karennickerson47

Hey everyone, there is an app for renewing your passport without having to go to the post office or passport center. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itse...919521841?mt=8. I used it a few months back and it was wicked easy. Also a good site for all qustions & answers about US passports: https://howtogetapassport.org . Lots of good info.

seawolf

Adult renewals don't involve going to office or passport center to begin with. This is essentially a photo printing service.

MrWilliamston

The passport agencies that I went to didn't give a rat's [rear end] about why I needed my passport TODAY. I made the appointment, showed up at the agency, went through security, handed my money and forms to the clerk. She asked absolutely nothing about why I needed same-day processing, as long as I paid the extra money. I'm pretty sure they've seen more than their share of BS excuses so they don't bother anymore. I got there when the office opened. She told me to comeback after lunch. Gave me a pick-up slip and wrote 1:15PM on it. I drove back just before 1PM, but it took me another 20 minutes to find a parking spot on the streets in DC. Walked in around 1:30PM. Walked up to the window and shed handed me my new passport. (unfortunately, the picture looked worse than my previous passport)

By the way, does anybody know why the next generation new US passport is coming? I searched here and elsewhere and they all say sometime in late 2017 or early 2018... How can the Department of State not have a release date yet?

cafeconleche

Yes the current generation passport has appalling photo quality. Mine is also tilted...

State is being gutted, so who knows when new passports will come. Maybe we won't even get them. They're crazy.

randywvt

There is advice on airline web sites which reads:
" . . . it is a common requirement to have a valid passport of at least six months beyond period of intended stay in many countries . . "

My US passport expires at the end of April 2018.
I am flying mid-January 2018 BOS to ZRH (Zurich) and returning later ZRH-FRA-BOS.

Has anybody experienced any problems with a less than 6 month to expire passport at a European border ? Thanks.

PAX_fips

1. All third-country nationals, regardless of their visa obligation status, who wish to enter the Schengen Area through Switzerland must be in possession of a recognized travel document that meets both of the following two requirements:

• The validity of the travel document must extend at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area; and
• the travel document must have been issued within the previous 10 years.

from https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home...rigkeit/u.html

WorldLux

It's not that hard to look up...

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizen...s/index_en.htm

Additionally check timatic and traveldocs (you can generally find a link to either of them on the visa page of your operating airline)
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...aspx?i=TIMATIC
https://klm.traveldoc.aero

Whether your passport is good or not will depend on what
means.

CPRich

Yes, many people have had problems.

It's usually best to check the requirements of the country you are actually entering, rather than generic airline info. www.ch.ch

It's up to you whether saving a few months in renewing your passport is worth betting that a few days either way won't make a difference.

wxman22

Renew your passport before travel. Some countries are more of the stickler than others. Switzerland is right up there, so you will be at the mercy of the check-in agent. And it's not a battle you can win.

pinniped

This. We're 4 weeks out, might as well renew it now while you can still do it with an expedite process that isn't one of those in-person processes.

It's the check-in agent that worries me the most. We've had cases here on FT where an internal airline rule is showing an incorrect thing, the passenger knows the correct law, and the passenger can't convince the check-in agent to look at TIMATIC or do whatever he/she needs to do to validate it. Passenger is correct, but still misses the flight.

I worry less about the border agent, assuming you are in fact following their laws.

powerlifter

I had the same problem. My passport was to expire in April. Sent the passport in, and got it back in two weeks. If you tell them your travel plans which they ask for you may get it back sooner. YMMV

Statman

Just renew your passport instead of cutting it close to the vest.

Often1

There are dozens of situations here on FT where people have played this particular situation just a bit short.

Passport renewal is easy and, if OP lives in or near a city with a passport agency, can be done in person and the new passport issued in a few hours or overnighted back. Check the requirements on the State Department website if you intend to pursue this route.

darthbimmer

I agree, renew it now to avoid trouble-- like refusal of entry/visa to a foreign country-- later. Look up expedited service and consider using a third-party expediter to help. They can turn it around before you have to leave in January. It'll cost a few extra $$ but I can tell you from personal experience it's worth the eliminating the risk. E.g., what happens if you need to extend your travels while you're already away from home, and you pass inside the 90-day EU limit? What if you come home from your EU trip and find you need to head to China a week later and need 180 day validity there?

PAX_fips

Just think of IRROPS taking you to where the 6 months rule applies..