Under the general rule, a foreign national must present a passport, when entering the U.S., which is valid for at least six months beyond the date the individual intends to depart the U.S. However, the U.S. has agreements with certain countries which exempts the citizens of those countries from this rule. Citizens of these exempt countries must still present a valid passport when entering the U.S.
The U.S. State Department further advises citizens of exempt countries:
If the passport is not valid for the duration of your stay, you will be required to apply for a new passport from your Embassy while in the U.S. If your visit will be of short duration during which time your passport will expire, we recommend that you obtain a new passport before traveling as you will be admitted only until the date on which the passport expires. Such action before you depart for the U.S. will save you the inconvenience of applying not only for a new passport, but also an extension of stay.
The countries whose citizens are exempt from the six month rule are as follows:
Algeria
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahamas, The
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belgium
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cote D'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Ethiopia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guyana
Hong Kong (Certificates of Identity and Passports)
Hungary
Iceland
India
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Korea
Kuwait
Laos
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Macau
Madagascar
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritius
Mexico
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Russia
Senegal
Singapore
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and The Grenadines
Sudan
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Venezuela
Zimbabwe
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