Passport question for Brits who FF to USA
Jan 11, 2012, 3:53 pm
#1
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Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,788
Passport question for Brits who FF to USA
What I believe:
1) You can have two passports.
2) There is no way to add pages to a passport (unlike US)
3) You need a Visa to visit the US.
4) US immigration stamps your passport upon arrival.
Questions:
If you travel between the US and UK frequently:
Will US immigration stamp either passport once you show them the Visa?
If not, what happens when the passport containing the Visa no longer has free space?
Thanks!
1) You can have two passports.
2) There is no way to add pages to a passport (unlike US)
3) You need a Visa to visit the US.
4) US immigration stamps your passport upon arrival.
Questions:
If you travel between the US and UK frequently:
Will US immigration stamp either passport once you show them the Visa?
If not, what happens when the passport containing the Visa no longer has free space?
Thanks!
Jan 11, 2012, 4:00 pm
#2
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
You don't necessarily need a visa to visit the US - it depends on your purpose of visit. You do need an ESTA, but that's a different beast. And that's lucky - the visa form asks all sorts of questions I couldn't answer.
It comes down to the purpose and frequency of visit. If you're there for tourism, visiting people, or as a business visitor (i.e. attending meetings, conferences, etc) then an ESTA is fine. If you're there to work for a period of time, or are returning frequently after staying close to the non-visa time limit, it becomes increasingly difficult to persuade immigration that you're simply attending meetings.
It comes down to the purpose and frequency of visit. If you're there for tourism, visiting people, or as a business visitor (i.e. attending meetings, conferences, etc) then an ESTA is fine. If you're there to work for a period of time, or are returning frequently after staying close to the non-visa time limit, it becomes increasingly difficult to persuade immigration that you're simply attending meetings.
Jan 11, 2012, 4:11 pm
#4
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
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Posts: 13,611
Ah, fair enough.
Well, the US Embassy states that visas in expired passports will be accepted, provided that the visa is not damaged (for example, if a corner is cut off the passport on replacement):
http://london.usembassy.gov/faq-visa-gen.html#niv111
This would seem to imply that you can enter on one passport with the visa from another, provided you can show the visa. Of course, the usual reason for obtaining a duplicate (rather than replacement) passport is so that you can travel on one while the other is elsewhere, and so this won't help!
In the case of pages running out on one, and a new passport being issued, then I can't see any reason why the old visa shouldn't be accepted.
Well, the US Embassy states that visas in expired passports will be accepted, provided that the visa is not damaged (for example, if a corner is cut off the passport on replacement):
http://london.usembassy.gov/faq-visa-gen.html#niv111
This would seem to imply that you can enter on one passport with the visa from another, provided you can show the visa. Of course, the usual reason for obtaining a duplicate (rather than replacement) passport is so that you can travel on one while the other is elsewhere, and so this won't help!
In the case of pages running out on one, and a new passport being issued, then I can't see any reason why the old visa shouldn't be accepted.
Jan 12, 2012, 4:47 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: UK
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If the question on 2 passports was actually two passports valid at the same time, then this is perfectly acceptable.
It can make for interesting discussions sometimes if you forget which one you entered with last time.....
Of course having a visa in each that is valid can be a challenge, but if the first that holds the visa is full...
When the first passport is full, move on to the other.
Planning ahead and paying for the extra pages can help.
It can make for interesting discussions sometimes if you forget which one you entered with last time.....
Of course having a visa in each that is valid can be a challenge, but if the first that holds the visa is full...
When the first passport is full, move on to the other.
Planning ahead and paying for the extra pages can help.
Jan 12, 2012, 5:58 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newcastle, UK
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Jan 12, 2012, 7:15 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Posts: 4,530
Just to add that you need to be able to present the valid visa at immigration, regardless of whether it is on a valid or expired passport. The stamping for entry purposes is done on the valid passport presented. So if the visa passport is valid, they will usually stamp that one (unless there is absolutely no space I guess), but if it is expired, they will stamp the newer, valid passport.
With regards to space, do note that unlike some other countries, US immigration is usually content with even a tiny amount of space -- basically big enough for the stamp, not necessarily a fresh page.
tb
With regards to space, do note that unlike some other countries, US immigration is usually content with even a tiny amount of space -- basically big enough for the stamp, not necessarily a fresh page.
tb
Jan 12, 2012, 11:34 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC Gold
Posts: 9,236
It is certainly possible to enter the US with a visa in an expired passport, provided you also have a current one. The US issues five-year (and even ten-year) visas as a matter of course. These quite often expire later than the passport does, and this is not a problem. I have friends who have shown their visa in an expired passport and presented their current one for stamping, and it has never, ever been a problem.
Jan 12, 2012, 11:52 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
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And UK agents will just look for a page that doesn't have a sticker on it. I've had the same spot in my passport overstamped at UK airports so many times that it's a huge mess. My most recent arrival got a stamp on the page facing my Saudi visa, which bore Saudi stamps and a handwritten annotation from a Saudi immigration agent. The visa has expired, so I guess it's OK, but that was a really weird spot for him to stamp in my opinion.
Jan 12, 2012, 12:46 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
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Posts: 9,236
Jan 12, 2012, 2:45 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Jan 13, 2012, 5:42 am
#14
Join Date: May 2005
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And UK agents will just look for a page that doesn't have a sticker on it. I've had the same spot in my passport overstamped at UK airports so many times that it's a huge mess. My most recent arrival got a stamp on the page facing my Saudi visa, which bore Saudi stamps and a handwritten annotation from a Saudi immigration agent. The visa has expired, so I guess it's OK, but that was a really weird spot for him to stamp in my opinion.
If the question on 2 passports was actually two passports valid at the same time, then this is perfectly acceptable.
It can make for interesting discussions sometimes if you forget which one you entered with last time.....
Of course having a visa in each that is valid can be a challenge, but if the first that holds the visa is full...
When the first passport is full, move on to the other.
Planning ahead and paying for the extra pages can help.
It can make for interesting discussions sometimes if you forget which one you entered with last time.....
Of course having a visa in each that is valid can be a challenge, but if the first that holds the visa is full...
When the first passport is full, move on to the other.
Planning ahead and paying for the extra pages can help.
Jan 14, 2012, 1:27 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC Gold
Posts: 9,236
But why do they have to stamp the passport if that stamp itself cannot be read? It is literally a futile action. It is also following the letter of the law whilst entirely disregarding its spirit. This is what I cannot understand.