Valid B1 Visa - Spoilt by Passport office

[suprabhat]

I have a rather unfortunate situation. I have a valid 10 year US Visa on which I have travelled twice before. Last year, I had given my passport for renewal and got issued a new passport. I expected to travel to US this week using my old + new passport and the visa stamped on my old passport (this is standard procedure). Now, I did not make a big notice of the fact that the Passport office (probably due to clerical negligence) drew a line across my valid US Visa page.

At the airport, immigration stopped me because of this line. Although the visa was easily machine readable, they said I would have to get a letter issued from the consulate before I could travel. When I went to the consulate, they told me outright at the window to apply for a fresh visa. So, I am resigned to waiting a couple of months now and get a fresh visa.

My question to this forum is whether anyone has encountered this situation where a valid visa has been erroneously crossed out. Does the consulate create any issues around this? Is there an easier way, like getting a duplicate visa printed on the passport?

Any insights will be appreciated.

Best regards.

[immihelp]

This is very unfortunate.

I have not heard about this before.

If the consulate people told you to apply for fresh visa, you would have to do so.