Travel to India when passports expiring within 6 months

[nsg]

My Wife, Daughter, and I are traveling from Washington, Dulles to Bengaluru, India starting from the first week of August and returning in the first week of September. My Wife and I have Green cards while my Daughter is a US citizen with PIO card. Here are the issues. My Wife’s Indian passport expires around Jan 15 2012 while my Daughter’s US passport expires around Nov 10 2011. Assuming I do not get the passports extended, what are the possible problems we might face?

I have 2 possible itineraries. One via Doha using Qatar Airways and the other Option is Dulles (United Airways) – Hyderabad (United Airways) – Bengaluru (United Airways).

What do you think I should do? Has anyone gone through the same situation? Would my Daughter or Wife face issues while leaving from here or returning from India at any point (Dulles, Hyderabad, Bengaluru). Would the Airlines Qatar, United, Jet.) have any issues with the status? I checked with the US passport line and they said that they do not have any issues letting in a US citizen if the passport is expiring.

Please advise.

[sreedhar]

Originally Posted by nsg

My Wife, Daughter, and I are traveling from Washington, Dulles to Bengaluru, India starting from the first week of August and returning in the first week of September. My Wife and I have Green cards while my Daughter is a US citizen with PIO card. Here are the issues. My Wife’s Indian passport expires around Jan 15 2012 while my Daughter’s US passport expires around Nov 10 2011. Assuming I do not get the passports extended, what are the possible problems we might face?

I have 2 possible itineraries. One via Doha using Qatar Airways and the other Option is Dulles (United Airways) – Hyderabad (United Airways) – Bengaluru (United Airways).

What do you think I should do? Has anyone gone through the same situation? Would my Daughter or Wife face issues while leaving from here or returning from India at any point (Dulles, Hyderabad, Bengaluru). Would the Airlines Qatar, United, Jet.) have any issues with the status? I checked with the US passport line and they said that they do not have any issues letting in a US citizen if the passport is expiring.

Please advise.

You should be fine. Minimum 6 months passport validity required if you requested for VISA. In your case all are GC\Citizenship holders you are OK.

Immigration or Airline Guys do not have any RIGHT to ask or stop you...as long as you have valid VISA\GC\Naturalization document with unexpired passport.

[nsg]

Thanks for the info. I know I will not have issues at port of entry in US. I was only worried about the Airlines or Indian customs throwing arcane rules at you. Is there a document I could print out and carry with me which I could show them in such a situation.

[nsg]

I have confirmed for sure that my Daughter will not have any issues. But my travel agent booking my tickets mentioned that someone in the same situation as my Wife faced a problem. The person did not have any issues entering India, but while coming back. This person had a green card and the Indian passport had 3 months left. I am not sure if it was the airline/immigration officials, but they said to travel out of India that person should have at least 6 months left.

[ivgclive]

Originally Posted by sreedhar

Immigration or Airline Guys do not have any RIGHT to ask or stop you...as long as you have valid VISA\GC\Naturalization document with unexpired passport.

They have RIGHT to stop you from boarding even if you have a "unexpired" passport. Read this.

When your valid passport isn't really valid - Travel - Travel Tips - msnbc.com

[mylife22]

Don't do it! You can't travel within 6 months of expiration.

[gvenkat]

No one can stop you from entering India for the Passport reason. NO ONE. You could have issues going anywhere but India with 6 months in the passport.

[Project_A]

Originally Posted by nsg

I have confirmed for sure that my Daughter will not have any issues. But my travel agent booking my tickets mentioned that someone in the same situation as my Wife faced a problem. The person did not have any issues entering India, but while coming back. This person had a green card and the Indian passport had 3 months left. I am not sure if it was the airline/immigration officials, but they said to travel out of India that person should have at least 6 months left.

I travelled with a passport that had <6 mo and did not face any issues while coming back from India/ at POE in USA. I believe there is an agreement between US and India to consider 6 additional months of allowance above and beyond the actual expiration date of the passport. Google and find the document, print and carry it – just in case if someone asks. Good luck with your travel.

-Project_A

[fish]

Originally Posted by nsg

I have confirmed for sure that my Daughter will not have any issues. But my travel agent booking my tickets mentioned that someone in the same situation as my Wife faced a problem. The person did not have any issues entering India, but while coming back. This person had a green card and the Indian passport had 3 months left. I am not sure if it was the airline/immigration officials, but they said to travel out of India that person should have at least 6 months left.

NSG - did your daughter have any problems entering India? thanks.

[fish]

NSG - did your daughter have any problems entering India? thanks.