Need urgent help - F1 visa and passport expiration

[parth16]

Hi,

I have F1 visa. I am planning to come to US for the summer semester which starts in May'08. However, my passport is expiring in Oct'08.

Is it okay to travel in the first week of May which is within the 6 months span from the passport's expiry date? I have gotten multiple answers to this question. Some say that as long as F1 visa is valid, it is okay to travel any time until the passport expires. And some say that you cannot travel if the passport expires within 6 months. I would appreciate your guidance in this matter.

Please reply soon.
Thank you

[PraetorianXI]

you can travel for as long as the visa is valid, but I advice you to renew your passport while you are in your home country (it will be easier this way) and if you receive it in time, you can travel with the visa in the old passport and have the new passport stamped.

[topcatin]

Call the passport office and ask them? Thats what I would do and you dont have to get your F1 stamped again in the new passport.If your visa is valid, then you will just attached the old passport tothe new passport and travel with that.The visa stamp holds good even on a expired passport,but ask the passport office about your passport instead of asking here.