Visa in old passport
I have a visa in my old passport; can I just transfer it over?
It is not possible to transfer a visa from one passport to another without making a new visa application. Please note that the Embassy no longer issues visas valid "indefinitely". If you are issued a new visa it will have a maximum validity of ten years.
My passport containing a valid visa has expired. I've obtained a new passport; do I need a new visa?
A visa is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, if the traveler has a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport, he/she may use it along with a new valid passport of the same nationality for travel and admission to the United States. Note: If, when canceling your old passport, the passport authority has clipped the corners of the passport, and, in so doing, has damaged the visa in any way, that visa is no longer valid and cannot be used for travel to the United States.
My old visa says "Indefinite"; is it still valid?
An "indefinite" validity visa is no longer valid for travel to the United States. If you wish to travel for business or pleasure, you are required to apply for a new visa.
Why, when I've always held an indefinite visa, was I recently issued with a B-1/B-2 visa valid for only ten years?
The U.S. Government no longer issues "indefinite" validity visas. The maximum validity period of a B-1/B-2 visa is ten years.
The validity period of my visa does not cover my intended stay in the United States.
The validity period of a visa relates only to the period of time in which the holder may travel to the United States and apply for admission. It does not determine the length of stay. This is a matter for U.S. immigration at the port of entry.
How long can I stay in the United States?
The period of validity of a visa relates only to the length of time during which the holder may travel to the United States and apply for admission at a port of entry. It does not determine the length of stay, which is a matter decided by U.S. immigration at the port of entry. If, while you are in the United States, you find that you need to stay there longer than the period of time initially granted to you, you must contact the nearest office of the USCIS to apply for an extension of your stay. The USCIS has sole jurisdiction over such matters. It is not possible to extend your stay if you entered visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.
My passport will expire soon; do I need to get a new passport or visa?
Your passport must be valid on entry into the U.S. If the passport is not valid for the duration of your stay, you will be required to apply for a new passport from your Embassy while in the U.S. If your visit will be of short duration during which time your passport will expire, we recommend that you obtain a new passport before traveling as you will be admitted only until the date on which the passport expires. Such action before you depart for the U.S. will save you the inconvenience of applying not only for a new passport, but also an extension of stay.
While visa regulations state that a passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of the holder's departure from the United States, the United States has an agreement with many countries (including Cyprus and the United Kingdom) automatically extending the validity of a passport for six months past the passport's expiration date. The result is that a Cyprus or British passport need remain valid only for the duration of the holder's stay in the United States. If you are traveling visa free and your passport is valid for less than 90 days, you will be admitted only until the date the passport expires.