Filing Package with copy of passport

[craze4travel 0]

When filing the package it states that you can send a complete copy of your passport if it has a validity of 5 years. Regarding the term "validity", does this mean that you need to have had your passport for 5 years, or does this mean you need 5 more years left on your passport before it expires?

[Mononoke28 135]

It means that your passport should still be valid for the next 5 years.

I also want to recommend you check out the Colombian Club threads we have going here on VJ once you file. They are filled with great info you might need throughout your process.

[craze4travel 0]

It means that your passport should still be valid for the next 5 years.

I also want to recommend you check out the Colombian Club threads we have going here on VJ once you file. They are filled with great info you might need throughout your process.

Actually, I just got off the phone with the USCIS, and they told me that it means you need to have had your passport for at least 5 years or longer. It has nothing to do with how long is left before it expires. Thanks a lot for your response and your advice.

[Mononoke28 135]

Oh wow, good to know.

[craze4travel 0]

Oh wow, good to know.

Hey, where is the Colombia thread you were referring to? I couldn't find it.

[payxibka 10,045]

It means that your passport should still be valid for the next 5 years.

I also want to recommend you check out the Colombian Club threads we have going here on VJ once you file. They are filled with great info you might need throughout your process.

Actually, I just got off the phone with the USCIS, and they told me that it means you need to have had your passport for at least 5 years or longer. It has nothing to do with how long is left before it expires. Thanks a lot for your response and your advice.

That is actually not totally true either... It means when the passport was originally issued it must be valid for a minimum of 5 years. (ie... US passports are valid for 10 years from issuance (if you were over 16 when issued))

If you have a child that is only two years old but has a passport... would that mean they could not be issued a visa? No, as long as the passport has a minimum validity period of 5 years then all is OK. My SO's son just was issued his passport 2 months ago... It is valid for 5 years. No problem.

Edited May 7, 2007 by fwaguy

[craze4travel 0]

That is actually not totally true either... It means when the passport was originally issued it must be valid for a minimum of 5 years. (ie... US passports are valid for 10 years from issuance (if you were over 16 when issued))

If you have a child that is only two years old but has a passport... would that mean they could not be issued a visa? No, as long as the passport has a minimum validity period of 5 years then all is OK. My SO's son just was issued his passport 2 months ago... It is valid for 5 years. No problem.

Well, I see your point and yes I agree with you that U.S. passports are valid for 10 years. The USCIS representative explained to me that if you are providing a copy of your U.S. passport instead of your birth certificate as one of the required documents then they want you to have had the passport for at least 5 years because they look back at the last 5 years. It has nothing to do with how much time is left on your passport. I'm not trying to argue the point, but I will definitely believe what a USCIS representative tells me versus trusting what somebody posted in a forum. If you disagree then give them a call and see for yourself!

[payxibka 10,045]

Well, I see your point and yes I agree with you that U.S. passports are valid for 10 years. The USCIS representative explained to me that if you are providing a copy of your U.S. passport instead of your birth certificate as one of the required documents then they want you to have had the passport for at least 5 years because they look back at the last 5 years. It has nothing to do with how much time is left on your passport. I'm not trying to argue the point, but I will definitely believe what a USCIS representative tells me versus trusting what somebody posted in a forum. If you disagree then give them a call and see for yourself!

I used my passport as ID for my filing and it was issued in 2003.... So there... If you were not going to accept answers from the public forum in the first place then why did you ask? Believe what you will.... We all know how good the answers are coming out of the USCIS (mis)information line.

Edited May 7, 2007 by fwaguy

[no name 1]

I sent in a copy of my passport that was less than 5 years old & I got approved fine...

[craze4travel 0]

So did you provide copies of a U.S. passport instead of a birth certificate as one of the required documents?

[payxibka 10,045]

So did you provide copies of a U.S. passport instead of a birth certificate as one of the required documents?

Answered in previous post....

[craze4travel 0]

Ok, fair enough, however there's no reason to be a complete jerk! I was just commenting on what the representative told me. Anyway, thanks for your feedback.

[payxibka 10,045]

Ok, fair enough, however there's no reason to be a complete jerk! I was just commenting on what the representative told me. Anyway, thanks for your feedback.

Far from being a complete jerk... You came here and asked a question and then decided that the information you received from the USCIS was right when it clearly was wrong... At that point and only at that point was it necessary to elevate the tone of the post to get your attention that what you were told was not correct....

[Minya's wife 24]

When filing the package it states that you can send a complete copy of your passport if it has a validity of 5 years. Regarding the term "validity", does this mean that you need to have had your passport for 5 years, or does this mean you need 5 more years left on your passport before it expires?

In this case its actually both!

Most US passports are issued w/ a validity of 10 years, so if you've had it for 5 years, it will still be valid for 5 years.

-P

[craze4travel 0]

The reason I was asking is because my passport expires next year, so I wanted to make sure that it would be sufficient to send in as a required document.