figuar

I got a H1B visa (work permit) for the USA in October 2006, but got a new UK passport in early 2007.  I made sure that I stated on my new application that I needed the US visa page intact and not defaced in any way.

Each time I went back to the US I would travel using my new passport, but show that and the old one with the visa at US immigration.  Sometimes I would have to show the US visa at checkin on a US bound flight.

In short -

1. Keep the old passport containing the visa

2. Ensure the visa page is not defaced in any way when you apply for the new passport

3. Carry both passports when travelling via the US.

Hopefully you have got an answer by now, but if not, this may help...

My girlfriend handed in her application on 08/08/2008, and the passport was ready on 19/08/2008.  Note that 12/08/2008 was the Queen's birthday, so nobody was working.  (Thankfully the visa was granted, and I'm sure the information on this forum helped)

When my gf went to collect it on the 20th, she got to the VAC at 2pm and was able to go straight in to get it, even though they clearly state that collections are only allowed from 3pm to 4.30pm.  One of the officials there said things were very quiet at the moment, as there had been less applications that normal recently.

She tried calling for status updates a number of times, but it would often take an hour or so to get connected.  Checking on the internet was a lot easier, so I checked a couple of times a day, then phoned to let her know when the status changed.