Passport expiry in April

[abhayg4]

Hi Sue,
yeah..Its OK to send the Copy of the Bank Statements/Driving License .
Consulates they just want to Verify your Name and your US Address which you have mentioned in ur form,

Thanks ,
Abhay

[salilsurendran]

I sent them the passport with all the required documents. It reached them on March 10th. I haven't as of yet received back my passport at my residential address. How do I check what is the status?

[txh1b]

Are you kidding? It has just been 9 days and you want a status? Be patient. It will take 3-4 weeks by mail. In person renewal itself takes 2 weeks.

[salilsurendran]

what are you talking about? their website says 4-5 business days. why would mail take 3-4 weeks?

[salilsurendran]

I called the passport office. They say that all together it will take 3 weeks for me to get the passport. I guess i will receive back my passport by 1st april and by April 10th my I-94 expires. So if there is any problem and I don't receive my passport by then I am in big trouble. Is it possible to extend my I-94 without my passport? I have the original I-94 with me.

[txh1b]

PP is just an identity document. Was your I-94 issued for less time due to PP expiry? Your company should apply for H1b extension immediately using copy of passport.

Sometimes, a CBP office will issue a new I-94 matching your expiration date. However, for PP cases, in many instances, they do not as it is not their fault. You can try your luck at CBP after you get the new PP. But remember, if your I-94 expires, you are in for big trouble as you will not have a PP to travel out and return.

Three choices:
1. Try CB after getting renewed PP if your I-94 is still valid.
2. Apply for a H1b extension again now before your I-94 expires if the PP is still not available for you.
3. Travel and return if 1 & 2 are not viable to get I-94 till I797 date after getting new PP.

PP could be renewed 1 year in advance before it's expiry.

[salilsurendran]

my visa is valid till 2011. Actually my passport expires on 4th-Oct-2009 however the officer at the airport read the date as 10th Apr 2009 since the date was in DD/MM/YYYY format. If i get my new passport before april 10th then I have no problem because I can extend my i-94. I believe it takes only 10 mins at the local USCIS office. The trouble is that if I don't receive then what do i do?

[txh1b]

Local USCIS does not extend I-94s. It is the airport CBP that can and it is their choice to do or not to do so. You should have gotten the I-94 corrected before sending the PP for renewal.

If you don't get the PP before April 10th, you are screwed. Read the experience of this user.

http://www.immihelp.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55077&page=2&highlight=vegas

[salilsurendran]

well i didn't expect the passport office to take 3 weeks to get back. their website said 4-5 days. However, your post does have a happy ending. If i stay on my I-94 for a week or so after it's expiry is it a big deal if my visa is still valid and I explain that the officer made an error.

[txh1b]

If i stay on my I-94 for a week or so after it's expiry is it a big deal if my visa is still valid and I explain that the officer made an error.

Yes, it is a big deal even for a single day. Not every case ends like the Vegas one. You could even be deported right then if you have an expired I-94 if they wish to do so.

[salilsurendran]

I understand it is big thing to have a I-94 expired. They received the passport application on March 10th and a week of processing would mean March 17th. I should basically receive my passport by April 1st right? Is it likely that I don't receive the passport by April 10th?

[txh1b]

I would be skeptical of their processing time of 1 week.

[salilsurendran]

i got my passport in 2 weeks. the next thing to do is go to the airport.

[salilsurendran]

i just contacted the local CBP. They said that to extend I94 you have to go to the USCIS office.

[txh1b]

i just contacted the local CBP. They said that to extend I94 you have to go to the USCIS office.

Meaning they are asking you to file for a formal extension of stay of the petition with a USCIS service center just like a H1b extension. USCIS local office cannot correct anything regarding I-94.