Passport Expiration Date and influence on K1

[catknit 144]

I was speaking to my SO last night and he said, just in passing, oh my passport expires in the spring - could that dely when I can get there?, etc etc etc. [This last part happens to be very India specific because their paperwork nightmares are legendary - it will take anywhere from 6-8 months to have his passport renewed.]

For some reason I thought I had seen something that said a beneficiary needs to have at least 6 months time still left on their passport. Then again, I've been reading so much stuff about a variety of things pertaining to visa and passports and general immigration stuff I may have confused this.

Obviously, if this 6 month rule is true, we'll work out a game plan but I'm having trouble finding where I thought I may have seen it.

Is this ringing any bells to anyone else?

Thanks!

[YuAndDan 153]

A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions).

India has an agreement to extend validity of passport 6 months beyond visa issuance.

SEE: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/104770.pdf

However, the passport needs to be valid at the time of visa issuance.

[Nina+Matt 0]

also remember that your passport has to be valid for another 6 months at the time you want to enter the states, that is the airlines requiremnt!!

[catknit 144]

Thanks for the replies - hmmmm, guess it's time to work out a plan of action.

I'm curious why the airlines would care about the expiration date on someone who's coming to stay though? I know it's their policy - not questioning that. Just curious.

[Nina+Matt 0]

its not really the airlines choice! if the country someone is flying to does require that for immigration/customs/security reasons then the airline has to have an eye on that so they dont get in trouble! i had a lady standing next to me at the check-in in frankfurt germany that wanted to fly to the usa but the airline didnt let her because her passport was valid for just 3 months.......

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Thanks for the replies - hmmmm, guess it's time to work out a plan of action.

I'm curious why the airlines would care about the expiration date on someone who's coming to stay though? I know it's their policy - not questioning that. Just curious.

simplest plan is to renew now and forsake the remainder-time on your current passport.

[*JG* 2]

We are about to embark on the whole renew the foreign passport from the US. A friend of mine just did it and it took a really long time.

My suggestion to you is to renew now to save you some headaches later.

[catknit 144]

Let's just say hypothetically he goes to have his passport renewed tomorrow - and magically my NOA2 shows up [if we follow the typical time line we should be seeing it later this month] - I know we would then need to wait to go thru NVC and on to the embassy; but, hopefully that won't take the projected 6+ months he'd need to renew his passport.

Can we file for extensions somehow? Push back the interview?

The other thought is that we are assuming [i know, bad] that he will get stuck at some point in name checks and will most likely get some AP/AR. His passport is expiring next June [just confirmed with him on the phone]. Part of me just wants to say let it ride and renew it while he's on AP if it gets to be that long - otherwise hope and pray he can be here by December.

I know all of this is conjecture and assumptions but I'd like to advise him to the most sensible thing to do. There are so many variables with all this stuff - all cases have such subtle nuances.

I don't know - I just want to do what makes the most sense.

[pushbrk 14,170]

Let's just say hypothetically he goes to have his passport renewed tomorrow - and magically my NOA2 shows up [if we follow the typical time line we should be seeing it later this month] - I know we would then need to wait to go thru NVC and on to the embassy; but, hopefully that won't take the projected 6+ months he'd need to renew his passport.

Can we file for extensions somehow? Push back the interview?

The other thought is that we are assuming [i know, bad] that he will get stuck at some point in name checks and will most likely get some AP/AR. His passport is expiring next June [just confirmed with him on the phone]. Part of me just wants to say let it ride and renew it while he's on AP if it gets to be that long - otherwise hope and pray he can be here by December.

I know all of this is conjecture and assumptions but I'd like to advise him to the most sensible thing to do. There are so many variables with all this stuff - all cases have such subtle nuances.

I don't know - I just want to do what makes the most sense.

The interview can be pushed back. Is AP all that common in India? I'd be renewing the passport.

[catknit 144]

AP does occur - My understanding is that the Delhi embassy is/was considered a high fraud post. Additionally, my SO is from Kashmir, he's Muslim, male, in his thirties, somewhat common Muslim name....I'm sure you get the picture. I don't think it's as present as seen in ME/NA.

Maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised and dodge that bullet - however we are trying to stay realistic.

[pushbrk 14,170]

AP does occur - My understanding is that the Delhi embassy is/was considered a high fraud post. Additionally, my SO is from Kashmir, he's Muslim, male, in his thirties, somewhat common Muslim name....I'm sure you get the picture. I don't think it's as present as seen in ME/NA.

Maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised and dodge that bullet - however we are trying to stay realistic.

Yes, I would expect an extended AP, during which they generally hold the passport. I'd get it renewed.

[belinda63 3,055]

I would go ahead and start the renewal process. If it comes through while on AP or something you just need to submit the new passport to the embassy. Not a big deal.

This would be better than getting the visa and not being able to use it or finishing AP and not getting the visa because of the about to expire passport.