Passport Heads Up - Don't Get Too Close To Expiration Date
#46
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Join Date: Jul 2003
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You would have found that story funnier had you ever been to US Embassy in Cairo. Only Egyptians work up front and the entire place was looking at him like he was insane. The service may be "standard" but I doubt many people try to take advantage of it in person. Online is the way to go.
You probably had the privilege of dealing with a vice consul who resented being stuck on a consular tour who had been hired for the political or economic cone. You should have complained, because behavior like that is inexcusable.
#47
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SFO
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Does anyone have any recent experience with this in China? I have a valid visa, but my passport expires in May.
Does China have the six-month passport validity requirement upon entry?
Does China have the six-month passport validity requirement upon entry?
#48
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Join Date: Jan 2004
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[KVS Availability Tool 5.1.7/Diamond - TIMATIC: Visa/Entry Requirements]
Code:
04DEC09 / 1659 UTC National U.S.A. (US) /Embarkation U.S.A. (US) Destination China (People's Rep.) (CN) [Visa Information - Destination] China (People's Rep.) (CN) [Information For Normal Passports] Passport required. - Passport and/or passport replacing documents must be valid on arrival. Visa required. Additional Information: - Note: different passport validity may be required when applying for a visa. - Valid visa or resident permit in an expired passports are accepted, provided holding also valid passport of the same nationality. - Travel on a one-way ticket is accepted. Visitors must hold sufficient funds to cover their stay and all documents required for their next destination. - In connection with the outbreak of influenza A(H1N1), all arriving passengers will be required to complete a Health Declaration Form and submit it to Quarantine Officers, prior to clearing immigration. Regulations and screening procedures are dependant on the airport of arrival and are subject to change at very short notice. Flights arriving from countries which have reported confirmed human cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection will be subject to onboard temperature screening, prior to disembarkation. Health and Quarantine officers may pay particular attention to: - passengers arriving from (or having recently visited) countries which are reporting high numbers of human cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection; or - those suffering from flu-like symptoms or fever. Upon completion of individual assessments, passengers will be allowed to continue through immigration or may be placed in quarantine, should the quarantine officer consider it necessary. Warning: - Passengers not complying with the entry or transit regulations will be deported by same or returning aircraft. [[TIDFT/CN/VI/WA/ID2516]] No vaccinations are required to enter China (People's Rep.) from any country. Recommended: - Malaria prophylaxis. Malaria risk - including the malignant (P. Falciparum) form - occurs in Hainan and Yunnan. Chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistant P. falciparum reported. Risk of P. Vivax malaria exists in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Xizang (only along the valley of the Zangbo river in the extreme south-east) and Yunnan. There is generally very low malaria risk (P. vivax only) in Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Shandong, although within these provinces this risk may be higher in areas of local outbreak. Where transmission exists, it occurs below 1500 m: from July to November north of latitude 33 degrees north, from May through December between 33 and 25 degrees north, and throughout the year south of 25 degrees north. There is no malaria risk in the urban areas or densely populated plain areas. In general, tourists do not need to take malaria prophylaxis unless they plan to stay in remote rural areas in the provinces listed above. Recommended prevention in risk areas:II ; in Hainan and Yunnan: IV CHECK [[TINEWS/N1]] - SCHENGEN ANNOUNCES NEW VISA EXEMPTIONS, EFFECTIVE 19 DECEMBER 2009
#50
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Florida
Posts: 2,872
Yes, looking out for American interests is the goal of the State department.
Yes, some foreign service officers have no interest in consular services, though almost all are forced to spend time doing so at the beginning of their career.
However, services for US citizens are absolutely a part of the mission of the State department.
Yes, some foreign service officers have no interest in consular services, though almost all are forced to spend time doing so at the beginning of their career.
However, services for US citizens are absolutely a part of the mission of the State department.
I certainly found this to be the case in the several years I lived abroad as an expatriate. During those years I made regular trips to the embassy for various consular services and always received them with good grace and expediency - whether it was getting documents notarized, registering my child's birth and obtaining a US passport for her, or getting tax advice from the itinerant IRS agent who came through once a year. I always thought that was what the consul's office was there for - to assist US citizens. They always assisted me when I asked.
#51
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My passport will be 5 months and 29 days from expiration when I enter Costa Rica for three days. I have proof of onward travel and am expecting my new passport back in the mail while I am away. Any idea how this may play out? I would hope the agents would see this for what it is...constant travel makes applying for a new passport difficult, and this is as close as I have ever come to not having one. Fingers crossed they will just point it out and not ban me from entering!
#52
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
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My passport will be 5 months and 29 days from expiration when I enter Costa Rica for three days. I have proof of onward travel and am expecting my new passport back in the mail while I am away. Any idea how this may play out? I would hope the agents would see this for what it is...constant travel makes applying for a new passport difficult, and this is as close as I have ever come to not having one. Fingers crossed they will just point it out and not ban me from entering!
But there's a curious thing in your question. You say "I ... am expecting my new passport back in the mail while I am away." Passport renewals require that you return your old passport with the renewal application. So, how are you going to travel on your existing passport if you're expecting the renewal in the mail while you're gone? If you decided to keep your existing passport during the "renewal" by reporting your existing one lost or stolen, then it's no longer a valid passport. Costa Rican authorities may automatically check the Interpol database of cancelled passport numbers so they might detect that it's invalid, and the CBP computers when you return to the US will certainly know that you reported the passport as lost or stolen.
Last edited by Steve M; Jul 6, 2014 at 10:43 pm
#54
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