Passport to USA

[ike]

Hello there,
Just a question about Australian passport to USA, Mine will expire July 2011. Do I need 6 mths on it to travel to USA for 4 weeks in March?
Also I have booked a reward flight on AA domestic, what are the baggage rules, for Gold Member’s? I have the international flight on a different ref number.
Thanks for your help

 

[odysseus]

Hello there,
Just a question about Australian passport to USA, Mine will expire July 2011. Do I need 6 mths on it to travel to USA for 4 weeks in March?

Yes, they're becoming more strict so you need that. You also need to give the passport details when you book the tickets now.

 

[serfty]

Actually, for an Australian resident to enter the USA, one simply needs a passport valid for the "period of intended stay".

See here:

http://www.timaticweb.com/cgi-bin/t...E=US&TR=00&VT=00&user=AMADEB2C&subuser=QANTAS

Passport required.
- Nationals of Australia may enter with passports valid for

period of intended stay.

As a Qantas FF Gold member (SG) travelling on AA you are a oneworld Sapphire and exempt from baggage fees for your first checked item. (American Airlines Checked Baggage Charge Exceptions | AA.com)

 

[acoolbreeze]

Yes, and if travelling under the visa waiver you need to pre register your arrival (Google 'ESTA') with your passport details.

 

[serfty]

Actually, for an Australian resident to enter the USA, one simply needs a passport valid for the "period of intended stay". ...

More on this.

If entering the USA under the VWP, that has a 90 day validity. So it is conceivable your passport needs 90 Days validity, regardless of the length of your actual stay.

So depending upon your arrival date in March and your expiry date in July you may require a new Passport.

 

[NM]

From Australian Government web site:

Do I need 6 months validity left on my passport before I can travel from and then re enter Australia?

Australian passports are valid for travel into and out of Australia regardless of the length of remaining validity. An Australian Passport remains valid until the expiry date.

It is the sovereign right of any country to control entry into their borders and this is usually done via visas or ensuring sufficient validity remains on the travel document.

You need to ensure that your passport has adequate validity to meet the entry requirements of the countries you will visit. Some countries require travellers to have at least six months validity remaining on their passports, and immigration authorities may refuse entry if you arrive with less than this.

Before travel you should contact the Embassy, High Commission or Consular representative of all the countries you will be travelling to, or seek advice from your travel agent, to identify each country’s passport validity requirements. If you are unsure, it is safest to renew your passport prior to travelling.

From the USA Government web site:

Which travelers may use the Visa Waiver Program to enter the United States?

Review this VWP Quick Reference Guide (for new member countries) and make sure you review this webpage for detailed information. Nationals of the 36 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program may use VWP if:

* They have received an authorization to travel under the VWP through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA
* They present the appropriate type of passport valid for six months past their expected stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions). This is a requirement in addition to other passport requirements for all categories of passports -- regular, diplomatic, and official - when the traveler is seeking to enter the United States for business or tourist purposes, for a maximum of 90 days;

I cannot find any information as to whether Australia has a country-specific agreement that provides exemption.

 

[oz_mark]

I cannot find any information as to whether Australia has a country-specific agreement that provides exemption.

Australian passport holders are exempt from the rule

Q: Does my passport need to be valid for more than 6 months to use the VWP?

A: Australian passports are exempt from this rule (so are New Zealand and British passports, among others. See the State Department's webpage on the VWP for the full list.

Embassy of the United States Canberra, Australia - Visa Waiver Program

Following the links is an exercise left for the reader.

 

[serfty]

The "Country Specific Agreement" link goes to the following page:

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/104770.pdf

COUNTRIES THAT EXTEND PASSPORT
VALIDITY FOR AN ADDITIONAL SIX
MONTHS AFTER EXPIRATION
...

Australia​

...

Phew , it would be very unlikely that Timaticweb returns inaccurate information.