The Passport Six Month Validity Rule Explained

Visitors traveling to the U.S. are required to be in possession of passports valid for six months beyond the period of their intended stay.

This requires advanced planning to ensure your passport will be valid for the anticipated term of stay.

However, there are exceptions to this rule, the most important being that some countries have entered into an agreement with the U.S. to extend passport validity for six months beyond the expiration date.

Even so, this may not be practical when only a narrow margin of time remains. An applicant’s stay cannot be extended beyond that date unless the passport is renewed.

A visa cannot be issued in an expired passport unless the applicant presents collateral documentation that meets all requirements.

This rule works well for short stays (e.g., H-2A, H-2B, or J-1 visas), but if the stay will be one year or longer, a passport may need to be renewed in advance.

DISCLAIMER: This post does not constitute legal advice, or make any guarantees as to a potential outcome. Consult with a qualified, licensed immigration attorney about the facts of your case before proceeding.