Anyone know if someone would have a problem returning to the States with a passport that is expiring within two weeks of their arrival?

I think the point of that advice is to make sure you can get back home. If you travel abroad with a passport that expires in 6 months and have a change in plans, you fall in love and decided to stay or say, get hit by a bus and are in a coma for year you could have some problems. And I suppose you could have issues like that returning too, two weeks is cutting it kind of thin should something happen to postpone your return. But as long as the passport is valid when you travel, I don’t see why it would be a problem.

“as long as the passport is valid when you travel, I don’t see why it would be a problem”

Agree. Otherwise what’s the point of an expir date.

You never know when an earthquake or volcanic eruption will happen and postpone your arrival. Hey, you never know when the planes will break down and you’ll be stuck at the airport for a few extra days or somebody switched the 2 and the 6 in the number 26 so it says your passport will expire on the 62nd of June.

I think this rule is primarily in place, since many foreign countries may deny you access. Upon your return you should have no issue.

@ChocolateReigns That is why it is recommended not to travel during the last 6 months of issue.

@janbb As someone who leaves the country on a weekly basis, let me assure you, Customs/immigration will not have a good sense of humor about an expired passport. Since you have been living abroad, they will assume you had plenty of time to visit the local US Embassy and renew your passport before travel.

@missingbite It is not me and the passport will not be expired, just within two weeks of expiring.

Whether your friend is holding a US passport or a US Resident with foreign passport, they would have no problem entering the States with an unexpired passport, whether it’s 2 weeks or 2 days before the expiration date. However, non-resident aliens will probably get some raised eyebrows from immigration officers.

@janbb I’m sorry, I misunderstood. I though you meant that it would be expired by 2 weeks. I change my answer. Your friend will be fine. Some countries won’t let you travel with a passport about to expire. Mine was about to last year while in Costa Rica and we wanted to travel to Nicaragua and the Nicaraguan government said no. The states where fine with me traveling home with mine about to expire.

@missingbite Thanks – that is reassuring.

My son was a minor, and we didn’t realize that his passport expired! It wasn’t discovered until he was returning with my mother and going through customs! Because we have dual-citizenship, we used the other passport until that point.

Since the party in question is an adult returning to his home country, it shouldn’t be a problem. Still, he may want to contact the US Consulate where he is to see what they’d advise. Perhaps there are extensions available for cases like his where a renewal would take too long? You never know until you ask!