Lanny

My wife has a B1/B2 visa, which expires in July. I got the below data,
in an e-mail from the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá:

    > All information about visa requirements is on our website. Under
    > Non-Immigrant Visas it states that currently a visa may be renewed
    > up to two years after expiration, but there are certain caveats and
    > they are explained there.

I would like to know whether or not B1/B2 visas can be renewed
*before* expiration, and if they can be renewed *before* expiration,
how far in advance of the visa expiration date can they be renewed.

I also looked on the web site of the U.S. State Dept., but couldn't
find this information there either.

TIA,

Lanny in Colombia

Ingo Pakleppa

I'm not positive, but have heard that you can renew it up to six months
before expiration. You could simply give it a try.

Also, keep in mind that the visa only needs to be valid the day you travel
to the US (actually, technically the day you board the flight); there is
no need that it be valid during your stay - so if you are planning to
travel to the US in, say, June, there is no need to renew it at all. If
you are planning to travel in August, then by all means apply for the visa
(the consulate would likely consider it "expired" because by the time you
are leaving, it will have expired.

On Wed, 26 Mar 2003 18:53:50 -0800, Lanny wrote:

    > My wife has a B1/B2 visa, which expires in July. I got the below data,
    > in an e-mail from the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá:
    >
    >> All information about visa requirements is on our website. Under
    >> Non-Immigrant Visas it states that currently a visa may be renewed up
    >> to two years after expiration, but there are certain caveats and they
    >> are explained there.
    >
    > I would like to know whether or not B1/B2 visas can be renewed *before*
    > expiration, and if they can be renewed *before* expiration, how far in
    > advance of the visa expiration date can they be renewed.
    >
    > I also looked on the web site of the U.S. State Dept., but couldn't find
    > this information there either.
    >
    > TIA,
    >
    > Lanny in Colombia

Lanny

"Ingo Pakleppa" wrote in message news:...

    > I'm not positive, but have heard that you can renew it up to six months
    > before expiration. You could simply give it a try.
I believe I read that, some time back, but now, I cannot find that
information.
If possible, I'd like to verify that, because it requires an airplane
trip, for us to go to the U.S. Embassy.

    > Also, keep in mind that the visa only needs to be valid the day you travel
    > to the US (actually, technically the day you board the flight); there is
    > no need that it be valid during your stay

I found that very interesting, because I always assumed a visa had to
be valid during the entire stay in the USA.

    > - so if you are planning to
    > travel to the US in, say, June, there is no need to renew it at all. If
    > you are planning to travel in August, then by all means apply for the visa
    > (the consulate would likely consider it "expired" because by the time you
    > are leaving, it will have expired.
    >
Actually, we don't have any plans to travel to the USA, at this time,
because of the security problems in the USA, but I always want my wife
to have a valid visa, in case we need to make an emergency trip to the
USA.

Thank you, for your time and help! Lanny in Colombia

Ingo Pakleppa

On Fri, 28 Mar 2003 20:14:28 -0800, Lanny wrote:

    > "Ingo Pakleppa" wrote in message news:...
    >
    >> I'm not positive, but have heard that you can renew it up to six months
    >> before expiration. You could simply give it a try.
    > I believe I read that, some time back, but now, I cannot find that
    > information.
    > If possible, I'd like to verify that, because it requires an airplane
    > trip, for us to go to the U.S. Embassy.

Can't you renew by mail? I don't know the procedures in Columbia, but many
consulates allow you to mail the passport, and may then call you for an
interview when the visa is approved. If they find that you are not
eligible, they would simply return the passport.

    >> Also, keep in mind that the visa only needs to be valid the day you travel
    >> to the US (actually, technically the day you board the flight); there is
    >> no need that it be valid during your stay
    >
    > I found that very interesting, because I always assumed a visa had to
    > be valid during the entire stay in the USA.

Many people think so, even here in the US - even though this is a very
standard situation for a number of visa types.

Your passport does have to be valid during the whole stay, though.

    >> - so if you are planning to
    >> travel to the US in, say, June, there is no need to renew it at all. If
    >> you are planning to travel in August, then by all means apply for the visa
    >> (the consulate would likely consider it "expired" because by the time you
    >> are leaving, it will have expired.
    >>
    > Actually, we don't have any plans to travel to the USA, at this time,
    > because of the security problems in the USA, but I always want my wife
    > to have a valid visa, in case we need to make an emergency trip to the
    > USA.

In that case, specify on the visa application that you are planning to
travel in August, a few weeks after your old visa expires. This is a lie,
but is not considered material because it doesn't affect your eligibility
for a visa.

Lanny

"Ingo Pakleppa" wrote in message news:...
I just found the below lines, on the State Dept. web site, about
revalidating visas in the USA, which we are not trying to do, but it
says 60 days, before the visa expires:

    >Please note that B1/B2 (visitor), F (student) and J (exchange
visitor) visas >cannot be revalidated in the U.S.

    >If your existing visa is still valid, it will not be considered for
re-issuance >until the remaining validity is within sixty days of
expiring.

I wonder if B1/B2 visas can be renewed, outside the USA, within 60
days before the visa expires?

    > Can't you renew by mail? I don't know the procedures in Columbia, but many
    > consulates allow you to mail the passport, and may then call you for an
    > interview when the visa is approved. If they find that you are not
    > eligible, they would simply return the passport.
We could probably send her renewal in via a travel agency, but I'd
rather go with her to the Embassy and possibly visit another place in
Bogota, on the same trip.

Ingo, thank you again, for your time and help!

Cordially, Lanny in Colombia

Ingo Pakleppa

On Mon, 31 Mar 2003 18:13:30 -0800, Lanny wrote:

    > "Ingo Pakleppa" wrote in message news:...
    > I just found the below lines, on the State Dept. web site, about
    > revalidating visas in the USA, which we are not trying to do, but it
    > says 60 days, before the visa expires:
    >
    >>Please note that B1/B2 (visitor), F (student) and J (exchange
    > visitor) visas >cannot be revalidated in the U.S.
    >
    >>If your existing visa is still valid, it will not be considered for
    > re-issuance >until the remaining validity is within sixty days of
    > expiring.
    >
    > I wonder if B1/B2 visas can be renewed, outside the USA, within 60
    > days before the visa expires?

This visa revalidation is a completely different situation! It has no
impact on your case.

    >> Can't you renew by mail? I don't know the procedures in Columbia, but many
    >> consulates allow you to mail the passport, and may then call you for an
    >> interview when the visa is approved. If they find that you are not
    >> eligible, they would simply return the passport.
    > We could probably send her renewal in via a travel agency, but I'd
    > rather go with her to the Embassy and possibly visit another place in
    > Bogota, on the same trip.

I would still do it by mail, in case you have to return later to pick up
the passport. Visas are not usually issued the same day, and can even take
a couple of weeks. Possibly even months, although that is unlikely in
Columbia (it would apply mostly in the middle east).

Mayo

My experiences with renewing visas in consulates other than your own
are mixed. I understand it is at the discretion of the consulate

1) I was denied a border crossing card renewal in Israel (I am from
Mexico) but was offered a short term visa instead
2) I was able to renew my H1B in Stockholm, but not in London
3) You can definitely renew H1B at both Mexican and Canadian
consulates even if you are not Mexican or Canadian (need an
appointment though)

As far as my experiences go, getting a visa in Mexico requires a
personal visit and a long line (even though you need an appointment
now) - I assume the same is true in Colombia - You can't do it by
mail, but they will send it to you (it takes a few days) via courier
for a small fee (payable to courier company)

In the Mexico case, no special allowances are made for anyone - I saw
with my own eyes how members of the Mexican disabled track team
looking for a visa to compete in the US where required to stand in
line for hours - with no consideration for their disabilities - Of
course such treatment will likely be against ADA in US and should a
foreign government act the same way to a disabled US athlete it would
be reported on the local news and be a great outrage

wllorente57

In line with the question, what would be the consequence when renewing B1/B2 visa earlier than the "6 mos b4 expiration"? (aside of course from the money that will be spent for the mailing, application, etc.)

Ingo Pakleppa

On Wed, 02 Apr 2003 00:58:53 +0000, wllorente57 wrote:

    >
    > In line with the question, what would be the consequence when renewing
    > B1/B2 visa earlier than the "6 mos b4 expiration"? (aside of course from
    > the money that will be spent for the mailing, application, etc.)

None whatsoever. Consulates actually used to be VERY generous about this,
but this probably has changed over the past few years. When I got my first
H-1B visa about ten years ago (this was before they started charging fees
for it), the consulate not only stamped the H-1B, but also renewed my
B-1/B-2 visa at the same time even though I hadn't asked for it. And that
was even though I was eligible for the visa waiver program.

I also had no problem renewing my H-1B visa well before the original one
expired.

Again, this was years ago, and many things have changed.

Ingo

Ingo Pakleppa

On Tue, 01 Apr 2003 12:09:34 -0800, Mayo wrote:

    > My experiences with renewing visas in consulates other than your own
    > are mixed. I understand it is at the discretion of the consulate
    >
    > 1) I was denied a border crossing card renewal in Israel (I am from
    > Mexico) but was offered a short term visa instead

Not surprising. I don't think Consulates outside Mexico issue them at all.
Mexicans can't even get them in Canada.

    > 2) I was able to renew my H1B in Stockholm, but not in London

Yes, this is indeed discretionary.

    > 3) You can definitely renew H1B at both Mexican and Canadian
    > consulates even if you are not Mexican or Canadian (need an
    > appointment though)

These consulates have special policies that explicitly allow foreign
applicants.

    > As far as my experiences go, getting a visa in Mexico requires a
    > personal visit and a long line (even though you need an appointment
    > now)

This may have improved. It used to be a very attractive option, but after
changes to regulations about a year ago, this option has become
considerably less attractive. Today, it really is mostly Mexicans and
Canadians who use these consulates.

    > I assume the same is true in Colombia - You can't do it by
    > mail, but they will send it to you (it takes a few days) via courier
    > for a small fee (payable to courier company)