Passport Requirements
 

ANYBODY WHO CAN ANSWER THIS, PLEASE DO!

I am going to London with my High School's Marching band this December, and I was wondering what I have to do to get there. I have a passport, so do I have to do anything else, or just take the passport to the airport on the day of departure. Thank you in advance for you answers.

As long as you have six months validity left on your passport at the time that you travel and your name matches your ticket, you should be good to go. Have a splendid trip!

Hi, Band nerd. If you have a passport, you will be fine, there's no need for anything else. Be sure to take an ATM card to get your cash. This is a much more practical way to go than to exchange cash or traveler's checks for British pounds. If you have any more questions about travel to London, we will be happy to help.

You should also have photocopy of your birth certificate, medical insurance card, ATM bank cards and credit cards. Copy the front and back of the cards. Keep them in a place separate from the originals. Leave a copy of the copies at home. If you lose any of them and also lose your copies then someone at home will have the information to fax you and tocancel any credit cards/ ATM bank cards. When we did our band trip the band director kept photocopies of all of our medical cards and the first page of our passports. You might want to suggest this to your band director.

I don't understand why you would need a birth certificate, since you have a passport. I have never heard this mentioned or recommended before. What is the reason, please?

Why would you give the band director a copy...they can misplace it just as easily as anyone else. And if that DID happen you would end up saying, "Why did I give a copy to the dorky band director and not keep one for myself?"

You need the passport and a copy of the first page kept separately (this copy would make it easier to get a replacement if you need it).

You do NOT need a copy of your birth certificate (since the passport verifies your citizenship). You can copy the CC's OR make a listing of all the credit card numbers AND the phone number where the issuer can be reached if you have to call them from Europe. Some issuers have a number you can call collect from Europe to reach them.

>..I don't understand why you would need a birth certificate,...<

In case you lose your passport, your copy of your passport, and the band director loses the copy you gave him/her. :)

((I))

band_nerd, there's a fairly good chance your band director will tell you exactly what to do. Your band is not the first and nor will it be the last to make this trip. So, follow the instructions you are given. It will be very difficult for the director and his/her assistants if every student does their own thing.

I assume your band, the teachers and chaperones will all get together for a few meeting between now and then. And you will also get printed instructions from the band director/school. Just take whatever they say. IF they say a copy of your birth cert. (tho' I doubt they will) then take it.

I can see that since you are all minors they MIGHT want you to have birth certificates - but probably not.