VERY URGENT: Indian Passport renewal,please help

[Gautam78727]

hello all,
For urgent parents health related issue, i had to rush to India.My passport is valid until 3-Feb-2009, but my H1B visa is valid until May,2010.I was hoping that i would be able to renew my passport while i was in India, but due to urgent matters in hand i just could not get the time.Now when i visited the passport office in Bombay, it looks like it might take atleast 45 days or so.
Now because of current job related matter i need to return back and i don't think i have the time to renew my passport.So i had the following questions in regards to my situation and hope that you all can advice me.
1. Do you all think that it might be risky in the present economic situation
to take a chance of trying to enter with a about to expire passport?
2. Since my short validity passport i.e 5 year validity, expires on Feb 3rd,2009
will i be allowed to enter US,if i decide on returning back in the 2nd or 3rd week of Jan'2009 which would only leave me with just 2 weeks of passport validity ?
3. If i am allowed, what will be the date on I-94?
4. Since i am from Austin, i would plan on visiting the Indian Consulate at Houston to get my passport renewed.Do i need to get an appointment before i visit the consulate and what documents would be required for the whole process and how much time does it take generally?

Please help with any advice or suggestions, as its very urgent.

thanks for any advice or help!
Gautam

[txh1b]

1. No link between economy and passport validity.
2. As long as PP is valid, you will be allowed to enter. There is a chance that I-94 will be issued till DOE of passport which would mean an extension for H1b has to be applied early.
3. #2
4. Check the procedure on consulate website. You can mail it in as well as soon as you enter.

[Gautam78727]

thanks a lot txh1b! that helped clear lot of this confusion that i was finding myself in.

[txh1b]

https://www.immihelp.com/six-months-passport-validity-rule-entering-us-non-immigrant-visa/

This is for visitors.

[akaps]

thanks a lot txh1b! that helped clear lot of this confusion that i was finding myself in.

Gautam,

Can you please let me know the what was the procedure you did to renew the passport. I am in NJ and planning to go to UK and my passport expiry is Sep 2009. But before making UK Visa i need to get my Passport renewed.

Please let me know the entire process for making Passport Renewal Application and what documents are required.

Thanks
ARATI ([email protected])

[Gautam78727]

ARATI,
I got my passport re-issued in Mumbai itself..but i did ask my company attorney and i am pasting what she adviced word-by-word.
=========================================
1.Your passport is considered automatically extended for six months beyond 2/3/2009 as long as you enter before 2/3/09. This is the rule of the State Dept.

2. The I-94 should be valid e 5/29/2010. Make sure you show them the most recent H-1B approval notice.

Please check with the airline and explain this situation to them. Sometimes they may question a passport that is about to expire.
=========================================

after my experience about getting passport re-issued/renewed in India..please never try it...ever! ...better use the website for the nearest consulate while in US, follow the steps and its faster and less of a headache

hope it helps
gautam