International travel with less than six months of passport validity

madhukarmohan · 28th January 2025, 13:33

I will be traveling from Bengaluru on a two-week business trip to Houston in the last week of February, with a layover in Dubai. My passport will expire 5 months and 12 days after my return date, and my US visa is valid until 2033. Based on what I know, the general rule for traveling to the US is having at least six months of passport validity from the return date. However, since India is exempt from this rule, I believe there shouldn’t be any issue entering the US.

My concern is whether the passport validity might cause problems during my layover in Dubai. I will return in the second week of March, and my return tickets are already booked.

Additionally, I have a passport renewal appointment on February 4 in Bengaluru under the normal process (not Tatkal) with a change in address. I’ve heard that the process is faster than before and reissuing the passport could take 1–2 weeks. Do you think this timeline works, or is there anything I should keep in mind?

Samurai · 28th January 2025, 13:38

If you are in Bangalore, even normal process takes 2-3 days including police verification.

SILVER-ARROW · 28th January 2025, 13:52

This is what I recently experienced. The expiration date of the passport was July 30. I renewed my passport because I was going on business visit in March. I was in the address change category as well.
Attended the appointment on January 14th, 25 at 3:30 p.m. at the passport office. On the evening of January 15, a police verification message was received, instructing me to go to the police station at 11:00 a.m. on January 16 for police verification.

On January 15, the passport office sent out the document via Speed Post. I received the passport at my house on January 16 at 1:00 PM.

My wife had applied under the heading of "address and name change." In this category the police report must be submitted to the police commissioner's office, and police verification is an essential component of this process. Following the commissioner office's clearance of the report, the passport production process begins, her passport has been dispatched yesterday on 28th January.

Based on my prior experience, you should be fine given your travel schedule and appointment date for passport renewal. Only changing the address takes a short while, and the passport is sent in two to three days.

catchjyoti · 29th January 2025, 13:50

My experience for passport renewal with address change in normal (non-Tatkal) mode in Pune. Passport office appointment date was on 14th Jan. Email received on 15th Jan for initiation of police verification at nearest police station. Message said to contact police station if verification is not done within 3 weeks. Whatsapp message received from nearest police station on 27th Jan to visit the station on 28th Jan. Police verification done on 28th Jan. Asked officer when to expect the passport and he said in 1 to 1.5 months of time. Checked the status in passport website later in the day on 28th Jan. Saw it has now moved from local police station to DSP office of the area for review.
From the above it appears that from the day I put in the request for passport renewal on 10th Dec 2024 to when I will probably get it (say around Feb-end to Mid-Mar), it would have taken 2.5 to 3 months of time.

Yusha · 29th January 2025, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by catchjyoti

My experience for passport renewal with address change in normal (non-Tatkal) mode in Pune.

From the above it appears that from the day I put in the request for passport renewal on 10th Dec 2024 to when I will probably get it (say around Feb-end to Mid-Mar), it would have taken 2.5 to 3 months of time.

This is not normal. The RPO in Pune seems to be working to a different TAT target then other cities.

deathwalkr · 29th January 2025, 16:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by catchjyoti

Police verification done on 28th Jan. Asked officer when to expect the passport and he said in 1 to 1.5 months of time. Checked the status in passport website later in the day on 28th Jan. Saw it has now moved from local police station to DSP office of the area for review.

This seems very strange.

Had to renew my daughter's passport and i waited for 3 weeks for the police to contact me and then i visited the station with id cards and the next day itself file moved to commissioner's office and the next day passport was dispatched.

My son's passport was a new one and got it the very next day after appointment!

vb-saan · 29th January 2025, 18:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by madhukarmohan

I have a passport renewal appointment on February 4 in Bengaluru under the normal process (not Tatkal) with a change in address. I’ve heard that the process is faster than before and reissuing the passport could take 1–2 weeks. Do you think this timeline works, or is there anything I should keep in mind?

I think you have enough time to get a new passport (if in doubt, go by the Tatkal route). Better not to try your luck with a passport that is valid for less than 6 months; forget Dubai, even the Indian airport can refuse boarding.

Amrik Singh · 20th March 2025, 17:36

For the same reason, got my Wife's Passport renewed prematurely in Tatkaal category in New Delhi.
No changes to particulars were necessary or required. Received Passport delivered at home in 2 Days.

28th January 2025, 13:33	#1
madhukarmohan BHPian Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 78 Thanked: 532 Times	International travel with less than six months of passport validity I will be traveling from Bengaluru on a two-week business trip to Houston in the last week of February, with a layover in Dubai. My passport will expire 5 months and 12 days after my return date, and my US visa is valid until 2033. Based on what I know, the general rule for traveling to the US is having at least six months of passport validity from the return date. However, since India is exempt from this rule, I believe there shouldn’t be any issue entering the US. My concern is whether the passport validity might cause problems during my layover in Dubai. I will return in the second week of March, and my return tickets are already booked. Additionally, I have a passport renewal appointment on February 4 in Bengaluru under the normal process (not Tatkal) with a change in address. I’ve heard that the process is faster than before and reissuing the passport could take 1–2 weeks. Do you think this timeline works, or is there anything I should keep in mind? Last edited by madhukarmohan : 28th January 2025 at 13:42.
	() Thanks

28th January 2025, 13:38	#2
Samurai Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore/Udupi Posts: 26,002 Thanked: 49,638 Times View My Garage	Re: International travel with less than six months of passport validity If you are in Bangalore, even normal process takes 2-3 days including police verification.
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28th January 2025, 13:52	#3
SILVER-ARROW BHPian Join Date: May 2021 Location: BOM/FCO/HOU Posts: 78 Thanked: 716 Times	Re: International travel with less than six months of passport validity This is what I recently experienced. The expiration date of the passport was July 30. I renewed my passport because I was going on business visit in March. I was in the address change category as well. Attended the appointment on January 14th, 25 at 3:30 p.m. at the passport office. On the evening of January 15, a police verification message was received, instructing me to go to the police station at 11:00 a.m. on January 16 for police verification. On January 15, the passport office sent out the document via Speed Post. I received the passport at my house on January 16 at 1:00 PM. My wife had applied under the heading of "address and name change." In this category the police report must be submitted to the police commissioner's office, and police verification is an essential component of this process. Following the commissioner office's clearance of the report, the passport production process begins, her passport has been dispatched yesterday on 28th January. Based on my prior experience, you should be fine given your travel schedule and appointment date for passport renewal. Only changing the address takes a short while, and the passport is sent in two to three days.
	(3) Thanks

29th January 2025, 13:50	#4
catchjyoti BHPian Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pune Posts: 201 Thanked: 572 Times	Re: International travel with less than six months of passport validity My experience for passport renewal with address change in normal (non-Tatkal) mode in Pune. Passport office appointment date was on 14th Jan. Email received on 15th Jan for initiation of police verification at nearest police station. Message said to contact police station if verification is not done within 3 weeks. Whatsapp message received from nearest police station on 27th Jan to visit the station on 28th Jan. Police verification done on 28th Jan. Asked officer when to expect the passport and he said in 1 to 1.5 months of time. Checked the status in passport website later in the day on 28th Jan. Saw it has now moved from local police station to DSP office of the area for review. From the above it appears that from the day I put in the request for passport renewal on 10th Dec 2024 to when I will probably get it (say around Feb-end to Mid-Mar), it would have taken 2.5 to 3 months of time.
	() Thanks

20th March 2025, 17:36	#8
Amrik Singh BHPian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New Delhi Posts: 698 Thanked: 3,653 Times	Re: International travel with less than six months of passport validity For the same reason, got my Wife's Passport renewed prematurely in Tatkaal category in New Delhi. No changes to particulars were necessary or required. Received Passport delivered at home in 2 Days.
	() Thanks