UA Fan

FIL's Indian passport is about to expire and his travel agent claims that one does not need to transfer the US visa to the new passport. He would just need to carry the old passport with him. Is that correct?

B747-437B

Yes. No need to transfer.

CX HK

Here is an official link to reassure you: http://travel.state.gov/visa/questio...ns_1253.html#7

UA Fan

Thanks.

Christopher

The only thing to watch out for is whether the passport issuing authority damage the visa when they cancel the old passport. Cancelling a passport is typically done by cutting off a corner of the cover, but I have seen passports that have been cancelled by cutting off a corner of the whole book or by cutting the word "cancelled" through the whole book with a punch. If the cancellation defaces the US visa in any way, it will no longer be considered valid by the US authorities.

Otherwise, the US visa remains valid in the old passport until the date of its own expiry (not that of the passport it is in), although I think that the two passports that are presented at US passport control must be of the same nationality. (That is not going to be a problem in this case, however.)

B747-437B

The OP referred to Indian passports. India does not deface cancelled passports in that manner. Indeed, the new passport will be endorsed with the number of the previous passport and the notation that it contains valid visas.

GUWonder

That is indeed standard practice currently for Indian passports that are submitted along with a renewal application.

MasterGeek

Does it also apply to passports that have been cancelled (but undamaged) due to obtaining a newer passport, and where the expiration date in the old passport has not yet been reached ?

The US government website says uses only the word "expired".


Thanks

UA Fan

Just an update: FIL came here using the new passport, but without moving the visa over. Brought his old passport as well.

florin

I don't think that's true. Someone I know spilled water on the passport that had the visa. The passport got soaked. The visa is still visible, but not in its original shape (it faded a bit). The visa does not scan correctly, but if the CBP manually enters the numbers on the visa it comes up on their screen and it is good enough for entry.

My point is that a damaged visa can still be valid because it can be verified in the system.

B747-437B

Yes it does. Those are treated as expired passports as their validity has been prematurely cancelled upon issue of the new passport booklet.

Damaged and defaced are two different things. A visa with accidental water damage will get a humph of annoyance but thats about it. A visa with "CANCELLED" stamped over it or with a hole punched through it will not even get you on the plane.