Application with a passport that expires soon - what to do?

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anek241

Registered Users (C)
Hello! I am planning to apply for a green card in January or February 2011. But my foreign passport will expire in July 2011. I have an option of getting a new passport through my consulate (Russia) but it might take several months.

I was wondering what should I do - wait for the new passport and apply or apply with the old passport and then amend the information on the application. Please advise.

I called the USCIS, but I haven't received a clear answer. The lady told me to consult with the National Visa Center and they referred me back to the USCIS.

Also, I haven't seen anything in the forums that might answer my question, but if you know one, I'd appreciate if you could refer me to it.
 
anek241 said:
Hello! I am planning to apply for a green card in January or February 2011. But my foreign passport will expire in July 2011. I have an option of getting a new passport through my consulate (Russia) but it might take several months.

I was wondering what should I do - wait for the new passport and apply or apply with the old passport and then amend the information on the application. Please advise.

I called the USCIS, but I haven't received a clear answer. The lady told me to consult with the National Visa Center and they referred me back to the USCIS.

Also, I haven't seen anything in the forums that might answer my question, but if you know one, I'd appreciate if you could refer me to it.
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Will your current passport have crucial evidence in it that you need to show to USCIS, like your entry stamp and visa? If imminent travel is not your issue, leave it be. Wait on the passport renewal.
 
anek241 said:
Hello! I am planning to apply for a green card in January or February 2011. But my foreign passport will expire in July 2011. I have an option of getting a new passport through my consulate (Russia) but it might take several months.

I was wondering what should I do - wait for the new passport and apply or apply with the old passport and then amend the information on the application. Please advise.
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Will your green card be based on marriage to a US citizen? Are you inside the US?

If yes to both, then your green card probably will be approved before your passport expires, and the passport expiring won't be a problem for the green card process if you have another unexpired ID such as a driver's license or state ID.
 
namecheckvictim said:
Passport validity is only a issue for travelling, you can go to a USCIS interview even with a recently expired passport.
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Thank you for your response. I was just wondering if that would be a problem if I fill the application for the green card with the information of the old passport and then receive the new one in the meantime. Thanks!
 
Thank you! The problem is that I want to travel home in summer and just trying to find out what would be the best option for me in this situation. Thanks!
 
Yes, I'm in the US now as an F-1 student and I'm married to a US citizen. Thank you for your advice!
 
When are you planning to file for green card? If you want to travel home in the summer, 2011, then apply for passport renewal with your Embassy. Most embassies return old expired to their citizens, if your country doesn't, then indicate you would like to have an exception as it will be required for AOS by IO to verify your entry and visa issued to you.

When was the F1 visa issues to you? If your spouse a native born US citizen or someone from your home country? When did you get married? When was your last entry into the US on your F1 in relation to your marriage?
 
anek241 said:
Thank you for your response. I was just wondering if that would be a problem if I fill the application for the green card with the information of the old passport and then receive the new one in the meantime. Thanks!
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The I-130 and I-485 forms don't ask for your passport number. I don't think any of the other forms relevant to you ask for it either.

You may need to look in the old passport to find certain details such as the date of entry and nonimmigrant visa number, but that information doesn't change as a result of getting a new passport.
 
Al Southner said:
When are you planning to file for green card? If you want to travel home in the summer, 2011, then apply for passport renewal with your Embassy. Most embassies return old expired to their citizens, if your country doesn't, then indicate you would like to have an exception as it will be required for AOS by IO to verify your entry and visa issued to you.

When was the F1 visa issues to you? If your spouse a native born US citizen or someone from your home country? When did you get married? When was your last entry into the US on your F1 in relation to your marriage?
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Thank you! I wanted to apply in January or February. My consulate would return my passport, that's true. My husband is a native born US, we got married in October, and that was about 3 months after my entry (but I've been here for several years now on F-1 status).
 
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Jackolantern said:
The I-130 and I-485 forms don't ask for your passport number. I don't think any of the other forms relevant to you ask for it either.

You may need to look in the old passport to find certain details such as the date of entry and nonimmigrant visa number, but that information doesn't change as a result of getting a new passport.
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On one of the checklists for the application, I saw that I need to turn in a copy of my passport. I just thought that by the time I've got an interview I have another one if that would be a problem. I could definitely show both old and new, but I just don't want to jeopardize the process because of a technicality. Another thing - I don't really know if there is a formal process to update/change the information on the application.
 
There is nothing to change on the immigration application if you get a new passport. The immigration forms don't ask for your passport number or its issue date. Just make sure you send a copy of the I-94 and the F1 visa with the I-485 application. The passport renewal will not cause a problem for you or require you to update anything with USCIS. STOP WORRYING ABOUT IT!
 
Jackolantern said:
There is nothing to change on the immigration application if you get a new passport. The immigration forms don't ask for your passport number or its issue date. Just make sure you send a copy of the I-94 and the F1 visa with the I-485 application. The passport renewal will not cause a problem for you or require you to update anything with USCIS. STOP WORRYING ABOUT IT!
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Thank you! I didn't think that it would be a problem, until I called USCIS to double-check and they weren't sure how to answer this question. That's where the panic began :)
 
anek241 said:
Thank you! I didn't think that it would be a problem, until I called USCIS to double-check and they weren't sure how to answer this question. That's where the panic began :)
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You will be well-advised to stay clear of USCIS 1800 customer service people, they are clueless on immigration processing and correct filing. USCIS reps aren't trained to advise people on which form should be filed for any particular benefit sought. The collective knowledge on this board far exceed anything you can get from all 1800 people.

In regards to your response to the questions are posed earlier, I don't see any problem with your case in relation to the information you provided. I believe you shouldn't have any problem.
 
Al Southner said:
You will be well-advised to stay clear of USCIS 1800 customer service people, they are clueless on immigration processing and correct filing. USCIS reps aren't trained to advise people on which form should be filed for any particular benefit sought. The collective knowledge on this board far exceed anything you can get from all 1800 people.

In regards to your response to the questions are posed earlier, I don't see any problem with your case in relation to the information you provided. I believe you shouldn't have any problem.
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Thank you! This forum is being a great help indeed.
 
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