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I got my H1b approved. I need to go for visa stamping and my passport is about to expire in next 10 months. Is it OK to go with current passport or do I need to renew it before going to visa stamping?

Gagravarr
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neni
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1 Answers1

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According to Department of State one of the required documents listed is passport with validity 6 months beyond your period of stay in the United States:

Passport valid for travel to the United States - Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application.

Depending on which country you're from your passport may still be valid 6 past expiration.

The thing is that your possible period of stay for H1B is 3 years:

As an H-1B nonimmigrant, you may be admitted for a period of up to three years. Your time period may be extended, but generally cannot go beyond a total of six years, though some exceptions do apply under sections 104(c) and 106(a) of the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21).

Given that you should renew your passport.

Karlson
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  • The link for the list of countries whose passport is valid for an additional six months has been updated, and is now at https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Six%20Month%20Club%20Update_0.pdf – Clément Jul 07 '17 at 18:02