Passport expires in October 2015 with valid visa till 2017

[BobbyKutti]

Hi,

I have a valid H1B visa from Oct1st 2014 to Sep30 2017 (recently got it). I will travel in Jan 2015. My passport expires in October 2015.I have following questions, please help.

What is the validity date I will receive on I-94 once I enter us? is it passport expiry date or visa validity date?
Can I apply for a new passport from India in November 2014 as my passport expires in October 2015 which is less than an year, is it a good move?
If I apply for a new passport, should I carry both my passports or what should I do?
Is it best to apply for a new passport in US and apply for an extension for I-94?

Please let me know.

Thanks

[Vishnu1]

Hi,

I have a valid H1B visa from Oct1st 2014 to Sep30 2017 (recently got it). I will travel in Jan 2015. My passport expires in October 2015.I have following questions, please help.

What is the validity date I will receive on I-94 once I enter us? is it passport expiry date or visa validity date?
Can I apply for a new passport from India in November 2014 as my passport expires in October 2015 which is less than an year, is it a good move?
If I apply for a new passport, should I carry both my passports or what should I do?
Is it best to apply for a new passport in US and apply for an extension for I-94?

Please let me know.

Thanks

Passport and VISA are two separate documents. If your passport expires that does not mean valid visas will expire too. Visas are good until they expire. If your passport expired, carry your old passport along with your new one.

[BobbyKutti]

Thanks

Thanks , What will be my I94 expiration date once I land in USA? passport expiration date or visa expiration date

[Vishnu1]

Thanks , What will be my I94 expiration date once I land in USA? passport expiration date or visa expiration date

That depends on the immigration officer at the airport.

[mulkanand]

Hi,

I have a valid H1B visa from Oct1st 2014 to Sep30 2017 (recently got it). I will travel in Jan 2015. My passport expires in October 2015.I have following questions, please help.

What is the validity date I will receive on I-94 once I enter us? is it passport expiry date or visa validity date?
Can I apply for a new passport from India in November 2014 as my passport expires in October 2015 which is less than an year, is it a good move?
If I apply for a new passport, should I carry both my passports or what should I do?
Is it best to apply for a new passport in US and apply for an extension for I-94?

Please let me know.

Thanks

I have a valid H1B visa from Oct1st 2014 to Sep30 2017 (recently got it). I will travel in Jan 2015. My passport expires in October 2015.I have following questions, please help.

What is the validity date I will receive on I-94 once I enter us? is it passport expiry date or visa validity date?
Can I apply for a new passport from India in November 2014 as my passport expires in October 2015 which is less than an year, is it a good move?
If I apply for a new passport, should I carry both my passports or what should I do?
Is it best to apply for a new passport in US and apply for an extension for I-94?

Please let me know.

Thanks[/QUOTE]

First, they don't issue I-94 anymore, rather the immigration officer at port of entry in US will stamp the passport and put a date on it. In most cases immigration officer will put the date of your Visa expiration date on your passport even when your passport is going to expire sooner than Visa expiration date. (Source: personal experience. Immigration officer put Visa expiry date and not the passport exp date; her passport is set to expire in Jan 2015 and Visa much later).
You can definitely apply for reissue of passport if less than 1 year has left on it - its clearly mentioned on GOI passport website. Now, whether you should apply for reissue of passport in India or in US is up to you. If you think that you have personal contacts of high level in Govt who could help you out in case your passport application got stuck for some reason then sure you can apply for reissue in India itself.

If I were you, I would not have applied in India for reissue at all - not even in Tatkal. My passport was expiring in 2012 and I was in India for a 1.5 months in 2011 and thought let's get it renewed there itself in Tatkal. I had to visit 3 times to the passport office and even thought I had done all the documentations they did not accept my application (long story) and asked me to provide additional papers. After 3rd attempt, I decided not to apply there. As i was coming downstairs, an agent reached out to me and said he will get it done with NO additional documents in INR 4000. I declined that and came back to US after my vacation. After reaching here I applied for reissue of passport with NY Consulate by post and I got my passport within 2 weeks. Collecting all the supporting documents for the application was very much easier over here.

Now again, that's 2012 story and you are now in 2014. Passport applications have now been outsourced to BLS International (last time in 2012 I think it was Travisa). Information provided on BLS website is full of conflicting/unclear statements and their support is pathetic. I had to do much more paperwork than last time (I have sent application for my wife's passport reissue, I have yet to get the passport back) but still it wasn't as bad as my experience in India.

I tried to put the facts based on my personal experience, now it's up to you to decide what you want to do.