Transferring Us Visa Into New Passport?

[islandguy]

Is it possible to have an existing US visa in my wife's old passport put into (or a new paper for same visa put into) her new passport? The new passport has a name change to her married name and the old passport has a first name change (officially entered into passport) as well. I have received conflicting advice about her using the new passport and also taking along the old passport so as to use the visa. What are people's experiences with going with both old and new passports?

Thanks for your help.

[gotlost]

US does not transfer visas. She must keep her old passport with her new.

[gosompoi]

The official USA statement is if a US VISA has not expired and new passport has been issued then present the old passport with US visa and the new passport.

[islandguy]

The official USA statement is if a US VISA has not expired and new passport has been issued then present the old passport with US visa and the new passport.

Thanks for the two replies. Anybody have experience with entering the US with old and new passport?

A few years ago one of the US consuls recommended getting a new visa rather than doing this because of uncertainty with the officials at the border, but it has been hard to arrange seeing the visa section because of our location and schedule (as well as the usual difficulties everyone else goes through).

[Spaniel]

My wife's Thai passport expired on 21 March 2009 in which was her 10 year US visa that is valid until March 2015. When she was issued a new passport in July 2009 they put this endorsement on page 3 of her new passport:

Endorsement no. 00000/52

The holder has previously traveled on passport no. Nxxxxxxxx. issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Bangkok on 22 Mar 2004 which has been canceled and returned to the holder, the visas duly affixed still remain valid.

Dont know how those name changes will affect things.

[Spaniel]

I forgot to add that since doing this she has not yet made a trip to the USA so dont know if she will have problems at the border or not.

[islandguy]

My wife's Thai passport expired on 21 March 2009 in which was her 10 year US visa that is valid until March 2015. When she was issued a new passport in July 2009 they put this endorsement on page 3 of her new passport:

Endorsement no. 00000/52

The holder has previously traveled on passport no. Nxxxxxxxx. issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Bangkok on 22 Mar 2004 which has been canceled and returned to the holder, the visas duly affixed still remain valid.

Dont know how those name changes will affect things.

Just checking back on this thread, thanks for the info. Any idea about how my wife could get this declaration added to her new passport now?

[NanLaew]

In my experience, traveling with BOTH passports will be sufficient. If you are arriving at one of the major international arrival airports, there will be no issues apart from the inevitable surly Q & A session regarding where she came from, why she is visiting and how long she is staying. Having ANY official declaration in a passport will always have lower precedent in the attending Immigration officers decision. This is standard for the US where even having a visa in a current passport does not guarantee entry... just allows you to get on the bus! Also keep in mind that there will also be a Q & A session at the check-in for that final flight (the one that arrives in the US) and your wife should have BOTH passports available at that time to speed up the process.

A final note. If anyone has a US visa that is still current in an expired passport, US Immigration records will show the existence of that visa and trying to enter without it, such as on a visa waiver (if applicable) is an offence. There will be a 'secondary inspection' that will delay entry and worst case, one may be denied entry. If a traveler has an unexpired US visa in a passport, then entry to the US can ONLY be made on that passport, or, if the passport has expired, on the subsequent new passport with the expired one in support.

[Spaniel]

My wife's Thai passport expired on 21 March 2009 in which was her 10 year US visa that is valid until March 2015. When she was issued a new passport in July 2009 they put this endorsement on page 3 of her new passport:

Endorsement no. 00000/52

The holder has previously traveled on passport no. Nxxxxxxxx. issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Bangkok on 22 Mar 2004 which has been canceled and returned to the holder, the visas duly affixed still remain valid.

Dont know how those name changes will affect things.

Just checking back on this thread, thanks for the info. Any idea about how my wife could get this declaration added to her new passport now?

You (wife) would almost certainly have to have it done at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where the passport was issued.

[islandguy]

You (wife) would almost certainly have to have it done at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where the passport was issued.

She obtained in Bang Na, at the large office in the Central Bang Na building. Anybody have their phone number there?

[islandguy]

My wife just got back from Bangkok last week. It was no problem for her to have the declaration linking old and new passport put into her new passport at the Bang Na office. She appreciated that and the shopping upstairs as well