India - China - USA | Passport with 3 weeks validity | China Southern refusing boarding, please help

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Accepted answer

As you have already researched, US needs passports of Indian citizens to be valid for the duration of their stay in the US.

This is backed by Timatic advice for your scenario:

Destination - USA

Passport required.
- Passports issued to nationals of India must be valid for the period of intended stay.

However the same advice also states that for your transit point (China)

Transit - China (Peoples' Republic)

All transiting passengers are subject to a check by immigration. Passengers in transit must hold passports or passport replacing documents that are accepted for entry into China (People's Rep.)

So we lookup what sort of passport validity is China expecting again on Timatic and we get

Destination - China (Peoples' republic)

Passport required.
- Passports and other documents accepted for entry must be valid on arrival.

So it doesn't look like you should have a problem while travelling between India and US (through China) on a soon expiring passport.

Timatic is the IATA web database that is used by most airlines so I would expect your airlines to also look-up your case on it and then pass you through. In case the agent refuses, you should carry a print-out of both the advices linked above (plus the PDF about 6 month club that you already have) and politely ask them to reconsider, speaking, if needed, to the on-duty manager. YMMV but if you absolutely cannot book an alternate flight or get a new passport, then this is the only option that comes to my mind.

It is entirely possible that the lady you spoke to was a person not aware of all the rules and therefore gave you an inaccurate reply.

EDIT:

Looking at the passenger information on the China Southern website

A passport is a document issued by a sovereign state to its citizens that allows them to leave and enter the country, and certifies their nationality and identity when traveling abroad.The personal identity information in the passport must be fully consistent with the contents of the holder's ID card or household register. Holders must ensure that the information in their passport is true and accurate in order for their trip to run smoothly.

Children and infants under two years of age are also required to show their passport.

Some countries or regions require the traveler's passport to have three months to six months of validity beyond the date of travel.

I can't find a mention of the "rules" about the airline wanting passports to be valid for six months anywhere (FAQs and such).

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