Passport renewal

[hermosabeach]

Years ago I was almost blocked from leaving the US as my passport expired 3 days after my return flight.

I have now heard conflicting details as to how long your passport must be valid for before you travel. The numbers vary from 3 month to 6 months.

I hate to renew it too early.

Any feedback? When do you renew your passport?

 

[W54/XM-388]

When in doubt renew.
It's not that expensive and I don't see a downside to renewing it a year or two early.

 

[xNF_9]

From USA.GOV

• Check the expiration date because certain countries require passports to remain valid for up to 6 months after travel. Also, some airlines do not allow you to board if you don't meet this requirement.

I’d just go with 6 months and be on the safe side. I should check mine as we are planning on leaving the US this next year.

Seems dumb to me that if it is still valid why can’t you travel but I guess logic doesn’t apply to everything.

 

[W54/XM-388]

From USA.GOV

• Check the expiration date because certain countries require passports to remain valid for up to 6 months after travel. Also, some airlines do not allow you to board if you don't meet this requirement.

I’d just go with 6 months and be on the safe side. I should check mine as we are planning on leaving the US this next year.

Seems dumb to me that if it is still valid why can’t you travel but I guess logic doesn’t apply to everything.

Because some countries actually take their borders seriously and don't care much for "undocumented" or "Expired Documented" types hanging around. They expect you to have your stuff in order along with a margin of safety incase something happens and you get stuck there.

 

[Keel Haul]

Some countries require six months. I’m in the same boat, I just sent in my renewal now that I’m at six months.

 

[Rillhurst]

Now I’ve got to go pull mine out of the safe and check the date.

 

[THEIS]

Hi,

Doesn't everyone alternate their 2 passport renewals between the 10 year expiration one and the 4 year expiration one?
So that you ALWAYS have a passport that is greatly within the expiration limits of travelling.

Sincerely,
Theis

 

[Threadcutter308]

Minimum of 6 months. Some countries don't want you stuck there while trying to work out the details with US Dept of State so you can go home/get out of their country.

 

[W54/XM-388]

Hi,

Doesn't everyone alternate their 2 passport renewals between the 10 year expiration one and the 4 year expiration one?
So that you ALWAYS have a passport that is greatly within the expiration limits of travelling.

Sincerely,
Theis

Sometimes you know when you have 2 or 3 or more passports you might forget which one has which expiration date, especially if some are a bit more work to renew that just mailing a form at the post office.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

uh, for us unwashed, "more than one passport???" how's that work?

Or is this in reference to Jason Bourne, and the like? Pick a country, any country.... ;D

 

[AIAW]

I get all of mine done around the same time. It's the "new thing".

 

[THEIS]

uh, for us unwashed, "more than one passport???" how's that work?

Or is this in reference to Jason Bourne, and the like? Pick a country, any country.... ;D

Hi,

USA citizens are allowed a Primary USA Passport with 10 year expiration and a Secondary USA Passport with 4 year expiration.
Particularly for instances where stamps of x country would cause you "detention" or entry denial into y country.

For example:
Having a resident Visa from Saudi, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahain, etc then trying to enter Israel. You do NOT want to use same USA passport for that trip, so you get those resident Visas in your primary and enter Israel on your secondary.

Sincerely,
Theis

 

[2ndamendfan]

What good is an expiration date if the document becomes invalid prior to that date?

 

[Hound Dog]

You can get a duplicate passport, however they are only good for 2 years, not 4. Most countries will require you to have 6 months left on your passport. Some like Brazil even require two empty pages, even though the stamp only takes up 1/4 of 1 page. I work over seas all the time, my company requires us (and pays for) to have a duplicate passport. Some countries it takes months to get a work visa for, so we always have the duplicate. I always travel on the 2 year, and keep the 10 year in my pocket. There are other reasons as well, some places in West Africa they will hold your passport while you are working there. As crazy as it sounds that is how they roll over there. So always give them the 2 year and keep the 10 on you in case you need to jump in a plane and fly home.

How to Get a Second Passport

Get a second duplicate U.S. passport for special travel situations. Requirements concerning how to apply for a second passport.

www.us-passport-service-guide.com

 

[THEIS]

You can get a duplicate passport, however they are only good for 2 years, not 4.

Hi,

Thanks for the correction. It appears that is a new(ish) revision by DoS.

LOL you had your passport held by your Companies local "Agent" in Ghana or Benin?


Sincerely,
Theis

 

[BoilerUP]

G3Visas does an excellent job at expedited passport renewals - well worth the money IMO.

 

[W54/XM-388]

Hi,

USA citizens are allowed a Primary USA Passport with 10 year expiration and a Secondary USA Passport with 4 year expiration.
Particularly for instances where stamps of x country would cause you "detention" or entry denial into y country.

For example:
Having a resident Visa from Saudi, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahain, etc then trying to enter Israel. You do NOT want to use same USA passport for that trip, so you get those resident Visas in your primary and enter Israel on your secondary.

Sincerely,
Theis

Or better yet, go to Israel on your American passport, then go to visit our other "allies" using your passport from a different country.
Also useful when you might want to stay longer as a "tourist" in a country than they usually are happy about, in and out on one, then in and out on another.

 

[oneshot86]

I get all of mine done around the same time. It's the "new thing".

View attachment 7048190

its best if its black

 

[Hound Dog]

Hi,

Thanks for the correction. It appears that is a new(ish) revision by DoS.

LOL you had your passport held by your Companies local "Agent" in Ghana or Benin?


Sincerely,
Theis

Actually Ghana is not to bad, Angola and Congo is where I have had issues. Yes some of those agents will hold your passport for weeks sometimes. I did my time in those shit holes, don't care if I ever go back. Found a decent gig in South America, so sticking this out for a couple years.

 

[Numb_Skull]

I prefer to renew mine overseas. You wouldn't believe the amount of Youtuber, backpacker faggots stuck in these countries with no money and no way to get home in the embassy pleading for them to provide airfare home.

 

[xNF_9]

Because some countries actually take their borders seriously and don't care much for "undocumented" or "Expired Documented" types hanging around. They expect you to have your stuff in order along with a margin of safety incase something happens and you get stuck there.

Thanks! I assumed that people would do their best to get back to their country and not hang around but I guess that is me not others.

 

[Redmanss]

I'm so glad I don't have to "visit" shit hole countries any more and have to worry about dual passports and shit.

Answer to the OP's question, there is little to no reason to have a passport with less than a year on it if you intend to travel outside the country. The last thing you want on a trip is a stressful adventure at a foreign passport control booth, or even worse their back office for further questioning and screening. That shit has added a few of the gray whiskers to my beard. I recommend the double pages while you're at it if you remotely think you will be visiting a lot of countries, far cheaper than getting pages added.

While you're at it, get Global Entry (and thereby TSA PreCheck) too for $100, saves mad time at the airport and pays for itself the first time it saves you from missing a flight because you were standing in some stupid passport line for over an hour. BTDT too and had to rent a car at far more to get me to the same place faster than the next connecting flight would have, got global entry at the very next opportunity.

 

[WilburW]

6 months is the common standard...

 

[Not a Sniper]

Everyone is asking me how I get the permanent resident here but it wasn’t as hard as it seems. You may see more information about why Singapore is the best country in the world here.

How is weapon ownership there?

 

[Redmanss]

He doesn’t know, he’s just a fucking spammer.

 

[M8541Reaper]

I'm so glad I don't have to "visit" shit hole countries any more and have to worry about dual passports and shit.

Answer to the OP's question, there is little to no reason to have a passport with less than a year on it if you intend to travel outside the country. The last thing you want on a trip is a stressful adventure at a foreign passport control booth, or even worse their back office for further questioning and screening. That shit has added a few of the gray whiskers to my beard. I recommend the double pages while you're at it if you remotely think you will be visiting a lot of countries, far cheaper than getting pages added.

While you're at it, get Global Entry (and thereby TSA PreCheck) too for $100, saves mad time at the airport and pays for itself the first time it saves you from missing a flight because you were standing in some stupid passport line for over an hour. BTDT too and had to rent a car at far more to get me to the same place faster than the next connecting flight would have, got global entry at the very next opportunity.

All of this ^
And if you use your Amex they credit you back the $100.
global entry is the best investment you can make if you travel abroad.

 

[Marbles]

I renew mine 1-1.5 years before expiration. It is a tad on the excessive side, but it insures I don't have to worry about it.

 

[1moaoff]

You can get expedited passport in something like 72 hrs.
Yrs back i forgot to renew and to be safe just spent the money. If you travel like I do "the phone rings and away you go in a few hrs" being caught without can miserable.

 

[MarinePMI]

If you're DoD, also request a DoD passport. It carries a little extra weight when trying to leave a country that you don't have an entry stamp for (don't ask me how I know). It also allows (as Theis mentioned) the ability to segregate countries that prohibit entry based on past travel history.