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Getting a new Passport with a Current US Visa in Old Passport

Jan 5, 2010
Visa Info

A common concern of foreigners on all types of US visas whether it may be;
- work visas like the H1B visa, L1 Visa, E3 visa, J1 visa, H2B visa, etc.
- study visas like the F1 visa
is what happens if they have an unexpired US Non-Immigrant Visa in their current passport but have to get a new passport either because they need new pages for their travels or because their current passport is expiring?

As every foreigner knows who is on a US visa of any type and has attended a US Consulate Interview that it is a not a fun or quick process. It is a process that anyone would want to limit as much as possible given the many uncertainties and inconsistencies of it all.

So if you do have a perfectly valid US visa but need to get a new passport with your home country, what can you do?

For once we have good news to report as far as the US Immigration system is concerned as your they will accept your unexpired and valid US visa in your old passport even if you have a new passport. Just ensure that when your home country cuts your old passport (as they tend to do to signify a passport is not current), that they do not cut the specific page your US visa is on.

So when you enter or re-enter the US, you present both passports to US customs and border officials. Your current passport serves as your travel document and identification. Then your old passport with the US visa serves as the basis for your entry and the conditions of your stay. They will still staple your white I-94 card document to your new passport.

Just ensure you don’t lose that old passport as far as the US is concerned it is just as important as your new passport. It is rare, but this is one case where the US immigration systems trumps many other countries’ immigration systems whereby you would not be able to this and would have to get a new visa.

It is nice to know someone in there thinks of the foreigners at least once :)

CJ

10 Comments
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10 Comments

  1. Warren Klibbe  •  Jan 27, 2010 @7:48 pm

    What if you lose your passport which has the E-3 visa pasted on the inside — then what are your options?

    Do you have to return to Australia to redo the whole process or can this be done inside the US?

    Thanks
    Warren

  2. e3visa  •  Jan 31, 2010 @4:56 pm

    Hi Warren,
    If you lose your passport, ensure you file a police report and keep that with you as you will need it for future US visa applications. If you remain within the US and your E3 visa date is not expired then you are fine. However the moment you leave the US, and want to reenter you will have to re-do the E3 visa process, regardless if your E3 visa is still unexpired.
    CJ

  3. Gok  •  Feb 11, 2010 @2:02 pm

    Good to know that you can travel with the old and new passport together.

    But if you want to transfer the valid visa from old passport to new from within US, is there a process ?

    Thanks,

    Gok

  4. e3visa  •  Feb 14, 2010 @9:43 pm

    Hi Gok,
    Yes that is the point that you can use your old passport for the purposes of the US visa.
    You can’t transfer the visa to your new passport as the only way to get a new visa in the new passport is to go to a US Consulate or Embassy interview and get approved.
    CJ

  5. Bhaumik  •  Jun 26, 2010 @6:49 am

    I have passport with US B1/B2 Visa, Passport having minor spelling mistake in family name so I want to Issue new passport.
    Can I use my Old Passport with US Visa and New passport with corrected name while visiting US?

  6. Ong  •  Sep 7, 2010 @11:10 am

    What are my options if my valid US visa is in my 2nd last expired passport? Can I travel to the US with my last 3 passports A,B and C where A is an expired passport containing the valid US visa, B is my last expired passport and C is my current valid passport?

  7. Ong  •  Sep 7, 2010 @11:12 am

    What are my options if my valid US visa is in my 2nd last expired passport? Can I travel to the US with my last 3 passports A,B and C where A is an expired passport containing the valid US visa, B is my last expired passport and C is my current valid passport?

    Thanks, Ong

  8. e3visa  •  Nov 21, 2010 @3:22 am

    Hi Bhaumik,
    So different names on passports can get tricky when entering the US. However yes in theory you can use both passports when entering the US with one as the active passport and one with the visa.
    Cj

  9. Dana  •  Mar 17, 2011 @2:05 pm

    My old passport with a valid US B1/B2 was cut diagonally (when I renewed it) in the corner tip of it. One corner of the US visa sticker was slightly cut but it was on an empty part, which is under the series of letters. Do you think I can still use it?

    Thanks, Dana

  10. aditya j  •  Oct 30, 2011 @11:43 am

    I have a new passport with me since the old passport expired on 14th august this year . In the old passport I have the U.S visa B2 valid upto 2019 . I submitted my old passport to the Indian Passport office for getting new passport . Now , the old passport which expired in August is lost – got detatched from new passport and I am not able to locate recently . The old passport has U.S visa attaced . Now how do I get a visa stamped in mu neww passport . Do I need to complain to police for the expired passport . Please let me know procedure.

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