What happens to the American visa when the passport changes?

The American visa is a document that authorizes citizens of other countries to enter the United States for reasons of tourism, business, study, work or transit.

This visa is granted for a certain period, which may vary depending on the type and country of origin of the applicant.
The visa is pasted on one of the pages of the passport, which is the document that identifies the traveler and that It is valid for 10 years in Colombia.

According to the information provided by the United States Embassy in Colombia, the answer to this question depends on several factors, such as the status of the visa, the date of issue of the passport, and the reason for the change.

You can travel to the United States with both the new and the old document, as long as the visa is not damaged, mutilated or altered and the old passport was issued after October 1, 2004.

In addition, it must be taken into account that the name, date of birth and gender of the new passport must match those of the old passport and that the nationality of the applicant has not changed.

If the passport is lost or damaged and the American visa is still valid, You must request a new one, since the previous one is automatically canceled.

To do this, you must follow the same process as for a first visa application, that is, fill out the visa application form, pay the consular fee, Schedule an appointment at the Applicant Service Center (CAS) and at the Embassy or Consulate and present the required documents.

Additionally, you must report the loss or damage of your passport with the visa to the Embassy or Consulate and bring a copy of the report to the consular interview.

If the passport is changed for another reason and the American visa is still valid, You can choose to travel with the new and old passport, following the same conditions mentioned above, or request the transfer of the visa to the new passport.

The transfer of the visa is the printing of a new label with the same data as the current visa granted.

This happens in the event of a change of name, gender, nationality or for any other reason other than the loss, expiration or damage of the passport.

To request a visa transfer, a process similar to that of a new visa application must be followed, but without the need to attend a consular interview.

It is best to consult the website of the United States Embassy in Colombia, where you can find updated and detailed information about the requirements and steps to follow for each case.