Should my fiance renew her passport or should we wait?

[Mrod 2]

Hello! I recieved our K-1 NOA2 3 weeks ago and our application should be at NVC or on its way to the US Embassy in Montreal, Canada. Looking ahead, I realize that Pocket 3 states that my fiancé's passport should be valid 6 months ahead of her planned arrival to the US. We are in a bind as her passport expires Feb 10, 2018, meaning that the 6 month window closes on August 10 2017. At this point in our application, should we still renew her passport? It takes 3 months to renew with the Philippine Embassy in Canada and either scenario could happen: 1) the interview could happen sooner while we are renewing her passport and we would not have her passport on hand when she interviews, or 2) the whole process would be delayed since we would have to wait for her new passport to arrive. Your help and opinion would be much appreciated. 

Edited April 16, 2017 by Mrod

[eastcoastgroove 329]

31 minutes ago, Mrod said:

Hello! I recieved our K-1 NOA2 3 weeks ago and our application should be at NVC or on its way to the US Embassy in Montreal, Canada. Looking ahead, I realize that Pocket 3 states that my fiancé's passport should be valid 6 months ahead of her planned arrival to the US. We are in a bind as her passport expires Feb 10, 2018, meaning that the 6 month window closes on August 10 2017. At this point in our application, should we still renew her passport? It takes 3 months to renew with the Philippine Embassy in Canada and either scenario could happen: 1) the interview could happen sooner while we are renewing her passport and we would not have her passport on hand when she interviews, or 2) the whole process would be delayed since we would have to wait for her new passport to arrive. Your help and opinion would be much appreciated. 

In my opinion (and this is just my opinion so others may have more solid advice), I would just go ahead with the old passport you have now.  Unless you aren't in a major rush to have her there.  You should be able to book your interview in Montreal soon and it seems they are booking about a month in advance right now.  If you got your NOA2 a few weeks ago, she should be in the US long before August.  If you wait until she is in the US, she would then be able to get the new passport in her married name (if she wanted).  The only thing I'm not sure about though, is that this might delay the start of her AOS, as I'm not sure the passport requirements on that.... Maybe you will have to wait for the new passport to start this??  In canada I know you can get your old passport back if needed (which I think you would since it would have her visa in it), so just make sure the Phillipines is the same since I am unfamiliar with the process.  

Edited April 16, 2017 by eastcoastgroove

[Mrod 2]

16 minutes ago, eastcoastgroove said:

In my opinion (and this is just my opinion so others may have more solid advice), I would just go ahead with the old passport you have now.  Unless you aren't in a major rush to have her there.  You should be able to book your interview in Montreal soon and it seems they are booking about a month in advance right now.  If you got your NOA2 a few weeks ago, she should be in the US long before August.  If you wait until she is in the US, she would then be able to get the new passport in her married name (if she wanted).  The only thing I'm not sure about though, is that this might delay the start of her AOS, as I'm not sure the passport requirements on that.... Maybe you will have to wait for the new passport to start this??  In canada I know you can get your old passport back if needed (which I think you would since it would have her visa in it), so just make sure the Phillipines is the same since I am unfamiliar with the process.  

Our NOA2 was dated March 28 so most likely out application is already in Montreal. It is just a very difficult decision to make as I don't know how fast Montreal is processing K-1 Visas and wait times for interviews. Usually the Philippine Embassy renews passports within a 3 month period for most but sometime it takes 6 months

[eastcoastgroove 329]

7 minutes ago, Mrod said:

Our NOA2 was dated March 28 so most likely out application is already in Montreal. It is just a very difficult decision to make as I don't know how fast Montreal is processing K-1 Visas and wait times for interviews. Usually the Philippine Embassy renews passports within a 3 month period for most but sometime it takes 6 months

I have seen some other Canadians posting on here recently and it seems they are getting interviews about a month/ month and a half or so after getting packet 4.  And then it's typically about a week wait after that for the visa.

Edited April 16, 2017 by eastcoastgroove

[Mrod 2]

1 minute ago, eastcoastgroove said:

I have seen some other Canadians posting on here recently and it seems they are getting interviews about a month/ month and a half or so after being able to make their appointment.  And then it's about a week wait after that for the visa.

That's good to know. I was worried it would take longer as Montreal is the only US embassy processing K-1's 

[Mrod 2]

Any more opinions on the matter? The dates really bothers me as it is getting close

[Clint&chai 56]

I would renew just to be safe..... is it expensive to renew, it would be ashame to have a problem over a couple hundred dollars if you can afford it. that is me I would not want to risk it, it is cut and dried where the rules are concerned, my fiance got his passport renewed for this very reason.... it was a nominal expense for the peace of mind

[pajobra 1,395]

Personally I would get it renewed as well because you want to keep it after you get to the states anyway and its way more expensive to renew it from the usa than in Canada you can get it fast track renewed usually. They made it easier to renew your passport now compared to years ago.

 

Its 70 bucks more to file for a 5 year one in the USA and 100 bucks more to file for the 10 year one in the usa.

Edited April 17, 2017 by pajobra
Adding picture of usa renewal pricing of Canadian Passport