USA visa

[Platian]

I have a B1B2 in current Aust passport. My wife has B1B2 in expired Aust passport, and a new passport. US says that's fine just present both passports at immigration. QANTAS says they don't care as long as she has valid visa. My worry is that when we get to checkin she won't have, doesn't need ESTA but APIS will only have her new passport number. Does anyone have any experience of checking in with valid visa on expired passport and a new passport

 

[RooFlyer]

No experience, sorry, but I can't see that it would be a problem.

First, can't be a rare thing.

Second, if you think about it, the thing in the passport is really just a paper expression of a US authority - it shouldn't matter where it resides. As long as you can show the old passport, the visa and the current passport, should be fine.

 

[cove]

With an ESTA costing $14 US it might be an idea to subscribe as a just in case.

 

[Scarlett]

I've travelled to the US a number of times with new passport and still valid visa in expired passport. Not an issue.

At check in hand over your passport, and your old passport opened to the visa page.
Same when you reach the US border.

 

[kyanar]

With an ESTA costing $14 US it might be an idea to subscribe as a just in case.

Actually, that's a terrible idea. You can't have an ESTA and a Visa at the same time - it's actually on the first page of the application process that you're only eligible if you have no Visa.

 

[cove]

I noticed the new ESTA seems to be getting ready to look at our social media. I only do Frequent Flyer.

 

[Catweazle]

Incidentally, if I may add here, I'll be in the USA for about 3 weeks later in November. Will be entering the country twice, once from Australia to Hawaii before returning to HI from Canada about a month afterwards.

Should I apply for a Visa waiver, being on an Australian passport, or should I get the standards USD$160 tourist visa? What are your thoughts?

 

[Dr Ralph]

Incidentally, if I may add here, I'll be in the USA for about 3 weeks later in November. Will be entering the country twice, once from Australia to Hawaii before returning to HI from Canada about a month afterwards.

Should I apply for a Visa waiver, being on an Australian passport, or should I get the standards USD$160 tourist visa? What are your thoughts?

I thought you could stay for 90 days on an ESTA, even with multiple entries to Canada?

In 2017 I was in the USA for more than 100 days, leaving several times for Canada and Australia in that total number of days. No problems with the ESTA.

 

[opusman]

Visa Waiver allows up to 90 days. Not sure if those days are counted individually or if it's 90 days from first entry though.

You have to leave North America to reset the clock.

Note that ESTA is just an authorisation to travel to the US, it's not a visa or a visa waiver.

 

[leadman]

Quoting from the US Embassy website here in Australia;

"Q.8 My passport has expired, but the U.S. visa in it is still valid. Do I need to apply for a new visa?
No. If your visa is valid and unmarked or undamaged, you can travel with your two passports together (old and new), if the purpose of your travel matches your current nonimmigrant visa. Also, the name and other personal data must be the same in both passports (unless the name change was due to marriage), and both passports must be from the same country and of the same type (i.e., both tourist passports and both diplomatic passports).

If your name changed due to marriage, you can travel to the United States with both passports as well as your marriage certificate."

I had a big issue when i recieved my new smaller passport (grumble grumble) in December and applied for my ESTA. Very long story, got knocked back, applied for a visa, got knocked back, had to get my police record. And just i had filled in a form for the record, the US Embassy came back saying they reviewed my application and send it back to them, they don't need the police record. Four weeks later the passport/Visa arrived. the break has put me back so much this year, but the flipside it was good to be grounded for a while.