K-1 application with soon-to-expire passport (renewal timing question)

[zeek99 1]

Hi everyone,

 

I’m getting ready to apply for a K-1 visa and want to make sure my passport situation won’t cause issues.

 

• My current passport expires on 1 December 2026.

• I plan to apply for the K-1 (I-129F) in October 2025.

• In my country, I can’t renew my passport until December 2025 (one year before expiration).
   

Since the I-129F form asks for my passport number, I’d have to use my current passport when we file. By the time the case gets to the NVC/embassy stage, I should already have a new passport.

 

My questions are:

1. Is it okay to list my current passport on the I-129F, then switch to my new one later for the DS-160 and interview?

2. Do I need to formally notify USCIS/NVC about the new passport, or just bring both old and new passports to the interview?
    

Thanks in advance to anyone who’s been through something similar!

[lunchbreak 2]

Hey!

 

We recently filed our petition for the I-129f as well. Beneficiary is also from the Netherlands. 
Her old passport would expire in 2029, but she wanted a new passport (due to the process after the K-1 gets issued, and how many years eventual naturalization might take, we both decided it was best to have a passport that’s valid for the next 10 years.) She applied for a new passport at her gemeente August 26. She got a new passport with updated picture and biometrics issued by her gemeente on September 2. We filed our I-129f on September 10. Got our NOA1 September 15. 

You can choose to file your petition with the current passport, but there should be no problem getting a new passport in the Netherlands. They will make your old passport invalid (perforate and block it). 
 

Just explain to your gemeente you need a new passport for immigration purposes and also because your picture doesn’t look like you anymore. Worked fine for us. And less of a hassle than bringing old and new passport and trying to update stuff afterwards. 
 

Good luck!

[OldUser 10,537]

1 hour ago, zeek99 said:

Hi everyone,

 

I’m getting ready to apply for a K-1 visa and want to make sure my passport situation won’t cause issues.

 

• My current passport expires on 1 December 2026.

• I plan to apply for the K-1 (I-129F) in October 2025.

• In my country, I can’t renew my passport until December 2025 (one year before expiration).
   

Since the I-129F form asks for my passport number, I’d have to use my current passport when we file. By the time the case gets to the NVC/embassy stage, I should already have a new passport.

 

My questions are:

1. Is it okay to list my current passport on the I-129F, then switch to my new one later for the DS-160 and interview?

2. Do I need to formally notify USCIS/NVC about the new passport, or just bring both old and new passports to the interview?
    

Thanks in advance to anyone who’s been through something similar!

I'm suprised you would not be allowed to renew earlier. I never heard of such restriction in other countries. Typically these are just guidenlines when one should consider renewing passport, not a hard rule. Many countries require valid passport that has at least 6 months left until expiration. I renewed my countries' passport 2 years before expiration without an issue.

 

Try renewing first. Worst case you can bring new passport to interview in consulate and use it on DS-160

Edited 18 hours ago by OldUser

[wildbug100420 329]

3 hours ago, zeek99 said:

Hi everyone,

 

I’m getting ready to apply for a K-1 visa and want to make sure my passport situation won’t cause issues.

 

• My current passport expires on 1 December 2026.

• I plan to apply for the K-1 (I-129F) in October 2025.

• In my country, I can’t renew my passport until December 2025 (one year before expiration).
   

Since the I-129F form asks for my passport number, I’d have to use my current passport when we file. By the time the case gets to the NVC/embassy stage, I should already have a new passport.

 

My questions are:

1. Is it okay to list my current passport on the I-129F, then switch to my new one later for the DS-160 and interview?

2. Do I need to formally notify USCIS/NVC about the new passport, or just bring both old and new passports to the interview?
    

Thanks in advance to anyone who’s been through something similar!

Are you the US citizen or beneficiary? If beneficiary it's the US citizen that starts the petition. It's not clear from your post. 

[Fr8dog 499]

Renewing a passport as close as possible to the interview date is recommended. (It just makes life easier later on as the Dutch passport can be a pain in the rear to maintain later). You can update the passport number during the interview. Make sure to have them return your old passport after they voided it. You can renew a Dutch passport whenever you feel like it as long as you are willing to pay the fee.

 

I did this exact same thing

Edited 10 hours ago by Fr8dog
added info