even at EIS, there are no formal exit controls. At West End (the ferry terminal to STT), sometimes the computer system is turned off and passports are not scanned.

The official rule is six months validity (as per an acquaintance working for the Immigration Department), although this is rarely enforced with anything other than an admionition to get your passport renewed.
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13F

Thanks. My bigger concern was with AA raising some issue and possibly denying boarding in SJU based on the official rule. Since the official rule is in fact six months, looks like I'll be renewing sooner rather than later.

The US has reciprocal arrangements with several countries (including the UK) to automatically extend the validity of the passport for an additional 6 months. In effect, your passport is valid until its expiration date and not 6 months before:

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/niv/sixmonth.html

However, if you're a frequent traveler, I recommend renewing your passport.

Thanks, I think I'll take your advice and make an "early" visit to the DC passport office.

This particular trip is the end of a European award ticket, so we'll be routing MAD-MIA-SJU-EIS. I haven't purchased our return tickets yet - we'll either be taking the ferry to St. Thomas and departing from there (which might draw extra scrutiny anyway), or we'll take LIAT to SJU or SXM and make our way back from there as one-way tickets on AA from EIS appear prohibitively expensive. Do you recommend any of these options over the other?
if you're gonna fly Liat, check out their fare sales right now. I've gotten seats for $112 AI, SJU-EIS-SJU.

With Liat, you risk delays... but at $30 each way before taxes, I've been taking that risk lately on weekends.

The other choices to EIS are AA/Eagle, Cape Air, and Air Sunshine. Coming back from STT, your choices include AA/Eagle, Cape Air, Air Sunshine, and UA.

I did SJU-EIS-SJU on Cape Air back in March. I think it was a Cessna 208, with room for 6 pax. On the return leg, I was the only pax and sat in the right hand seat next to the pilot. At only 3000 ft, I had a great view of St John and St Thomas on the way back to SJU.
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13F

Thanks, I think I'll take your advice and make an "early" visit to the DC passport office.


FWIW the normal US mail renewal through PA is quite fast now. I just got my non-expedite renewal back, 14 days from mailing from CA.

I think it was a Cessna 208, with room for 6 pax.

It's a 402C :) SJU-EIS is presently 402C (Cape Air/Air Sunshine), ATR72 (Eagle), and DHC8's (LIAT).

I'd take the ferry rather than Liat.

On the passport question, YMMV.

Cheers,