- Aug 18, 2014
- 616
- 143
- Visa Office......
- Ottawa
- App. Filed.......
- 17-11-2014
- Doc's Request.
- 02-07-2015
- AOR Received.
- 03-02-2015
- File Transfer...
- 14-02-2015
- Med's Done....
- 23-09-2014
- Interview........
- waived
- Passport Req..
- 07-08-2015
- VISA ISSUED...
- 19-08-2015
- LANDED..........
- 22-08-2015
Hello everyone,
I realize this is probably not the forum area (or proper FORUM even, as it relates to American visas not Canadian) to ask this, but I know how knowledgeable everyone here is about border officers etc, so I thought I would give it a shot
I am not (yet) a Canadian citizen. I have a valid B2 [edited number of visa] (tourist) visa, and it is valid until 2025. This visa is stamped in my OLD passport. As I have changed names to my married name, I got a new passport showing my married name.
I have to fly through the States to visit my home country in December, and I realize this might pose a problem. I have researched online, and information on different embassy/consulates say more or less different things. Some official FAQs say bringing the old passport with the B1 stamp, my new passport and my name change document should be enough (which is what I am hoping to do).
The US Embassy in Vancouver's website (I reside in Vancouver) says the following:
If your name has legally changed through marriage, divorce, or a court ordered name change, you will need to obtain a new passport. Once you have a new passport, the Department of State recommends that you apply for a new U.S. visa to make it easier for you to travel to and from the United States.
From this wording, I gather that, while they RECOMMEND I get a new visa, it is not REQUIRED, meaning I could use my old passport, new passport and name change document (even though they would clearly prefer I had a new visa).
I would not mind getting a new one, had I not already applied for my Canadian citizenship, meaning that by June next year I will probably be visa exempt to enter the US anyway. I would prefer to avoid spending $160 US, plus taking time off to go do an interview (required for people from my Country), not to mention the annoying bureaucracy etc. Also, in almost 7 years residing in Canada, I have literally only entered the States in transit to another place- I don't really visit south of the border, I won't have any other entries into the US before June 2019 (when I expect to get my Canadian passport)
I have tried emailing the Embassy directly, but they replied with a link to their FAQ (which I had already read, quoted above).
I would appreciate any thoughts/insights/similar experiences (you never know! fingers crossed) anyone might have. If you know of a good, reliable forum similar to this one but for US visas, I would also love that!
Thank you in advance
I realize this is probably not the forum area (or proper FORUM even, as it relates to American visas not Canadian) to ask this, but I know how knowledgeable everyone here is about border officers etc, so I thought I would give it a shot
I am not (yet) a Canadian citizen. I have a valid B2 [edited number of visa] (tourist) visa, and it is valid until 2025. This visa is stamped in my OLD passport. As I have changed names to my married name, I got a new passport showing my married name.
I have to fly through the States to visit my home country in December, and I realize this might pose a problem. I have researched online, and information on different embassy/consulates say more or less different things. Some official FAQs say bringing the old passport with the B1 stamp, my new passport and my name change document should be enough (which is what I am hoping to do).
The US Embassy in Vancouver's website (I reside in Vancouver) says the following:
If your name has legally changed through marriage, divorce, or a court ordered name change, you will need to obtain a new passport. Once you have a new passport, the Department of State recommends that you apply for a new U.S. visa to make it easier for you to travel to and from the United States.
From this wording, I gather that, while they RECOMMEND I get a new visa, it is not REQUIRED, meaning I could use my old passport, new passport and name change document (even though they would clearly prefer I had a new visa).
I would not mind getting a new one, had I not already applied for my Canadian citizenship, meaning that by June next year I will probably be visa exempt to enter the US anyway. I would prefer to avoid spending $160 US, plus taking time off to go do an interview (required for people from my Country), not to mention the annoying bureaucracy etc. Also, in almost 7 years residing in Canada, I have literally only entered the States in transit to another place- I don't really visit south of the border, I won't have any other entries into the US before June 2019 (when I expect to get my Canadian passport)
I have tried emailing the Embassy directly, but they replied with a link to their FAQ (which I had already read, quoted above).
I would appreciate any thoughts/insights/similar experiences (you never know! fingers crossed) anyone might have. If you know of a good, reliable forum similar to this one but for US visas, I would also love that!
Thank you in advance
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