Transferring a Valid B1/B2 Visa to a New Passport: What You Need to Know
Many travelers with a B1/B2 visa stamped in their old passport wonder if they can transfer this visa to a new passport. The good news is, you don’t necessarily have to transfer it, and you can continue to use the visa with your new passport. Here’s everything you need to know about handling your B1/B2 visa and old passport in this situation.
Carrying Your Old and New Passports
Email: In most cases, you simply carry both your old and new passports. This is especially true if the expiration date on your old passport is not close to the departure date of your upcoming trip. Immigration officers have seen this situation often and will understand the reasoning behind carrying both.
Attach the old passport with the new one using an elastic band. When asked by the immigration officer, inform them that the top one is your current passport while the visa is in your old passport below. Most officers will not find this situation to be unusual and usually see such combinations regularly.
Transferring the Visa Sticker
In some cases, the visa can be transferred to the new passport, but this often comes at a cost. As of the current standards, transferring a B1/B2 visa to a new passport might incur fees, such as ￡154 in the UK. Consequently, many people choose to carry both passports instead of incurring these charges.
For example, the UK currently charges ￡154 to transfer a B1/B2 visa to a new passport. Therefore, many individuals opt to carry both the old and new passports to avoid the fees while still having access to their valid visa.
Validity and Usage of the Visa
The validity of your B1/B2 visa does not depend on the validity of your passport. The visa is valid for the duration specified on it, regardless of whether the passport in which it is affixed has expired or not. Travelers only need to ensure that their new passport is valid for the duration of their trip.
Therefore, if your old passport with the valid B1/B2 visa has expired, you can still use it along with your new passport. Immigration authorities will check both passports for the visa and the new passport’s validity, respectively.
It is crucial to keep your old passport, as the visa page will not be transferred. The visa remains valid and is contained within your old passport. Carrying both passports helps ensure that you have all the necessary documentation for your trip.
It’s also important to note that there is no need to transfer the visa to a new passport. The usual practice is to carry both your new and your old passports together.
Key Takeaways:
You can continue to use your B1/B2 visa with your new passport. Carry both old and new passports together. There is no need to transfer the visa, and transferring it often involves fees. The visa is valid as long as it hasn’t expired and the new passport is valid.By understanding these points, travelers can better prepare for their trips and avoid unnecessary stress during border crossings.