UK and Schengen Entry Question
 

I have had a few back-to-back intl. business meetings and leave in a few days for more in the UK and Portugal.

I noticed that my passport will expire in April 2014. So, I applied for expidiated passport renewal in DC after returning from my last trip (in the 2 week window they require) to be safe. Everything was fine until the snowstorm closed the govt. and I could not get my scheduled appointment through my company's passport service and they could no longer guarantee same day processing due to the backlog.

So, I now have my old passport back--which gives me 80 days past entry for its validity.

I believe I am fine in the UK, but technically Schengen requires a 90 day past entry validity period.

Has anyone had any experience on how strict they are with that and any approaches that have worked for them if questioned.

I suspect that it is a bit of a crapshoot depending on the officer and country but any constructive info or help would be appreciated--knowing I should have tracked it closer and not cut it so close for the renewal.

Thanks in advance for any help.

I would be really surprised if you had any trouble at a Schengen border because of that 90 day rule. Especially if you can prove that your travel ends before your passport expires.

If you travel by train between UK and mainland Europe (namely France or Belgium, as Portugal is a bit far), passport controls are not that tight (both performed at the departure station, so in the worst case you're stuck in the UK but without more hassle than that).

However, it may be another story with airlines. There's a chance that you're refused at check-in.

Yeah, I'd be surprised if you're even allowed to check in from what I've heard.

Been there done that. I was told I would be refused at check-in by United flying US to France. My expediter had to delay my passport a day with the snow in DC but it arrived on Friday and I flew Saturday without a hitch.

I hope very strict. Why try to get into Schengen with a invalid document:confused: Some ports of entry will scan your passport, so no way to trick the system. You will be refused at check-in anyway.

I tried that route. I worked with the expediter to try to get another appointment the next day but because of the closures and delays, the passport agency was not guaranteeing same day passports--so I had them ship it back to me. On top of that, UPS was having issues so they took two days to get back my next day air package. I received my passport on Friday morning before leaving Saturday morning.

With all of that, I had no problems getting into either the UK or Portugal. It cleared both United Airlines and TAP Portugal check-in and there were no issues at immigration. In fact, they didn't ask or say anything beyond the typical but I made my meetings.

I don't think I would try it again, but it worked out in the end this time thankfully.

Thanks. I turned out to have no issues. I had my return flight information, hotel information and meeting information handy, but they didn't even ask at UK nor Portugal immigration. And there were no issues with the airlines thankfully.

I had two very important meetings to attend to and it was worth the risk. My documents were valid--just didn't meet the technical requirements for length of validity.

It turns out that there were no issues thankfully. I appreciate your concern, though, and I would not try it again.