I am traveling to Europe in September of this year. I have a passport that was issued in February 1999,which expires obviously in February 2009. I was over 16 when I received the passport, and I still have the same name.

Do I need to renew my passport? I think the one I have is fine, but some of my friends have told me that passport requirements have changed. They state that a more in-depth review is done now before issuing passports due to terror concerns and that I need to go ahead with the renewal despite the 2009 expiration date.

Any advice from anyone on this? I really think my friends do not know what they are talking about, but I will renew if needed.

Thanks!

They're wrong.

Newer passports have some safeguards physically built in that the old ones didn't have but that is no reason for you to renew yours early IMO.

Hi
Your passport is valid unril the expiration date.

You don't have to renew it until 2009. It is still valid. I didn't renew my passport issued in 1995 until 2005 when it expired, regardless that this was after 9/11 and heightened terror concerns.

I think your friends don't know what they are talking about.

Hi md,

As noted, your passport is good until it expires.

Enjoy your visit.

Thanks to all of you! I feel better now! Obviously my friends are out of the loop on this issue.

yes they are

You will probably have to renew your passpaort in mid to late 2008. From the Department of State website:

"Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip and/or have two to four blank visa/stamp pages. Some airlines will not allow you to board if these requirements are not met."

So it might not actually be valid until it expires depending on the country.

Bill

I have found that "friends" say a lot of things - LOL.

Of course, these new "physical security features" allow anyone with a dollar's worth of electronic parts to detect your presence as an American from 100 yards away, and read and copy all of your security information as well. The identity thieves are salivating. Another stroke of genius from Bush's Homeland Insecurity (a department of Al Qaeda, by the looks of it).

fnarf,
If you are so concerned about the non-existent security issue, invest in 2c worth of Al foil in which to wrap your passport.

Oh, and please lay off the fear mongering, or better yet, just stay home.

"detect your presence as an American from 100 yds." What a load of bs.

>these new "physical security features" allow anyone with a dollar's worth of electronic parts to detect your presence as an American from 100 yards away, and read and copy all of your security information as well.<

Nonsense. Balderdash. Sheep dip. Hogwash. Bullfeathers.

Ira, I'm shocked. I don't think I've ever read such harsh language coming from you.

Your passport is valid until it expires.
However, it is best to renew it
6 months prior to the expiration date.
Travel well.

Was gong to respond to fnarf999's off the wall statement, but everyone else responded too quickly. Cannot even detect it at ten yards. Where do people read, learn, see, hear such nonsense !!!!

Bill at wojazz3 is correct. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months after trip has ended. I had that problem and went through hell in Europe for not having at least 6 months over.

You may think it's bullfeathers, because that's what the passport people are telling you, but the reality is quite different. Every RFID system for passports has been cracked, usually as soon as it's been released. The encryption on UK passports was broken within 48 hours of its announcement. They can even be read and cloned while they're still in the mail.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/03/g...d-e-passports/

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/52270.html

http://www.theregister.com/2007/03/0...assport_clone/

http://blog.wired.com/sterling/2006/..._watch_fi.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/idcards/st...950226,00.html

How about this quote: "with the help of a rather scary computer expert, I deconstructed the life of an airline passenger simply by using information garnered from a boarding-pass stub he had thrown into a dustbin on the Heathrow Express. By using his British Airways frequent-flyer number and buying a ticket in his name on the airline's website, we were able to access his personal data, passport number, date of birth and nationality. Based on this information, using publicly available databases, we found out where he lived, his profession, all his academic qualifications and even how much his house was worth."

Also: "With a Heath Robinson device we built on Tuesday using a Bluetooth antenna connected to an RFID reader, Laurie relayed details of his son's passport over a distance of 10 metres and through two walls to a laptop."

Some countries required 6 months valid some only require 3 months.

&quot;<i>Passport must be valid for at least 6 months after trip has ended.</i>&quot;

&quot;<i>Some countries required 6 months valid some only require 3 months</i>&quot;

some require 6 months, some require 3 months, and some (like the UK) only require it to be valid for the length of the visit.