applying for a new visotors J2 visa for my parents

[ashkri]

I have a quick question. My parents visa is expiring on October 29th. They are planning to visit me in the first week or october, hopefully for 3-4 months. Can we apply for a new visa before the older one expires? If yes, how many days before the expired date can they apply?
We would like to have a new visa before making the trip to avoid any surprises in the trip.

thanks in advance

[knowledgeable]

now

apply now, since they want to travel in october, your current visa does not have sufficient days left

[rathi]

Hi
It is the port of entry that determines for how long one can stay in US. It is enough if you have a valid visa on day of arrival at the port of entry in US, whatever duration left in your visa is immaterial.

so there is no need for you to apply for a new visa now.

[knowledgeable]

may be true

that may be possibly true, but the risk here is what happens if at poe

1. immigration officer allows only 1 week of stay due to the limitation on the visa end date.


2. does not allow you to enter the country at all

you can take any advice that you need from anybody, the point is, are you willing to take this risk for your family?

best bet will be to call amcon and talk to them directly

[waitin_toolong]

this is where i disagree with you, AMCON will not issue a new visa till the old one expires.

the way the B1/2 visa work is that as long as the stamp is current at the POE you will be allowed entry. The I-94 stamp can be upto six months not determined by stamp expiry. They will not be sent back just because their stamp is expiring in week, nor will the stay be determined by that date. There might be other factors that come into play.



the only advice I have here is keep a copy of the I-94 dates for when you go for stamping the next time to prove that you stayed till I-94 allowed you to do so.

[ashkri]

Thanks for replying everyone. I dont want to leave anything to chance (except getting the visa). From your comments, I get a sense that one cannot apply for a new visa unless the old visa has expired. There should be a law stating this. Anyone has any idea where i should look for it? Or call the Embassy?

thanks
Ashish

[knowledgeable]

E-mail from AMCON, Mumbai - Please read below

From: MUMBAI, N IV [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 11:35 PM
To: [BLANKED OUT]
Subject: RE: General Question on Re-Application

The visa will allow you to enter till the date the visa is valid, the
length of your stay will be decided by the immigration officer.


Regards,

Mumbai NIV: SB
American Consulate General, Mumbai