passport in the washer/drier

careless2k

New Member
Hello All,

I inadvertently washed (and dried) my passport along with the visa and the original 1-797. I had recently got my h1 visa and had entered US only a couple of weeks ago.

I checked all the pages of the passport . The following is the damage .
All the my personal information is still visible (my picture and signature) and has not suffered any damage.
The visa page information is still visible although a little faded.
The information on the I-797 is also visible (though along the folds some of the ink has come off).
On my I94 card the stamp that the customs official put is washed off, but the date entered in ball pen is visible. The card is also a warped and tattered a little bit.
Some of the customs stamps from my visits to other countries are washed off.

What are the implications of using a damaged passport when I travel. Although I do not have any immediate plans to travel out of the US.

Will I need to get a new passport and the other documents etc. I know that If I get a new passport I will have to get a visa again. What about the I-797.

thanks. I would really appreciate any information you might be able to provide.

careless2k
 
AFAIK, you need to get all of them again man. You need to get a new passport(may be duplicate, contact Indian consulate) and request I-797(duplicate) from INS...( your lawyer can help you with that). As such, you may not need Visa now, but when you reenter U.S , you would have to go for a new visa. Thats what I think. wait for other pro's to clarify.
 
First of all you need to change your washing detergent..what good is to be not able to remove the ink from your passport :)

Second you need to get all of them again. First the passport, contact the consulate /go on website get the forms and documents.

Then contact your local INS office and get the copy of your other papers, a new I-94 and things.
 
TimeSaver said:
First of all you need to change your washing detergent..what good is to be not able to remove the ink from your passport :)

Second you need to get all of them again. First the passport, contact the consulate /go on website get the forms and documents.

Then contact your local INS office and get the copy of your other papers, a new I-94 and things.
---- and also get your eyes checked so that in future you can make diffrence between passport and clothes
 
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