Cancelled passport containing valid US visa

[tinkerbell 766]

I sent my passport off for renewal a couple of weeks ago, and it contains a US B1/B2 visa. I did some research, and discovered that my old passport will be cancelled, but will be returned to me so as I can carry both passports when travelling to the US, and, thus, continue to use the visa, as it is a ten year visa and doesn't expire until 2016.
I didn't send any covering letter with my renewal application, and assumed that the passport office would not damage my visa when cancelling my old passport, and simply return it to me with the visa intact.
I have since read a post suggesting that visas are damaged during the process of cancelling the old passport, and I am freaking out!
Any body have any experience of this?
Should I phone the passport office?
Thanks for your help xxx

 

[disneyholic family]

i never knew you could do that..
i was told you have to get a new visa to the US when you get a new passport.
very interesting..

But in any case, does it matter now with visa waiver?

.

 

[disneyholic family]

so interesting..
i never knew this..
here it is from the US state department's website:
My old passport has already expired. My visa to travel to the United States is still valid but in my expired passport. Do I need to apply for a new visa with my new passport?
No. If your visa is still valid you can travel to the United States with your two passports, as long as the visa is valid, not damaged, and is the appropriate type of visa required for your principal purpose of travel. (Example: tourist visa, when your principal purpose of travel is tourism). Both passports (the valid and the expired one with the visa) should be from the same country and type (Example: both Uruguayan regular passports, both official passports, etc.). When you arrive at the U.S. port-of-entry (POE, generally an airport or land border) the Customs and Border Protection Immigration Officer will check your visa in the old passport and if s/he decides to admit you into the United States they will stamp your new passport with an admission stamp along with the annotation "VIOPP" (visa in other passport). Do not try to remove the visa from your old passport and stick it into the new valid passport. If you do so, your visa will no longer be valid.

 

[disneyholic family]

i suppose you can try calling the passport office. You have nothing to lose by trying to call.
either it will work or not.

but again, now that there is visa waiver - can't you get into the US that way?
or is it an issue of the B1 (athlete).
If it's damaged, wouldn't the US just put a new one into your new passport (i know the US is terribly sticky and difficult about just about everything, but perhaps on this they wouldn't be?)

 

[irenep]

The passport office only cuts off a corner from the front and bag cover pages of your old passport. All the other pages are left intact so unless your visa was attached to the cover you should be fine.

 

[chmurf]

I used to have a non immigrant visa back in the days (30yrs ago) with unlimited validity (I still have it but don't know if ESTA/VWP has voided that visa or not)
when I renewed my passport, my old passport was returned, and I used both old and new passports for US entry. No problem. (that was pre-9/11)

Now that there is the VWP and ESTAs, I still have it but never bothered to take the old passport for US entry. I only do ESTA.

In OP's case, the B1 is a visa for those who intend to work or have paid activities in the US, so IDK if the visa is only relevant for "business" visits, and if the pax is still eligible for VWP/ESTA when the purpose of the entry is tourism only.

The only question asked on ESTA is if a visa has been denied or cancelled, which is not the case.
You maybe should call the embassy, or send and email to CBP to ask if you can enter the US with ESTA only if your visit is about tourism and not business/competition.

In my experience, having a visa and not using it, has not been questionned by the immigration officers when the goal of the visit is not relevant against the visa I hold

 

[tinkerbell 766]

The reason I have a visa is because in my youth I was arrested for shop lifting and cautioned - no court appearance or anything, and this does not now appear on my record here as it is so long ago. But because, years ago, I was arrested for a CIMT, and this is, apparently always relevant to the US authorities, and is never 'spent' as it is here, I cannot honestly answer the question on the ESTA form which asks 'Have you EVER been arrested for a crime involving moral terbitude' with a no
I have, therefore, resigned myself that despite being now a respected citizen - I am a paramedic, and never offending since the stupid offence when I was young and green, I will always need a visa and will never be allowed to travel using the ESTA scheme

 

[Brave5]

I've been doing this for years. I'm an American living in UK and have been through two passports since my visa. I carry the passport with the visa with my current passport and have never had any problems. Both US and UK visas work like this in case anyone was wondering about UK visas with USA passport.

 

[mackay_j]

The reason I have a visa is because in my youth I was arrested for shop lifting and cautioned - no court appearance or anything, and this does not now appear on my record here as it is so long ago. But because, years ago, I was arrested for a CIMT, and this is, apparently always relevant to the US authorities, and is never 'spent' as it is here, I cannot honestly answer the question on the ESTA form which asks 'Have you EVER been arrested for a crime involving moral terbitude' with a no
I have, therefore, resigned myself that despite being now a respected citizen - I am a paramedic, and never offending since the stupid offence when I was young and green, I will always need a visa and will never be allowed to travel using the ESTA scheme

thank you for being so honest. I was telling my young nephew and daughter this could happen a few weeks ago but they were looking at me as if I am mad. If you don't mind I will show them your post. They have never been in any trouble but its just good for us to be able to give them a few pointers.

Hope your visa is fine - I would call the passport office it cant hurt

 

[catherine]

I've been doing this for years. I'm an American living in UK and have been through two passports since my visa. I carry the passport with the visa with my current passport and have never had any problems. Both US and UK visas work like this in case anyone was wondering about UK visas with USA passport.

That's what DH has to do except in Aug he forgot his passport that was stamped saying that he's allowed to live and work in the UK!! Luckily he had a patient immigration guy!

 

[Minniesgal]

I don't know about the US but I know that for my Australian visa when I renew my passport I have to go to the embassy and show themmy old passport and they transfer it to the new passport. I would, check that it is that isn't the same the USA.

 

[MrRomance]

I have a 10 year visa in my old passport and just renewed my passport. They clip the corners of the cover on your old passport to void it and send it back to you with your visa. I guess it is possible that a visa could get damaged but I have had a US visa in my last 3 passports and they've never clipped the visa in error. You should be fine.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Thanks Hun xx