Parents' passport validity requirement for Tourist visa

[Bpatidar]

Hi,
I am in USA on my H1 visa. Want to call my parents for 2-3 months for a short visit. My mother's passport would expire on Jan end, 2015. Can I apply for her tourist visa now on the same passport directly( i.e. before applying for passport renewal)? Thanks.

[Bpatidar]

Got confirmation!

Hi,
I am in USA on my H1 visa. Want to call my parents for 2-3 months for a short visit. My mother's passport would expire on Jan end, 2015. Can I apply for her tourist visa now on the same passport directly( i.e. before applying for passport renewal)? Thanks.

Called up at the embassy to ask this. Got confirmation that India is exempted from the requirement that passport should be valid for more 6 months after returning to India/ or while applying for visa. I was told, I can go ahead with my parents visa processing if I wish to, on the current passport that is expiring in 5 months. Only downside is my mother will have to carry both her passports everytime she visits US ( once she has her new passport created) because the valid visa would be on older passport. Thanks.