Hi guys and gals
4 years ago i got a visa for America that entitled me to enter the USA for 6 months per year for the next 10 years (up till 2013).
Last year i changed my passport over (the passport where the visa was in) as it needed to be renewed and the post office in the UK told me that they would not destroy the old passport and would give it back to me so that way i could carry it with me when i travelled to America and show them that i have a valid visa. Am i making sense so far??!!! (sorry to waffle on!).
Anyway i am off to America in 2 weeks time and now i am getting paranoid that they will not allow me into the USA for 6 months as its on an old passport even though the visa is valid.
Can anyone tell me if the visa will be valid still even if its in an old passport?
I would ring the embassy but i'm at work and they have blocked calls like that!
The visa should be accepted, since in fact it isn't actually part of the passport itself and its validity is seperate. BUT, in the US-and almost everywhere else-the incoming immigration officer is God. If God is having a bad day, you can be included easily. If you get the chance I'd go to the embassy and have 'em update it to your new PP.
I've had similar things happen to me (I'm USAdian) with work visas in several places, notably Canada, Brazil and the UK. Always best to be safe. I'd also bring the Visa paperwork with you, and have PDFs of it stored in a webmail account so you can reprint them if you lose them on a trip. Matter of fact everyone should do that with ALL travel related docs including the PP "front page" itself, IMHO.
Ed
Thanks for your reply Ed.
I am hoping that the post office and you are right and it will be ok! It should be as like you said it is valid.
I have copies of my PP front page and pic and my visa so g-d forbid either gets lost i have back ups.
The embassy make it so hard to actually talk to a person and make an appointment. I am going to risk it this time and just go with my old and new passport and then if i get any agro i'll change it on my return.
Last time i went i had to show them bank statements to prove i had enough money in my account to last me 6 months and to prove i was not intending on abusing their system at all. I will do the same this time.
I've never heard of a valid visa in an expired passport not being honored by immigration authorities anywhere. I wouldn't worry about it.
First step is having your airline accept everything, since they are required to verify you have a valid visa to enter the U.S. if a visa is required (so they do no to fly you home at their expense). You might check with them to help put your mind at ease. As stated above, issuance of a visa by the State Department rep at the US Embassy does not guarantee your entry into the U.S. by the INS official (that is the law). You should be fine.
op, you will be fine!!!!!!!!!!
i had loads of friends in uni who had this exact situation. it is common. the immigration people already know about it(remarkably). you'll be fine!!!!
You will only have a problem if the passport office have defaced the visa when cancelling the old passport.
Listen to Bubbak. He said:
"First step is having your airline accept everything, since they are required to verify you have a valid visa to enter the U.S. if a visa is required (so they do no to fly you home at their expense). You might check with them to help put your mind at ease. As stated above, issuance of a visa by the State Department rep at the US Embassy does not guarantee your entry."
Call your airline, do not try to get an answer from the US government. If the airline is wrong, they have to fly you home free.
What i am hoping to do is book a flight with a return date of a month and then if i decide i want to stay longer then i will stay 6 months. I am worried i will have agro leaving America though....
aubo23 - my passport isn't defaced, the passport office just clipped the top to show its an old pp. The visa is fine.
An
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