British Expatriate Network

My friend is coming over tomorrow from London. She called me yesterday and told me that her passport expires in 5 month's time....shock

The rules I see everywhere say that people arriving on the Visa Waiver Program (as she will be) need a passport valid for 6 months or more from date of arrival.

Does anyone know what may happen to her? She doesn't seem bothered by it, but I have visions of me stuck at Newark airport for ages and ages while she's being interrogated. Someone she works with said she'll be fine since she has a return ticket, but in my experience Immigration officials don't care about anything but the rules...

Any thoughts or experiences to share?

Stel.

At this late hour she might as well risk it.

If it's noticed at check-in or at passport control in London and they find the expiry date on the passport to be a problem, the worst they can do is refuse to let her on the plane.

If she gets to Newark and it's noticed there, and they decide it's an issue, they can refuse her entry to the country and send her home again.

The only other alternative is to forfeit her ticket and not try to come at all.

If she isn't bothered, let her do it - she could be right, it might not be a problem, but she and you must be prepared for the worst.

Just make sure you have a plan which will allow her to contact you if she isn't going to make it to the stateside of the barrier.

Did they let her in??

Sorry, just came back on here.

They did let her in with not a sausage of a problem. She had a fab time, and I enjoyed having her stay - we did some serious shopping.