Passport expiration close to interview

[Mike and Lily 13]

We were absolutely stunned this week to receive our interview letters. Our F2-B priority date isn't even current until July 1. As we have less than 5 weeks until the interview, we don't believe we safely have enough time to renew one of the passports. We also need the passport for the medical exam prior to the interview. One of the passports expires exactly six months and one week after the interview. (we had been planning to renew it shortly) The instructions state that the passport should have at least six months validity from INTENDED DATE OF ENTRY to the USA. Our best solution is to buy a plane ticket for 6 days after the interview and show it to the visa officer during the interview. It's been our experience that the Guangzhou consulate is very quick about issuing visas once the interviews have been passed. We hope the visa officer will accept this. She didn't want to rush her entry following the interview, but now it appears she has no choice. Does anyone have any better ideas or anything else to offer on this?

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

5 weeks is not enought time to get a new passport?

 

There is no guarantee the visa will be issued within 6 days of the interview date. You are cutting it very close. Our general advice has always been never to buy tickets until you have that visa in hand

[Mike and Lily 13]

5 minutes ago, USS_Voyager said:

5 weeks is not enought time to get a new passport?

 

There is no guarantee the visa will be issued within 6 days of the interview date. You are cutting it very close. Our general advice has always been never to buy tickets until you have that visa in hand

 

They say 4-6 weeks. But the passport is also required for the medical exam prior to the interview.

[Pinkrlion 2,724]

They will not accept the passport at the interview if it does not meet the requirements and will have to be submitted when you receive the new one. They will not care that you purchased plane tickets. Be prepared to make flight changes. 

[Mike and Lily 13]

2 minutes ago, Pinkrlion said:

They will not accept the passport at the interview if it does not meet the requirements and will have to be submitted when you receive the new one. They will not care that you purchased plane tickets. Be prepared to make flight changes. 

It does meet the requirements at the time of the interview. The only assumption that would need to be made is that the visa would be received within 6 days of passing the interview. If we need to make flight changes, so be it.

[issea 43]

My impression is it takes less than 4 weeks to renew the passport. And I also have the impression that valid visa on expired passport combined with new passport is acceptable. Check this if it applies to your case: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/frequently-asked-questions/about-basics.html

 

BTW, I believe you can expedite the passport renewal by paying extra. 

Edited June 22, 2019 by issea

[Mike and Lily 13]

11 minutes ago, issea said:

My impression is it takes less than 4 weeks to renew the passport. And I also have the impression that valid visa on expired passport combined with new passport is acceptable. Check this if it applies to your case: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/frequently-asked-questions/about-basics.html

 

BTW, I believe you can expedite the passport renewal by paying extra. 

OK, thanks. The website I checked said 4-6 weeks. But I'll have my relative in China check it out right away, and see if there's an option to expedite. 

[RandyW 149]

Someone said that China will punch a hole through the entire old passport when the new one is issued. I wouldn't expect this to be a problem, but it might cause an issue on exiting China

 

Also, the Consulate usually takes 10 days or longer to issue a visa now

Edited June 25, 2019 by RandyW

[payxibka 10,045]

4 minutes ago, RandyW said:

 but it might cause an issue on exiting China

How so?

[RandyW 149]

Just now, payxibka said:

How so?

 

 

The holes are punched to void the old passport. A visa with voiding holes punched in it is not a comforting sight.

[payxibka 10,045]

1 minute ago, RandyW said:

 

 

The holes are punched to void the old passport. A visa with voiding holes punched in it is not a comforting sight.

This is commonplace.   People deal with this exact same issue everyday.   The holes invalidate the passport as no longer being the current travel document,  but not the visa inside

[RandyW 149]

Everyday ?? The US Consulate is careful to only void the cover and ID page - the Chinese authorities often are not.

Just something to be aware of.

 

 

Quote

 

the JaYoe Nation4 months ago

Yea. I know some people from other countries had their voided passports chopped on a corner or punched all the way thru. I told the lady at the embassy and she said no worries... they only punch the cover and face page.

 

You'll easily find people who will tell you that a damaged visa is no longer valid

Edited June 25, 2019 by RandyW

[issea 43]

57 minutes ago, RandyW said:

Someone said that China will punch a hole through the entire old passport when the new one is issued. I wouldn't expect this to be a problem, but it might cause an issue on exiting China

My own experience of renewing the China passport in an overseas consulate is they did nothing to my old passport except for a “canceled” stamp on the bio page. The staff explained to me that since there were valid visas in that passport he’s not gonna cut a corner of the cover page or puncture it. This was very thoughtful as I think. 🙂

[Mike and Lily 13]

She already submitted the application for the new passport. She had it expedited and they said it would take 10 days. They let her keep the old one and just cut off a corner. I'm not sure if they stamped it "canceled" or not. But unless it takes much longer than expected, it looks like we're good.

 

Thanks for everyone's responses.