US tourist visa in old Thai passport

[SidJames]

My missus has a US tourist visa that's valid for 10 years.

It's in her expired passport so does she need to reapply or do we just bring her old passport along & present it at US immigration along with her present one when we land?

Plus will it affect her ESTA application?

SJ

[NanLaew]

US visas are valid for the stated duration regardless of the travel document they are placed in having date expired. Your wife will need to show both passports upon entry to the US but also at check-in, especially when using a US carrier where passenger pre-screening is in place.

She will also need to apply and pay for a new ESTA online with the new passport details. The only details that can be changed in an existing ESTA is the passengers email address and their US contact address.

Information is here.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

I think the ESTA process only applies to persons from countries who are included in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which does not include Thailand.

Mac

[Shot]

My GF had 5 years left on her US visa when she applied for a new Thai passport about 1 month ago. The Thai passport office asked her to return once she received new passport via mail. They stamped the old passport:

"Endorsement No. ###############

The holder has previously travelled on Passport No. ############ issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Bangkok on ## May 20## which has been cancelled and returned to the holder, the visas duly affixed still remain valid."

It is stamped with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seal and signed by the Director of Passport Division Phuket.

The endorsement and stamp were free, and it took about 10 minutes.

[NanLaew]

I think the ESTA process only applies to persons from countries who are included in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which does not include Thailand.

Mac

Good point, well noted. The ESTA is for nationals of countries eligible for the visa waiver entry (Thailand nationals are not included).

My GF had 5 years left on her US visa when she applied for a new Thai passport about 1 month ago. The Thai passport office asked her to return once she received new passport via mail. They stamped the old passport:

"Endorsement No. ###############

The holder has previously travelled on Passport No. ############ issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Bangkok on ## May 20## which has been cancelled and returned to the holder, the visas duly affixed still remain valid."

It is stamped with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seal and signed by the Director of Passport Division Phuket.

The endorsement and stamp were free, and it took about 10 minutes.

Good to see the FM endorsing date-expired Thai passports that way.

A British friend of mine had an issue entering Miami on his new passport using the visa waiver when the inbound US Immigration asked to see the old passport with the visa that they had on their systems which was at home in his nightstand. They reluctantly allowed him to enter and go on the Gulf of Mexico cruise with his wife and daughter but he was advised to bring the expired passport with the visa the next time he traveled to the US.