Passport Question RE: US entry

Ive recently booked myself a flight with VS to SFO for april with my mate, as part of my 18th Birthday Present.
I am currently on a child passport (and have travelled to the USA before with my family), and the passport does not expire until late next year.
Will I have any problems travelling to the USA alone on a child passport considering that I am now 18?
I hope that some of you more experienced travellers can help me.

Thanks in advance,

kev.

[preiffer]

I believe you will, TBH. You'd need to renew it as an adult one first.

(Happy to be corrected, but I've travelled with an 18 year old a couple times, and they had to get theirs changed before we went)

One thing to add here (thanks for the help there preffier, more is welcome), I will be travelling with a person who's 17. Will he have any problems with his passport?

Thanks again

Kev.

If I understand the question properly, I don't think you will have a problem. I travelled to the US aged 20 on a passport issued when I was 15. Looking at that passport and my current passport, I can't see anything designating it as a 'child' passport; the only difference seems to be the price!

Hmm contradiction lol.
I'll rephrase my question.
Im 18, and will be travelling to the US on a passport issued when I was 15. The passport is valid until June 2008.
As this is technically classed as a "Child" passport in the UK, will I have any problems with the passport in the USA now I'm 18.

Thanks for all the help.

kev.

Yes that's fine - five year passports are no different to a ten year one, so long as it is valid and is machine readable.

I can't see you having a problem, especially as in the airline world you are an adult at 12!

[honey lamb]

Aer John got a 10 year passport when he was 14. There is absolutely no difference between his and mine. Prior to that he was only eligible for a 3 year passport and I would have presumed that if there was going to be a problem he would not have been issued with a 10 year one.

I appreciate that we have Irish passports and the UK may well have a different regulation

[preiffer]

Pretty sure they don't HL, as Irish citizens enter the US under the same VWP rules as UK ones.

Given that - I said I'm happy to be corrected, and I'm now over the moon :)

looking positive now. Thanks for your help!

Kev.

Originally posted by kkempton
One thing to add here (thanks for the help there preffier, more is welcome), I will be travelling with a person who's 17. Will he have any problems with his passport?

First chance you can, call a good (preferably Irish) travel agency and double-check the US entry regs on Irish minors traveling alone (without parents, that is). There have been several changes in the rules of late, and I'd hate to see your fellow traveler refused entry because a parent isn't along or a necessary document allowing them to travel internationally without said parents isn't in your bags.

The US makes a distinction between traveling with a non-relative and traveling with one, as far as minor children are concerned. Any good agent should have the info for you. I'd double-check with two, just to be safe.

Don't ignore this; it's a long flight here to only be thrown on the next one back to Blighty over something as silly as a notarized letter or something else idiotic and simple the US demands for entry.

PLEASE NOTE revision below:
Alas, I was right - here's a link to NW's page of the latest updated requirements for US entry. Please note the line at the bottom of the page referring to minors under 18 traveling without one or both parents. This is updated as of this week, so it's current.

Unfortunately, I don't have a quick link to a Irish form letter you can use; here's where that travel agent can help you. The wording is important, and then it needs to be notarized by both parents - if one parent is not able to sign, the NW page states what is and isn't acceptable in lieu of signature. A link to a US form letter probably won't do you any good; it's for US citizens traveling out of the US to other countries without parents. I don't want to give you that and find the legalese is wrong for your side of the pond!

You'll need this document to both enter the US and leave it; make sure you both carry copies of it and have one digitally available on-line if possible - just in case something happens to the hard copies.

Sorry the US is such a pain about documents, but that's the way things are over here. I'm sure you'll enjoy your trip anyway.

[honey lamb]

First chance you can, call a good (preferably Irish) travel agency and double-check the US entry regs on Irish minors traveling alone (without parents, that is). There have been several changes in the rules of late, and I'd hate to see your fellow traveler refused entry because a parent isn't along or a necessary document allowing them to travel internationally without said parents isn't in your bags.

Erm, why should kkempton seek advice about travelling with an Irish minor when he is from the UK, although the advice about having some documentation in respect of a minor is a good one

Originally posted by honey lamb

First chance you can, call a good (preferably Irish) travel agency and double-check the US entry regs on Irish minors traveling alone (without parents, that is). There have been several changes in the rules of late, and I'd hate to see your fellow traveler refused entry because a parent isn't along or a necessary document allowing them to travel internationally without said parents isn't in your bags.

Erm, why should kkempton seek advice about travelling with an Irish minor when he is from the UK, although the advice about having some documentation in respect of a minor is a good one

Yes I think there was some confusion above!!

It is worth checking out the US Embassy Web site and the information it contains.

As I understand it, 5 year passports are valid as long as they're machine readable and you fulfil the usual criteria (length of stay <90 days, forward or return ticket, individual not parental or group passport).

Further - you should also check with Virgin for their rules on travelling with minors. I believe that VS categorises children as age up to 16, so you won't have any problems. But worth a call to be sure?

From what i understand of this thread, no-one is a minor! Certainly not a thte age of 17!

VS and most other airlines recognise those only under 12 as minors.

Oops - my bad on the Irish - I read honey lamb's Irish comment and got it all mixed up. Sorry. [:I]

As to the letter - you may be considered an adult by the carriers, but to US Immigration/Passport Control, you are not considered an adult until the age of 18! That's where the problem may arise. Virgin might fly you in, but if US Immigration says no, back you go.

Also, that letter is most important if there is need to consult medical care here in the US, as most hospitals will NOT treat anyone under 18 without parental consent, except to preserve life, until an adult or guardian can be reached. A separate letter can give medical Power of Attorney for emergent care if needed (what the US calls a Durable Power of Attorney), and it can be limited to non-critical care.

The wording of this is very important; if that friendly travel agent can't help you with that, contact a local school. Most schools require parents to sign one, especially if students are resident on the premises.

Again, sorry about the Irish mixup, but the rest of the info is still valid.

Oops - my bad on the Irish - I read honey lamb's Irish comment and got it all mixed up. Sorry.

As to the letter - you may be considered an adult by the carriers, but to US Immigration/Passport Control, you are not considered an adult until the age of 18! That's where the problem may arise. Virgin might fly you in, but if US Immigration says no, back you go.

Also, that letter is most important if there is need to consult medical care here in the US, as most hospitals will NOT treat anyone under 18 without parental consent, except to preserve life, until an adult or guardian can be reached. A separate letter can give medical Power of Attorney for emergent care if needed (what the US calls a Durable Power of Attorney), and it can be limited to non-critical care.

The wording of this is very important; if that friendly travel agent can't help you with that, contact a local school. Most schools require parents to sign one, especially if students are resident on the premises.

This advice certainly is helpful.
Sp as I see it, theres no problem with myself, but my mate who is 17 will need a letter.

Thanks for all the advice

Kev.

[honey lamb]

With regard to entry into the US with a minor, as a single parent I have entered the US at various points with Aer John and at no stage have I ever been asked for any documentation such as notarised permission, a court order or, in my case, a death certificate in respect of his father. It has never occurred to me to bring anything, to be honest with you. I suppose if our surnames had been different it might have happened but that was not the case.

Fortunately now that Aer John has reached the august age of 18 it doesn't arise anymore.

Kev definitely have the letter as my son was stopped at immigration last July when he was 17. He was taken to one side and asked various questions and was informed that in the US you are not classed as an adult and not emancipated until you are 18.

He was travelling with a 21 year old (no relation)and after they questioned them both they were allowed in. The fact that I was arriving the next day probably helped and they could check our address in the USA (we have a villa in Florida).

Just remember that they always have the right to refuse entry and to be calm and polite too however difficult the questions.

Kev definitely have the letter as my son was stopped at immigration last July when he was 17. He was taken to one side and asked various questions and was informed that in the US you are not classed as an adult and not emancipated until you are 18.

I just rang Flying Club and they told me there would be no problem, however I guess its best to play it safe and to have a letter confirming his allowance of travel.

Anyone have any advice or links on what this letter should contain?

Thanks for the help,

Kev.

Here's a link to a page about US minors traveling with a family member or guardian, also a medical letter.

DO NOT use these letters; I am only giving you the link because you wanted to see examples. These letters are for US children leaving/re-entering the US with one parent or a guardian. They are not good for your situation, which is a non-US-citizen minor traveling with an unrelated legal adult who is not a custodial party. (Wow, I thought I'd never see the use of working as a court clerk all those years ago!)

Although I realize I seem to be making rather a big deal of this, and there are times people don't have to show anything, if you get a *lovely* Immigrations official, you will be headed for disaster if you don't have what they want. Depending on your port of entry (anything on the East Coast is particularly bad now that the new passport laws have gone into effect, and then there's CA - oh, nuts, the whole country is paranoid about paperwork now), the Immigrations officers are getting hammered about runaway children and illegal immigrants. It's said all of them have had their sense of humor surgically removed upon hire. It's true.

If you get a nasty person, answer them, don't let them keep the paperwork, and if need be ask very politely for a supervisor. Here's to hoping there will be no need!

vs_itsallgood that links useful, and as much of a deal you are makign it, its all helpful at the end of the day.
This is proving to be a nightmarish issue really and is one without a simple answer.
Am I safe to assume that I need something similar to these letters?

Kev.