Passport question

[Thatchi 0]

I know i just mailed my AOS, but i am already thinking ahead...so i want to make sure i have everything under control for the next steps. I hear people talking about getting a stamp on their passports at the interview...so here is my problem...my passport expired in October! I went to the Brazilian consulate here in Miami but since i do not have my brazilian ID (i had my purse stolen) they cannot issue me a new one. It is really aggravating to see how my own country does not help me...they said all i can do is get a permit from them to travel back to Brazil with an expired passport and while i am there, get a new one. Is this gonna be an issue with immigration? Should i get the letter about the renewal procedure before i go to my interview to prove it is not my fault my passport is expired?

Please help!!

(I ran a search about this issue but couldn't find another thread that would answer my question)

[Dr_LHA 3]

If your passport has expired you won't get the stamp.

However I don't believe having an expired passport at the time of your AOS interview will have any other negative consequences.

[Thatchi 0]

If your passport has expired you won't get the stamp.

However I don't believe having an expired passport at the time of your AOS interview will have any other negative consequences.

Humm..thanks!!

It simply sucks...you think your gov't would want to help you but instead they complicate your life... Hopefully they will change procedure and allow me to get my new passport soon ( i was told this was a stupid law just passed...)

[no name 1]

It is really aggravating to see how my own country does not help me...they said all i can do is get a permit from them to travel back to Brazil with an expired passport and while i am there, get a new one. Is this gonna be an issue with immigration? Should i get the letter about the renewal procedure before i go to my interview to prove it is not my fault my passport is expired?

I'm curious how you got your visa with your passport set to expire soon? Usually it has to be valid for several years in order to get a visa....?

[Dr_LHA 3]

I'm curious how you got your visa with your passport set to expire soon? Usually it has to be valid for several years in order to get a visa....?

Is this true for a Brazilian tourist visa? The OP doesn't tell us her history, so I'm just speculating, but I'm guessing she didn't come in the K-1 way. Also she could have been present for many years on a work visa. I've had a passport expire on me since I arrived in the USA.

Edited December 6, 2006 by dr_lha

[no name 1]

I'm curious how you got your visa with your passport set to expire soon? Usually it has to be valid for several years in order to get a visa....?

Is this true for a Brazilian tourist visa? The OP doesn't tell us her history, so I'm just speculating, but I'm guessing she didn't come in the K-1 way. Also she could have been present for many years on a work visa. I've had a passport expire on me since I arrived in the USA.

her timeline says K1- marriage 2006-05-08...........?

[Dr_LHA 3]

I'm curious how you got your visa with your passport set to expire soon? Usually it has to be valid for several years in order to get a visa....?

Is this true for a Brazilian tourist visa? The OP doesn't tell us her history, so I'm just speculating, but I'm guessing she didn't come in the K-1 way. Also she could have been present for many years on a work visa. I've had a passport expire on me since I arrived in the USA.

her timeline says K1- marriage 2006-05-08...........?

Ah, OK. I always forget to click on Timelines.

[motu 5]

Hey Thatchi:

You do not need a passport to be valid for the interview - it can be expired. Most centers do not stamp your passport when they approve you anyway - don't worry about it. You do need a valid passport if you intend to travel, so you may want to find out if you can renew it by mail (using your contacts in Brasil.) Good Luck

[Thatchi 0]

I'm curious how you got your visa with your passport set to expire soon? Usually it has to be valid for several years in order to get a visa....?

Is this true for a Brazilian tourist visa? The OP doesn't tell us her history, so I'm just speculating, but I'm guessing she didn't come in the K-1 way. Also she could have been present for many years on a work visa. I've had a passport expire on me since I arrived in the USA.

her timeline says K1- marriage 2006-05-08...........?

My visa was issued a few years ago...i came with a tourist visa (the one i have lasts 10 yrs) so the visa still good for another year...that's why i got it. I traveled back and forth on this visa many times before many times before And it is actually not uncommon to have a passport expire before the visa, my uncle for one, came here 3 times already with 2 passport (one with the visa and the other being the valid passport)

About the timeline, i entered K1 because i didn;t know what else to put...sorry!!

[Thatchi 0]

Hey Thatchi:

You do not need a passport to be valid for the interview - it can be expired. Most centers do not stamp your passport when they approve you anyway - don't worry about it. You do need a valid passport if you intend to travel, so you may want to find out if you can renew it by mail (using your contacts in Brasil.) Good Luck

Good to know

I'm trying to find out if i can renew by mail, had my mom go to the federal police in brazil and get a copy of my record...and guess what? They do not have any records of my passport...

[1HappyGuy 45]

I don't know it the USCIS will cause you any problems because of a lost passport, but it seems pretty clear you are going to need to return to Brazil to obtain a passport if you plan to do any traveling internationally.

Your other alternative depends upon receiving a green card. If you get that, then you can wait the three years to apply for citizenship, become an American citizen and then get an American passport.

Otherwise, you better get those documents from your embassy that allow you to return to Brazil and get a new passport. Sometimes governments just make our lives more difficult than they need to be. Ask anyone on VJ.