Hello,

I'm posting on behalf of a friend who needs to travel to the US on business in February. She's a German citizen and her passport is valid until May 2011. All the requirements we've found about the visa waiver program state that the passport must be valid during the trip. However, we were under the impression that to enter the US they require a minimum 6-month validity on passports.

Calling the Embassy is no use. And she can't find a straight answer anywhere.

Can someone shed some light?

Thanks a lot!!!!

Here, it says 90 days:

VWP requirements...

• passport must be machine-readable

• passport must be valid for more than 6 months beyond expected departure date from USA

• traveller must have completed ESTA procedure in advance.

Simples.

This is a list of "Countries that extend passport validity for an additional six months after expiration". As far as I understand, it doesn't mean that "passport must be valid for more than 6 months" -- on the contrary, it might mean that even expired passport can still be considered as valid (once the person entered the US) for extra 6 months (but I wouldn't try to test it).

This is a country-specific exemption that means that the Swiss passport is valid for 6 months after expiration. In other words, your friend should be fine. Here is the full information:http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/tem...hout_1990.html

I think her passport must be valid for at least 3 months on the date she enters the USA.

Here's an excerpt:
Validity of Irish/EU Passports

In most cases, to enter the United States, you must have a passport that is valid for at least six months after the date you enter. However, the United States has an agreement with some countries (including Ireland) that allows you to enter on a current passport up to the actual date of expiration. An Irish passport need remain valid only for the duration of the holder's stay in the United States.

However, if you are traveling visa-free on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and your passport is valid for less than 90 days, you will be admitted only until the date on which the passport expires. If the passport is not valid for the duration of your stay, you will be required to apply for a new passport from your Embassy while in the U.S.

If your visit will be of short duration during which time your passport will expire, we recommend that you obtain a new passport before traveling

Exactly so - on both counts

Maybe this will help? From the horse's mouth

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/...n_04162008.pdf

Regardless, if there is time to get a new passport now, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

And one last bit of advice, if she does get a new passport, she should wait to apply for ESTA until the new passport is issued, so she can use the new passport number. If she applies for ESTA using the old passport number, it will delay her entry into the US.

Thanks a lot guys!

She went for the "better safe than sorry" philosophy and got an appointment to the embassy in Bern.

Cheers!