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My passport is due to expire on 21st Sept 2016 (in 5 months). I have already applied for renewal which is next Friday (29th April). However I need to travel and need passport number for invite letter. Unfortunately I got to know of travel post submission of renewal application else I would have applied for Tatkal.

Is it possible to provide old (about to expire, 5 month validity left) passport details or better wait for new passport?

Will the old passport be returned after visit to PSK?

If I get new passport, will the visa be stamped in old passport or new?

If it will be in old passport, should I tell PSK officials anything specific about the visa stamping due in few days time?

Hi AltoLXI!

From your post it seems like you haven't yet handed in your application for Passport renewal.

I would advise you to wait for your new passport because as soon as you hand in your application for a new passport, your old passport will be cancelled, so it cannot be used for any official work.

Your old passport will be returned after cancelling it at the PSK.

The visa will be stamped on your new passport as your old passport will stand cancelled.

Since, you haven't handed in your application yet, you could apply under Tatkal scheme. I think you can convert your existing appointment for a regular passport to a Tatkal one.

Is it possible to provide old (about to expire, 5 month validity left) passport details or better wait for new passport?
Answer --> PP number will change, so wait for new PP and give new PP number in the visa application.

Will the old passport be returned after visit to PSK?
Answer --> Yes, it will be cancelled & returned.

If I get new passport, will the visa be stamped in old passport or new?
Answer --> Visa will be stamped in new PP.

If it will be in old passport, should I tell PSK officials anything specific about the visa stamping due in few days time?
Answer --> See above answer.

Depends on when you need to travel and how long. If you want to travel immediately, you can stop the renewal process and travel using the old passport and renew it later. The fee paid is usually valid for a year, even if you cancel the application.

If you are going through the renewal process, then you have to give the new passport number.

Yes, the old passport will be returned to you, but with a "Cancelled" stamp put across the passport, which makes it invalid for any purpose.

Once your old passport is stamped with a "Cancelled" seal, it will not be used for any further processes. From then on, everything will be done in your new passport.

As I told earlier, once your visa application is through, they will cancel the old passport and you will not be able to do anything with that. So, you can decide whether to travel with your old passport and delay the renewal or go ahead with the renewal process and wait for the new passport.

Thanks to all for the quick replies.

I need to travel ASAP and stay for 2 months. But will the US embassy issue visa on a passport which has 5 months validity?

I will try for postponement of travel dates, if possible.

I have already applied for the renewal and the visit is scheduled next Friday.

Most countries require you to have a passport with a minimum validity of 6 months. Please check the Embassy website for details.

You can still reschedule your appointment and opt for Tatkal scheme. Please check the tatkal appointment time for your PSK online and login at that time to book. You can get an earlier appointment (as early as Monday).

What Autonorm says is correct. From http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-gen-faq.asp#qlistgen2

Please obtain a new passport before your interview if:

Your passport is going to expire in less than 6 months after the time you enter the United States.

They will stamp it with 10 year validity anyway. You will need to carry the older passport for the next 10 years with you always to enter the US. Also staying two months on a business visa is not advisable. May lead to problems next time you go back there.
Indians are permitted to enter the US with a minimum validity of 3 months of passport. I remember the immigration officer lugging a fat rules book to check if he could let me in, when I visited with 4 months left on my PP!!

Yes my office travel desk also told the same. So I think I will wait for new passport. Checked with PM if I can change to Tatkal and he says the travel is not "very urgent" to warrant change from Normal to Tatkal. So will wait till 29th for Normal appointment.

The last time I went on B1 from different company, I stayed for three months. Will I face any problems this time?

Your passport if applied under Tatkal scheme will be issued in a week and under normal process is about 30 days after receipt of submission of application. You will be able to apply for your visa only after you have your new passport in hand. So plan accordingly.

Thanks guys. Your anecdotes helped reassure us.

Approval was in two days, and on the sixth working day, the passport was despatched in the morning!

Is it mandatory to specify the spouse details (and attach your marriage certificate) during passport renewal if your marital status has changed in last 10 years?

Can I continue to apply with status as married, without providing the marriage certificate (I don't mind, if the spouse name is not included in my PP for now). Open to give the name, but no proof is available as of now.

Also, is it sufficient if one of the members (husband or wife) has the spouse name documented? OR should both have their spouse names reflected in case they want to travel together at a later point in time?
(I.e., the spouse can get the certificate processed later, apply for password with this info & get the spouse name included)

I got my new (renewal) passport last week. Details as below:

The appointment was scheduled on April 29th at PSK Lalbagh. The scheduled time was 12:45 pm and I was there at 12:15. Applicants have to wait in the waiting area - outside the PSK (on left side of building) till the batch is called out. The lady will mark the time on the ARN sheet and applicants are allowed inside at scheduled time. The security will direct applicants to the counters. The person at counter took only the previous passport copy and ARN printout, generated the file and token receipt.

Time taken at counters:

- Within 5 minutes after entering the hall, I was at A counter where Biometric data was collected.
- Waited for around 30 minutes for B counter. The person checked old passport and returned the file.
- Waited for another 20 minutes for counter C. The old passport was stamped as cancelled and returned. At the exit the receipt was issued and token receipt taken back.

I was out of PSK at 2 pm :)

- I immediately got an SMS saying - No police verification and that passport was sent for printing
- On 3rd May, got SMS saying passport printed.
- On 5th May, got SMS saying passport dispatched.

So it just took 6 days for the renewal ! I found the process has become even more efficient in PSK than during the last time. :thumbs up

I have a question now:

My old cancelled passport has a valid B1/B2 visa which expires in Dec 2016 issued by previous organization (no annotation). Can I travel immediately with new passport and old cancelled passport with valid visa?

An incredible experience with PSK Pune. My daughter's passport was due for reissue (with a changed address). Booked an appointment online for last Tuesday and was given the first slot of the day (8:45 am). Address proof (daughter's Aadhar card + my electricity bill) and copies of both parents' passports and Annexure H were the only documents requested. Aadhar card of both parents (with the updated addresses) were asked but not insisted on since elec bill served as POA.

PSK process took about 90 minutes end-to-end. My wife says it was absolutely pain-free and the TCS folks manning the counters were friendly and efficient. The status got updated almost instantly to "Under Process". By 9:30 pm the same day, it showed "Passport printed", which is nothing short of amazing.

Passport was dispatched the very next day and received on afternoon of Thursday. End-to-end the process took less than 2 calendar days! And this wasn't even tatkaal.

I've applied for 5 passports in the family since 2010 and this is the best experience we've ever had. Good going, Pune PSK!

Noopster,

I am also in the same boat. Aadhar cards of parents and kid are in the old address. But Electricity Bill is in New Address. And have HDFC Bank statement with updated address. Will these suffice as POA. Btw, Both parents names are endorsed in each others passport and in kids passport.

Any guidance is highly appreciated.