Info needed-travelling to France, then passthru London

[winger]

I have not travelled overseas in more than 13-15 years so am very unfamiliar with the passport procedure.

If we fly from SFO (San Francisco) to Paris for a stay, then on the way back stop over in London for a day or two before returning to SFO, what do I need in terms of passports?

I know I get a US passport for myself, but do I need to visit both the France and English consulates or similar to get their stamps-of-approvals for me to visit their countries? And pay a fee to each country?

I have an expired US passport (exp'd in 2005), how long does it take nowadays to renew it?

 

[Carolinian]

That ''stamp of approval'' is called a visa, and visas are NOT required for US citizens in the UK or France. The only European countries that currently require a visa for US citizens are Russia and Belarus.

You might also want to consider re-routing your trip the reverse direction. The UK has a huge departure tax for longhaul flights to ''save the planet'' by discouraging air travel. France does not. You can avoid this tax by flying US to UK to France to US. UK to France can be done on an LCC or by Eurostar train or by channel ferry.

Generally on travel to Europe, I would always try to avoid having the UK or the Netherlands, the two countries with the massive ''save the planet'' tax as your departure point back to the US.

You should have plenty of time for passport renewal, but for a quick turnaround, most Congressmen and Senators have a staffer who specializes in this and can get it expidited.

 

[DeniseM]

What Carolinian said - the tax can be twice as much as the airfare!

 

[Janis]

I had my passport renewed and it took fewer than 3 weeks. However, mine hadn't expired - so that may have helped with the speedy turnaround.

 

[gorevs9]

I have an expired US passport (exp'd in 2005), how long does it take nowadays to renew it?

I recommend starting the renewal process now. Why wait? Here's the link.

 

[winger]

thanks all. Based on input, we are NOT going thru London. Too pricey just for an overnight stayover. Taxes for each of us just going into Paris = $77/person. With the London stopover on the way back to the states, taxes approx = 160/person


We are off to Costco for our passport pictures next week ($5/person for 2 pics/person).


So, no Visa needed, we just bring our passport, that's it? GREAT!

 

[Talent312]

We are off to Costco for our passport pictures next week ($5/person for 2 pics/person). So, no Visa needed, we just bring our passport, that's it?

In theory, they could ask you some questions and for documents showing that you have a place to stay, can support yourself, have a ticket or plan to leave, are there just to visit and not for business, and do not plan to marry or receive medical treatment. However, I suspect that, unless you wear shabby clothes, sweat a lot and look shifty-eyed, you have nothing to worry about.

BTW, you can renew your passport by mail if it has been expired for LT 5 years. According to the website, it will take about 3 weeks, unless you use expidited-service, in which case, it will take about 2 weeks.

 

[winger]

In theory, they could ask you some questions and for documents showing that you have a place to stay, can support yourself, have a ticket or plan to leave, are there just to visit and not for business, and do not plan to marry or receive medical treatment. However, I suspect that, unless you wear shabby clothes, sweat a lot and look shifty-eyed, you have nothing to worry about.

BTW, you can renew your passport by mail if it has been expired for LT 5 years. According to the website, it will take about 3 weeks, unless you use expidited-service, in which case, it will take about 2 weeks.

Thanks for the info. I got my paswport in 1995, exp'd in 2005, so I am set for the renewal by mail. DW also.

LOL, conceivably, maybe we can spend enough money going to Paris and nice hotel, we would show up in shabby clothes : )

So, we cannot show up for medical "enhancements" ?

 

[Carolinian]

thanks all. Based on input, we are NOT going thru London. Too pricey just for an overnight stayover. Taxes for each of us just going into Paris = $77/person. With the London stopover on the way back to the states, taxes approx = 160/person


We are off to Costco for our passport pictures next week ($5/person for 2 pics/person).


So, no Visa needed, we just bring our passport, that's it? GREAT!

If you go through London on the way to Paris, instead of the way back, you avoid the UK ''save the planet'' tax, or at least the long haul version of it, which is the huge one.

 

[winger]

If you go through London on the way to Paris, instead of the way back, you avoid the UK ''save the planet'' tax, or at least the long haul version of it, which is the huge one.

Thanks, good to know for the next trip over the pond.