Expiring Passport Blues--Mexico Edition

January 8, 2016 8:22 PM

Which is riskier: Travelling to Mexico in mid-February on a passport that expires in late April or trying to send in my passport for renewal and hoping I get it back in time? Plus bonus question about the pope's visit and how that might affect my time in Mexico City.

I am planning a trip to Mexico (flying into Mexico City) from Feb 12-Feb 21--just like the pope, apparently!

I recently realized that my passport expires on April 28th. After doing a lot of googling, the US Dept of state says that you need a 6-month validity from date of return from Mexico but Mexico's embassy doesn't mention it (actually, their Canadian embassy page specifically says that there is no 6-month rule). I've found several things saying that Mexico does not, in fact, care as long as you're out of the country before it expires, but airlines can block you from getting onto your flight. I am flying Southwest.

I can put a passport application in the mail tomorrow and I'll expedite it and do the fast shipping, but I'm nervous that it will get lost or something will go wrong processing it and I'll end up not having a passport at all. (Plus I'll end up paying like $80 extra for the rush processing and fast shipping but I am willing to do this if necessary).

Do any well-traveled mefites have recent experience with either of these scenarios?

Bonus question: I just found out that apparently we will be flying into Mexico City on the same day as Pope Francis (will wave if we pass him in the airport). Anyone familiar with papal visits and/or Mexico City have any thoughts on any prep we should be doing to not end up caught up in the extra people and security of that? We were planning on a few days in Mexico City, then the rest of the time in Oaxaca but could flip flop the schedule. Should we expect the pope visit to make touristing in Mexico City harder and/or more expensive?

posted by geegollygosh to Travel & Transportation around Mexico City, Mexico (14 answers total)

In my experience the expedited system works. But also do you live near enough to go to one of the passport offices? You can get it done the same day that way.
posted by BlahLaLa at 8:35 PM on January 8, 2016

I recently did the expedited and got it within two weeks. Before that, I'd been turned down for a visa at a consulate because I did not have three completely blank pages in case that's also an issue for you.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 8:40 PM on January 8, 2016

Response by poster: I could go to the passport office in Boston but I'd have to take a day off work to do it, which I'd rather not do. I suppose I could go the week before the trip in the event that I hadn't gotten my passport back yet, but I suspect I'd have to pay another $170 for the fee + expediting (ouch.)
posted by geegollygosh at 8:42 PM on January 8, 2016

You have five weeks til travel? I think you'll be fine.
posted by purenitrous at 8:55 PM on January 8, 2016

I just renewed my passport and used the regular (non-expedited) service since I had no travel plans. It came back way faster than they claimed, about three weeks I think. In your case I would definitely pay for the expedited service or go to the office, but the days of the backlogs and slowdowns seem to be over.
posted by Dip Flash at 9:03 PM on January 8, 2016

I don't know what direction you are from Boston, but there is a Passport processing office in Portsmouth, NH. So, generally I think when you are in NE things get turned around pretty quickly (from my experience - I paid for expedited service and had a new passport in literally, like, 2 days when I was living in Maine).
posted by DuckGirl at 9:04 PM on January 8, 2016

You can do expedited service without going to a passport office, too. Do it by mail; fill out the renewal paperwork online, print it out, write a check, get a passport photo taken at Walgreens, staple it to the application, send it all with your passport in a Tyvek envelope overnight (Priority Mail Express), and pay for overnight return service. You could get your paperwork in order tonight, then go to the drugstore and post office tomorrow morning. Sounds like you should be in good shape by end of January.
posted by limeonaire at 9:09 PM on January 8, 2016 [1 favorite]

Should we expect the pope visit to make touristing in Mexico City harder and/or more expensive?

Do you already have a hotel booked? Cause that would be my first thought. A LOT of people will be going to Mexico city to see the Pope so hotels will be on high demand.

In terms of logistics, Mexico city is a HUGE city so you can definetly do the tourist thing if you stay away from where the Pope will be. Do a little googling, his main schedule is already public, but he's been known to take personal detours so I'd try to tour the opposite side of the city of where he's planned to be.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 10:36 PM on January 8, 2016

Just read your post again and if you mean to say you could change your plans and tour Oaxaca first to avoid the Pope then yes, I'd recommend that. Things will be a lot calmer after he's left the city. According to this (spanish, cnn) he'll only be in Mexico city february 12-14 and goes to Chiapas after that.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 10:42 PM on January 8, 2016

My understanding is that you run the risk that the airline will not let you board your out-bound flight to Mexico if your passport does not meet US travel rules. This is second-hand, i could have my facts wrong but unless you were really confident that for some reason this would not be a problem for you, and you are super tight on money, I would pay the money for expedited service and avoid the possibility of ruining your vacation plans.
posted by metahawk at 12:45 AM on January 9, 2016 [1 favorite]

I've just finished arranging a visit to Mexico for a large group, and from what I understand, it's entirely dependent on the employees of the airlines and immigration of both countries. If someone had a fight with their significant other that morning, and are in a bad mood, you might not be allowed to board your flight, or the immigration officer may give you grief.

The U.S. has the 6 month requirement, and Mexico seems to have a requirement that your passport is valid through the end of your stay. When people run into issues it's usually on the U.S side.

Also, with the Pope traveling into the country at the same time, there might be heightened security at all ports of entry and exit. If it were me, I would expedite the renewal, just for my own peace of mind.
posted by lootie777 at 3:19 AM on January 9, 2016

You've got five weeks. Send off your renewal, expedited if it makes you feel better. You'll get the new passport back with time to spare. My non-expedited passport renewal back in November took two weeks from when I mailed it until when I got my new one back. I think I put down June 2017 for my next planned travel.
posted by DaveP at 5:00 AM on January 9, 2016 [1 favorite]

just to confirm metahawk - from my experience of (sometimes expired) documentation and travel in latin america, the hardest part is the american airline at check-in. given how much time you have, it seems like a no-brainer to do the expedited process (i believe the reason is that it is the airline's responsibility if you are rejected at arrival, and they need to pay to fly you back, so they have a financial incentive to not let you board if they are at all uncertain).
posted by andrewcooke at 5:44 AM on January 9, 2016 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks everyone. I'll renew it. I had everything ready to go, I was putting it all in an envelope but then I was picturing it falling behind someone's desk or something. But you're right, I should have time if I expediate it.
posted by geegollygosh at 5:49 AM on January 9, 2016 [1 favorite]