Stamping Interview and Passport Renewal

[ayushvyas]

Hi All, 

I have read multiple blogs and there are conflicting opinions about my situation. All suggestions are appreciated.

I have booked an appointment for my H1B visa stamping interview at the Mumbai Consulate on 19th Nov 2019. My concern is that my passport is expiring in June 2020. I am considering my options to renew it:

1. Renew in the US before the appointment: If I chose this option, my passport number will change and would be different than what is in my current submitted DS160 and appointment. In that case, do I need to fill out a new DS160 form and update my appointment? Would that affect my interview appointment in any way?
2. Renew while I am in India, after H1B interview: In that case, could that affect my approval or denial during the interview? If I go for the H1 visa interview with my current passport and it is approved, would the visa be stamped for the validity of I-797 (3 years) or my passport expiration date? (June 2020)

 Please help me out. Thank you in advance. 

[User099]

If you get a new password before the interview, you can file a new DS160 and call the consulate to update the DS160 number on you appointment conformation. 

Approval or denial might not depend on your passport expire date. You will get the VISA stamped for 3 years.

[developr]

I recommend you to get the passport extended first. Because of 2 things:

1. Your VO might ask additional questions based on your passport expiry, which is just an additional hassle.

2. Updating a new DS160 should be rather straight forward, as I think you might have an option to import your old one. Not sure about this.

Even then, I think, it is easier to fill DS160 and have a new passport ready than struggle with the old on.

[shekar11#]

On 10/2/2019 at 6:45 PM, ayushvyas said:

Hi All, 

I have read multiple blogs and there are conflicting opinions about my situation. All suggestions are appreciated.

I have booked an appointment for my H1B visa stamping interview at the Mumbai Consulate on 19th Nov 2019. My concern is that my passport is expiring in June 2020. I am considering my options to renew it:

1. Renew in the US before the appointment: If I chose this option, my passport number will change and would be different than what is in my current submitted DS160 and appointment. In that case, do I need to fill out a new DS160 form and update my appointment? Would that affect my interview appointment in any way?
2. Renew while I am in India, after H1B interview: In that case, could that affect my approval or denial during the interview? If I go for the H1 visa interview with my current passport and it is approved, would the visa be stamped for the validity of I-797 (3 years) or my passport expiration date? (June 2020)

 Please help me out. Thank you in advance. 

You can go with option 1. You need to fill out a new DS-160 and during your finger printing appointment, you need to let them know to use new DS-160. They will update in the system.

If you think option 1 is too late, then you can go with option 2 also.

Visa will be stamped for 3 years. It does not depend on your passport expiry.

But if you don't renew your passport before entering to US then you will get I-94 only till June 2020.