JoR

I came to the US on a F1 visa which I recently changed to H1B. I need to visit the UK at Christmas for a 2 week vacation and then will be coming back to the US to work.

I currently have an F1 visa stamp in my passport - any idea how I get this changed to a H1B visa? Also - my passport expires in May 2006 - so I need to get a new one.

Currently in NYC - and have absolutely no idea how to proceed with this - I'm sure that others have overcome these hurdles and any info you could give would be gratefully received!


Thanks

fatbrit

Might as well start with a fresh passport since yours is out soon.
http://www.britainusa.com/sections/i...0&L2=41001&d=1

Hold on to your old passport, too. any of the US visas in it are still valid even though you have a new passport.

Elvira

AFAIK you have to get the H1b visa stamp from the US embassy in London. The only way to do this is to get someone in the UK to ring the premium line and make an appointment on your behalf. Not sure what their hours are over 'the Holidays' though...

Passport renewal is easy. Download the forms from the embassy website and follow the instructions. Takes about a week or two - quicker than PP office in UK.

Elvira

But surely can't use the F1 if he is now working as an H1b?

fatbrit

Nope! But surely still a good idea to hold onto the passport and take it with you when greeting those wonderfully friendly guys at the POE until he's got a H1B stamp in his new passport.

AdobePinon

Used to be that you could get a visa stamp in a third country (i.e., Canada), but the rules have probably changed since 9/11. That's what I always used to do. Better get on the stick about the passport - can't get the visa without that, you can't return to the US without the visa, and very few US embassies offer same day service anymore.