Travel India to USA - Valid H1B but passport expires in less than 6 months

[kdeshpan]

Hi All,

This is a question regarding travel from India to USA. Here is my scenario:

My passport expires on Mar 2013 and I am on H1B visa valid up to 2014. Right now I am in India for some family emergency.
I was thinking of extending my stay in India till Sept 2012. But then it leaves less than 6 months for my passport to be valid as it is expiring on Mar 2013
I was thinking of extending my passport once I go back to US from Indian consulate there. Will it be ok to do so?
I heard that there are some restrictions on travel if your passport is expiring within 6 months. Should I get my passport extension while I am in India?
The problem with extending passport in India is that, my proof of residence for last 1 year is in USA. does that pose any problem in getting passport extension in India?

What is the best thing to do in this ? Please advise

thanks
ketan

[raghvi]

Hi All,

This is a question regarding travel from India to USA. Here is my scenario:

My passport expires on Mar 2013 and I am on H1B visa valid up to 2014. Right now I am in India for some family emergency.
I was thinking of extending my stay in India till Sept 2012. But then it leaves less than 6 months for my passport to be valid as it is expiring on Mar 2013
I was thinking of extending my passport once I go back to US from Indian consulate there. Will it be ok to do so?
I heard that there are some restrictions on travel if your passport is expiring within 6 months. Should I get my passport extension while I am in India?
The problem with extending passport in India is that, my proof of residence for last 1 year is in USA. does that pose any problem in getting passport extension in India?

What is the best thing to do in this ? Please advise

thanks
ketan

Not all country have the 6 Month passport rule for entry. This rule is not applicable to you in the current scenario, read more at :

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

From timeline perspective it takes much, much shorter time in US compared to India to get passport renewed. It is advisable to renew the passport in US. But the other side is that when you return to US, at the POE you will be given I-94 only till Mar 2013, so you will have to file for extension later on once back in US. This is my opinion not legal advice.