Passport Validity

[xDestineyx 1]

Hello,

I was just wondering, does the 6 months validly for passports rule apply for immigrant visas? Do my family members need to have six months left on their passports upon their arrival as permanent residents?

Thank you

[pink_niru 41]

Hello,

I was just wondering, does the 6 months validly for passports rule apply for immigrant visas? Do my family members need to have six months left on their passports upon their arrival as permanent residents?

Thank you

Yes

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

It's 6 months when the visa is issued (as they are usually valid 6 months), not when you arrive.

[xDestineyx 1]

It's 6 months when the visa is issued (as they are usually valid 6 months), not when you arrive.

So if they were granted visas, it doesn't matter how much is left after that as long as it's not expired when they arrive?

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

Usually, the embassy will require there are 6 months left on the passports when they issue the visas. But if there is only one month left when they enter the USA, that is fine.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hi,

When your family gets to the US, they will be green card holders. If they want to travel internationally (including visiting home), they will need unexpired passports. It will be easier to get in the home country than in the US in most cases. They might as well take care of it before immigrating. Some posters have reported having trouble getting their foreign passports renewed in the US.

[xDestineyx 1]

Thank you all, and yes, it wouldn't have been a problem and I wouldn't have asked about the whole thing if they were actually in their home country, the problem is that they're not, and their embassy told them that it would take a year to issue new passports. Their cases have been completed two weeks ago and they still don't have an appointment date so we're worried because their passports expire on March 2016.

Edited May 26, 2015 by xDestineyx