Passport question

[Brad&Meera 0]

Our paperwork is finally on the way to the embassy, woo! But we need some advice about her passport.

Her passport expires on July 31st. We've read that it needs to have 6 months of validity after the visa issue date, so that makes it January 31st (I don't think she'll get an interview before then). She has been told that she can't apply for a new passport before January 31st, and that issuing the new one will take 31 days.

One more thing: it's a new type of passport (CARICOM), so it's a new number...we're concerned about filling out forms with a passport number that will change.

How should we proceed to avoid delays? Wait for the new passport, or fill out the forms with the old passport number and make a note about it being renewed? Or another suggestion?

Sorry if all of that is confusing; it's perplexing to us as well :/

Thanks!

~Brad

[YuAndDan 153]

The consulate probably will issue the visa however they will set the visa expiration date to that of the passport, so you wont get a visa that is valid for 6 months.

The change in passport number will be noted by the consulate and wont cause a problem, just tell them that the passport was just renewed.

If you do renew, and you have not received the replacement one before interview, you can contact the consulate and get the interview re-scheduled.

[Brad&Meera 0]

Great, thanks for the response. Getting a visa that's valid for less than 6 months won't be a problem at all

~Brad

[mox 298]

I ran across this FAQ yesterday at the Moscow embassy:

20.

Q: My passport has expired, but I have a valid non-immigrant visa in it. How can I get a new visa into my new passport?

A: This is not necessary. The United States Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security consider that the U.S. nonimmigrant visa that has not expired or been cancelled is valid, even if the passport in which it was placed is either expired or cancelled.

Any traveler having a valid visa in an expired passport and having a new valid passport, is welcome to enter the United States carrying both passports. Such travelers will be admitted, barring any other ineligibility, at any time prior to the date of the visa’s expiration. It is not necessary to obtain another visa in the new passport.

It doesn't *exactly* address your question, and I know she's not going through Moscow, but it might imply that they'll issue her Visa into the expired or soon-to-be-expired passport, and then she'll just need to enter the US on a valid passport. Best to contact the consulate yourself though and get clarification.

[Jesse and Hema 2]

Interesting to see this question posted!! My fiancée is also from Trinidad, and is running into the same issue! She is planning to get a new passport because the one she has is very old and not looked upon well at POE's (picture is of her when she was considerably younger)

She just got Packet 3 today.

I suggested she submit the forms with her current passport number, and attach a note stating that she is applying for a new passport and that it's pending.

Instead, she is going to apply for the new passport and pay for expedited processing, so it should take about a week. In that week, she'll get the medical done, and then submit Packet 3 with the updated number.

Let me know what you decide to do, or if you find any more information about this scenario. And good luck!

--Jesse G.

[pushbrk 12,898]

Our paperwork is finally on the way to the embassy, woo! But we need some advice about her passport.

Her passport expires on July 31st. We've read that it needs to have 6 months of validity after the visa issue date, so that makes it January 31st (I don't think she'll get an interview before then). She has been told that she can't apply for a new passport before January 31st, and that issuing the new one will take 31 days.

One more thing: it's a new type of passport (CARICOM), so it's a new number...we're concerned about filling out forms with a passport number that will change.

How should we proceed to avoid delays? Wait for the new passport, or fill out the forms with the old passport number and make a note about it being renewed? Or another suggestion?

Sorry if all of that is confusing; it's perplexing to us as well :/

Thanks!

~Brad

Just to clarify, you seem to be saying she can't apply for a new passport until six months after her current one expires? That's what the above dates indicate.

[mapanti 0]

Hello to everyone! Since we are on the passport topic (this might be a silly question but...) What if the fiance does not even have a passport...will they be issued a passport when the K-1 is approved...?

[pushbrk 12,898]

Hello to everyone! Since we are on the passport topic (this might be a silly question but...) What if the fiance does not even have a passport...will they be issued a passport when the K-1 is approved...?

NO! The fiance needs a passport from their country of citizenship. A US Consulate can't issue a passport to a non-citizen.

The visa goes in the passport the applicant brings to the interview.

As things stand now, I'm not sure how anybody is going to cross a national border or board an airplane or other conveyance bound to another country without a passport.

If your fiance doesn't have a passport, they need to get one ASAP.

Edited January 10, 2008 by pushbrk

[mapanti 0]

I'm sorry...I'm still a bit confused. Intially when we met, we tried to get a tourist visa/passport for him to visit the US and it was denied for "ties not being strong enough to his country." That's when I discovered how difficult it was for people outside of the US to come and visit!! Thus, discovering the K-1 visa route and then VJ!! I was reading that many people are refused tourists passports/entry into the US but that it is not neccessarily a strike against the person requesting especially if it was no real reason other than the US person at the embassy deciding that he/she could not visit. So does he apply for a passport again from his country to visit the US or once the K-1 is approved then a separate passport will be issued... Any understanding that someone could give would be greatly appreciated!

Edited January 10, 2008 by mapanti

[Jesse and Hema 2]

I'm sorry...I'm still a bit confused. Intially when we met, we tried to get a tourist visa/passport for him to visit the US and it was denied for "ties not being strong enough to his country." That's when I discovered how difficult it was for people outside of the US to come and visit!! Thus, discovering the K-1 visa route and then VJ!! I was reading that many people are refused tourists passports/entry into the US but that it is not neccessarily a strike against the person requesting especially if it was no real reason other than the US person at the embassy deciding that he/she could not visit. So does he apply for a passport again from his country to visit the US or once the K-1 is approved then a separate passport will be issued... Any understanding that someone could give would be greatly appreciated!

Not sure if I fully understand your inquiries, but he can apply for any visa again and use the same passport, if the passport is still valid.

From the phrasing of your post, I think you may be confusing a passport with a visa. A passport is basically a glorified form of ID that declares your country of citizenship and is used for various purposes related to international travel. The visa is basically a piece of paper that gets affixed to the passport, which authorizes entry to a particular country. I think you already know this, but am clarifying just in case.

With our experience, it was relatively easy to get a B-2 from Trinidad. It all depends on what ties you can demonstrate. Apparently your fiance didn't have a strong enough case. He could gather more evidence and try again if he wanted, but now that you are pursuing the K-1, he won't need strong ties to Trinidad since he plans to immigrate. Good luck to you.

[mapanti 0]

Thanks for the response - a bit embarrassed to admit but I did confuse the two :-/ But hopefully this question will clarify someone else's confusion! Thanks again!

[Jesse and Hema 2]

Our paperwork is finally on the way to the embassy, woo! But we need some advice about her passport.

Her passport expires on July 31st. We've read that it needs to have 6 months of validity after the visa issue date, so that makes it January 31st (I don't think she'll get an interview before then). She has been told that she can't apply for a new passport before January 31st, and that issuing the new one will take 31 days.

One more thing: it's a new type of passport (CARICOM), so it's a new number...we're concerned about filling out forms with a passport number that will change.

How should we proceed to avoid delays? Wait for the new passport, or fill out the forms with the old passport number and make a note about it being renewed? Or another suggestion?

Sorry if all of that is confusing; it's perplexing to us as well :/

Thanks!

~Brad

Just to clarify, you seem to be saying she can't apply for a new passport until six months after her current one expires? That's what the above dates indicate.

Brad/Meera, please clarify, but I believe the OP's passport is expiring on July 31, 2008, meaning that the "6-month" requirement would dictate that she'd need to have the K-1 visa by January 31st, 2008. As YuAndDan suggested, they might just issue the K-1 with an expiration date of July 31st, 2008. Worth checking with the embassy on. Port of Spain consular officials are very good at returning emails.

Why can't she get a new passport until January 31st? My fiancée mentioned something about the move to "new style" passports that are replacing a recent new style or something something something. I didn't understand what she told me, but maybe that's related?

[Brad&Meera 0]

Just to clarify, you seem to be saying she can't apply for a new passport until six months after her current one expires? That's what the above dates indicate.

Brad/Meera, please clarify, but I believe the OP's passport is expiring on July 31, 2008, meaning that the "6-month" requirement would dictate that she'd need to have the K-1 visa by January 31st, 2008. As YuAndDan suggested, they might just issue the K-1 with an expiration date of July 31st, 2008. Worth checking with the embassy on. Port of Spain consular officials are very good at returning emails.

Why can't she get a new passport until January 31st? My fiancée mentioned something about the move to "new style" passports that are replacing a recent new style or something something something. I didn't understand what she told me, but maybe that's related?

Yes, she was told that she could not apply to renew her passport until January 31st (6 months before it expires, sorry for the confusion). She is checking with the embassy, but we're planning to do what you suggested to your fiancee: affix a note about the passport renewal.

The new passports are a common passport for all nations of CARICOM, the Caribbean Community (see link in my first post). If I understand correctly, the old Trinidad ones are valid until their original expiry date, but all renewals are CARICOM.

[pushbrk 12,898]

Just to clarify, you seem to be saying she can't apply for a new passport until six months after her current one expires? That's what the above dates indicate.

Brad/Meera, please clarify, but I believe the OP's passport is expiring on July 31, 2008, meaning that the "6-month" requirement would dictate that she'd need to have the K-1 visa by January 31st, 2008. As YuAndDan suggested, they might just issue the K-1 with an expiration date of July 31st, 2008. Worth checking with the embassy on. Port of Spain consular officials are very good at returning emails.

Why can't she get a new passport until January 31st? My fiancée mentioned something about the move to "new style" passports that are replacing a recent new style or something something something. I didn't understand what she told me, but maybe that's related?

Yes, she was told that she could not apply to renew her passport until January 31st (6 months before it expires, sorry for the confusion). She is checking with the embassy, but we're planning to do what you suggested to your fiancee: affix a note about the passport renewal.

The new passports are a common passport for all nations of CARICOM, the Caribbean Community (see link in my first post). If I understand correctly, the old Trinidad ones are valid until their original expiry date, but all renewals are CARICOM.

Maybe I'm suffering from linear thinking here but I still don't understand because there are years mentioned to go with your dates. Will she apply for new passport at the end of this month and receive it well before her old one expires. If so, all you're dealing with is a new passport between petition filing and visa issue. Communication will solve that.

[Jesse and Hema 2]

Maybe I'm suffering from linear thinking here but I still don't understand because there are years mentioned to go with your dates. Will she apply for new passport at the end of this month and receive it well before her old one expires. If so, all you're dealing with is a new passport between petition filing and visa issue. Communication will solve that.

A new passport between visa application and visa issue, actually, but I am thinking the same thing. I can't foresee a new passport putting a stop to the visa issuance..