I am traveling in June 2006 for 2 weeks to Italy for a honeymoon. My passport is expiring in November 2006. I have heard people say this might present a problem. Anyone have any thoughts? Should I pay the extra $60 to expedite the renewal by mail?

Check on the State Department's website for the information. There is everything on passports and the information is updated as the law changes.

Best Regards,
Julia

Related idea. Will you have a new name? If so, why not apply now for a new passport with the new name. Or is that possible?

Duh, or are you the sean part of sean and jill? If so, I guess you probably won't be changing your name? But I'd get a new one anyway.

I thought the requirement was 90 days remaining validity within the Schengen zone, but DO check it out.

It's my understanding that you cannot do a name change on your passport until that name change is legal, as you must send proof of that name change. Of course, you will not have that documentation until after the wedding when you get your marriage certificate.

Here's some info I found on British Airways' web page under visa and passport info:

World >Europe >Italy



Embassy and Consular Information
Passport/Visa

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all except:
(a) 1. EU/EEA nationals (EU + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Swiss nationals holding a valid national ID card.


Consulate General of Italy in the USA
690 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
Tel: (212) 439 8600.
Website: www.italconsulnyc.org

seanandjill, I've just been going through this myself! The State Dept. website isn't helpful for this particular question - it gives a lot of info on how to renew, but not when your passport isn't actually expired. Here's what I found out:

- The importance of the expiration date depends on the country/ies you are going to, not on US requirements.

- As I am going to France, I google'd their consulate website and read through the English version, but didn't see a specific (enough!) answer; I emailed them a week ago but still haven't received a reply.

- So today I called the US Passport Agency number. It took some doing, but I finally got through to a customer service person. She was very nice and thoroughly answered all my questions!

- She put me on hold and checked for France, then returned to say that there isn't an expiration requirement for them. She said that it's typically only an issue for countries that require visas, and of course for longer-term visits.

- If at any point you do need to renew a passport and can prove (ticket or e-confirmation) that you are leaving within 14 days, you can call and make an appointment for your local Passport Agency. The woman I spoke to said that in those circumstances, they are required to get your new passport to you in 1-3 business days. She also suggested that for here in the NY area, since this agency is so busy, to try for an appointment in CT or PA where there is less volume.

Here's how I got through to a human being on the automated line: I listened to the choices and chose the ones that most closely fit my needs (I think maybe it was 5 then 2?) At the end of a lengthy informational message, I was prompted to either return to the previous menu - or press 0 for customer service! (There was not this option in the earlier menus.) Go on the State Dept website travel.state.us and click the link for Passport Agencies to get the toll-free number.

I'd also make sure the name on YOUR ticket is the same as the name on your passport

I am the guy, so the name is not an issue.
It sounds like since there is 5 months between when we travel and the expiration date, I should be fine.

we've travelled with less time on our passports and the kids passports in and out of the UK. If they were expiring in July I or August I'd worry. Otherwise not an issue.
But so remember to take care of it. I know of two friends who went to the airport with expired passports. that's as far as they got.

just a footnote. If you are ever going to a country which requires a visa you must have a passport that is valid for beyond the lengh of the visa. This can be problematic in that sometimes they will give everone a 3 or 6 month visa even though you will be there for 2 weeks. You will be stuck as if you pp expires in 2 mo, you are staying 2 wks but the standard visa is 6 month you are out of luck...

Make sure Jill's name on her tickets matches her passport...otherwise, you'll be going on a honeymoon by yourself! She won't be able to change her passport name until after the wedding, so be sure her ticket is in her maiden name (assuming she is taking your name after the wedding).

Anne

thanks to everyone who replied

we are going on the trip 10 days after the wedding and her name will still be her maiden name, which will match her passport and her ticket. and since my passport expires 5 months after we travel, i feel confident that i should not have to update it for this trip

thanks again!