U.S.Passport Question

[russellmania]

My return trip to Cebu City leaves Jan 4 til May 2nd 2018. My current U.S. passport expires Aug 18th 2018. Will I have a prob boarding at Mactan on my return flight because my passport expires in two months at that time?

[Mike J]

You need to have a least 6 months left on the passport.  See below from http://www.immigration.gov.ph/faqs/travel-req

 

1.  What are travel requirements for Philippine citizens with tourist-purpose visas?

1. Unexpired DFA-issued passport (at least six-months valid)
2. Unexpired visa (if visa-required at final destination); and
3. Return ticket.

[Mike J]

I think I may have mistaken the info from your original post.  Now that I have read it again can you clarify:

You are asking if after coming to the Philippines will you have trouble leaving Mactan to return to the USA if you only have two months left on the USA passport when you go to exit the Philippines?

To enter the Philippines you need to have six months left on the passport.  You only need a "current" USA passport to enter the USA, so you should be fine to leave Mactan if you still have two months left on the USA passport.  See below:

Answer: According to the U.S. Department of State, all American citizens must possess a valid passport in order to exit and re-enter the United States. Trying to return to the U.S. with an expired passport may result in being denied entrance. It is best to resolve this before your return trip.

 

 

[Jollygoodfellow]

37 minutes ago, Mike J said:

You need to have a least 6 months left on the passport

That changed some time back and no longer required. I posted that somewhere before but will have to search for it. 

The OP will have no problem because his passport has not expired and he is entering his own country as a citizen in my opinion. 

[Jollygoodfellow]

Pursuant to Operations Order No. SBM-2015-026, nationals of the following countries may be admitted into the Philippines with passports of less than six (6) months validity from date of arrival:
 

1. Angola                                    22. Korea

2. Argentina                                23. Kuwait

3. Australia                                 24. Laos

4. Austria                                   25. Mexico

5. Belgium                                  26. Myanmar

6. Benin                                     27. Netherlands

7. Brazil                                     28. New Zealand

8. Cambodia                               29. Niger

9. Canada                                  30. Papua New Guinea

10. Chile                                    31. Peru

11. Cyprus                                 32. Portugal

12. Ecuador                                33. Romania

13. France                                  34. Saudi Arabia

14. Germany                              35. Singapore

15. Greece                                 36. Spain

16. Iceland                                 37. Switzerland

17. Indonesia                             38. Thailand

18. Ireland                                 39. Turkey

19. Israel                                   40. United States of America

20. Italy                                     41. Venezuela

21. Japan

http://www.immigration.gov.ph/faqs/travel-req

[AlwaysRt]

If I understand your question you arrive in Cebu in January and leave in May going back to the US? If so, your arrival in January just makes the 6 month requirement before your passport expires so no problem coming here. When you leave in May you will have no problem as there is no requirement, other than valid (not expired) passport to exit the Philippines and to enter the US.

When you get back to the US I would get your passport renewed as soon as possible so it does not expire and you do not have to worry about processing time. You could get it renewed here, however even if you enter with a 59 day visa and submit your passport to the embassy for renewal, it probably would not be back in time to renew your visa (you would likely get it back within 2 months +/- a week). Not a big problem but you would incur a 1,000 peso overstay fee and have an overstay on your record. 

[AlwaysRt]

1 minute ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

Pursuant to Operations Order No. SBM-2015-026, nationals of the following countries may be admitted into the Philippines with passports of less than six (6) months validity from date of arrival:
 

1. Angola                                    22. Korea

2. Argentina                                23. Kuwait

3. Australia                                 24. Laos

4. Austria                                   25. Mexico

5. Belgium                                  26. Myanmar

6. Benin                                     27. Netherlands

7. Brazil                                     28. New Zealand

8. Cambodia                               29. Niger

9. Canada                                  30. Papua New Guinea

10. Chile                                    31. Peru

11. Cyprus                                 32. Portugal

12. Ecuador                                33. Romania

13. France                                  34. Saudi Arabia

14. Germany                              35. Singapore

15. Greece                                 36. Spain

16. Iceland                                 37. Switzerland

17. Indonesia                             38. Thailand

18. Ireland                                 39. Turkey

19. Israel                                   40. United States of America

20. Italy                                     41. Venezuela

21. Japan

http://www.immigration.gov.ph/faqs/travel-req

Wow, that's interesting. Never even heard of that before, thanks.

[Jack Peterson]

For me, although it says so in the page Steve (Alwaysright) put up I would check with the OP's airline as if they are not aware (of course they should be) on this change, they may deny Boarding, as I say, for me, best to be safe 

[Jollygoodfellow]

4 minutes ago, Jack Peterson said:

For me, although it says so in the page Steve (Alwaysright) put up I would check with the OP's airline as if they are not aware (of course they should be) on this change, they may deny Boarding, as I say, for me, best to be safe 

Should Not be a problem assuming he is a US citizen returning home from a holiday not someone going to the US for a holiday. That's how I see it but yes ask first.

[Jack Peterson]

8 minutes ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

Should Not be a problem assuming he is a US citizen returning home from a holiday

 Yes! but for the First Part he is Coming to the philippines and that to me, would be the issue on this 6 month thing if there will be an issue at all, to me, this is where it will be, as with many things  it will all be about  "Do the Airline know about the change"?

Whatever I just think it needs checking  I think we would all be pretty upset if any of us had a Boarding Denial 

Whatever Russell, I hope things turn out  Good and you can relax and enjoy your Visit 

Now again for me, I will  seems our visitors from over the water are still about  wanting money