VISA washed and dried - earth friendly ofcourse!

[swamy]

Didn't notice that the passport was still in my jeans when I did the laundry:( The passport ID pages don't look damaged but the picture on the visa page looks fuzzy - & I just got my visa restamped 3 weeks ago! Anyone knows what the procedure is to get a new stamp? The consulate pages mention only about lost passports

[senk1s]

i'd recommend
1. contacting the nearest indian consulate/ embassy
2. contact the attorney ...

[chanduv23]

Didn't notice that the passport was still in my jeans when I did the laundry:( The passport ID pages don't look damaged but the picture on the visa page looks fuzzy - & I just got my visa restamped 3 weeks ago! Anyone knows what the procedure is to get a new stamp? The consulate pages mention only about lost passports

Though I am sorry such a thing has happened - this is the first ever unique post on IV with a unique situation - visa on passport washed out in a washing machine.

You must contact a lawyer, I think it is no big deal - do you have a set of photo copies?

It is very essential that we keep a set of photo copies for any importanty document

[swamy]

Thanks guys. but My attorney (Fragomen) will be pissed if I tell them this because they didn't like the idea of my travelling after filing 485 as my H1 had expired- they were worried the 485 would be considered abandoned if I travelled without parole. I sort of told them I wont so its very awkward now to call up & tell them ' hey guess what-I ignored your advise and travelled and I'm back with my new visa stamp but its too clean for you to see?!'. I do have a copy of the visa page and the I94 looks legible so I was thinking of just sending those to them and taking care of the visa situation myself if possible. I will be contacting the Indian embassy in Chicage to see if they can issue a new passport. So no one has ever washed their passports?

[logiclife]

So no one has ever washed their passports?

No, I dont think anyone has washed their passports. When they do get very dirty, I sometimes send them in for drycleaning. Drycleaning passports is a little expensive than washing, but still its worth it because it tends to do cleaning without any damages to visas and other important stuff that's in it.

There are some dry-cleaning stores that will clean your I-94 for free with every passport they clean.

Ok, kidding aside, I think your first job is to get a new passport and I have heard that in Indian consulates/embassies or even in India itself, its easier to get a new passport if you have damaged your passport(with washing machines or otherwise) than it is to get new passport after you have lost it. If you lose your passport, then its more difficult to get a new one. So keep your washed and dried passport with you and dont throw it away, because that way, it will be easier to get a new one. If you throw it away, then consulates will give your tough time, but show them what happened (damaged passport) and it would be easier.

Regarding visas, I dont know if stamping and getting new I-94 is a problem before your I485 is receipted, but there is mixed opinions on that, you need to contact the best lawyer out there. Also, Frogomen is your lawyer so they are your employees (or your employer's employees) and they should not give you a tough time because technically, you are their boss and their job is to give you best advice but they cant scold you as if they are your big brother for doing something.

[swamy]

.

There are some dry-cleaning stores that will clean your I-94 for free with every passport they clean.
.

List please?!dry cleaning is way out of my league but maybe i can afford it with some coupons

I know the lawyers are supposed to be working for us etc but thats not the way it has worked between me and Fragomen so far. Sometimes they appear concerned and want to help answer your questions but generally they don't appear keen to go out of their way to help out. I will contact some lawyer though to find a way out if I can't find answers here.

[chanduv23]

List please?!dry cleaning is way out of my league but maybe i can afford it with some coupons

I know the lawyers are supposed to be working for us etc but thats not the way it has worked between me and Fragomen so far. Sometimes they appear concerned and want to help answer your questions but generally they don't appear keen to go out of their way to help out. I will contact some lawyer though to find a way out if I can't find answers here.

Is there any reason you have to go back to them for this issue? There are tons of lawyers out there that can help you.

[vaishnavilakshmi]

Hi,

I dont know if u have xerox of ur passport.If u have xerox,i think u can contact passport office and let them know what happend .There could be chances for them to consider ur case as Damaged passport and attempt in issuing new passport.

goodluck,
vaishu

[waitin_toolong]

based on all the info posted on website if the visa is damaged in anyway you need to reapply as if it were a fresh application, they will not revalidated without $100 fee and interview

[swamy]

yes luckily I do have copies of the visa page. And I'm not going back to the fragomen demons -unless as they feared my 485 or parole application goes under and they start poking around. But I can't believe none of my iv brethren have gone thru this before!you know you can send a private messag if you dont want to admit it in the thread

[swamy]

based on all the info posted on website if the visa is damaged in anyway you need to reapply as if it were a fresh application, they will not revalidated without $100 fee and interview

that sucks! Please post a link to the website you are referrig to - the chennai consulate doesnt seem to address this

[senk1s]

swamy: Check these links out.

This explains the expired procedure ...
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1281.html

This one talks about 'lost' stuff ...
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_2009.html

This applies to immigrant visas ...
http://www.uscis.gov/propub/ProPubVAP.jsp?dockey=c6783a27195022186f2ec3b7c5db9 f62

This talks about services at land ports of entry ...
http://www.uscis.gov/propub/ProPubVAP.jsp?dockey=0158666ee9b4cda1df629d23a7da7 5c8

(and i know even though it might be frustrating experience, there is no use in taking it out on people here who are trying to help - there are some mistakes/achievements of which we will be the pioneers !! I know i am.)

[jugunu64]

Swamy,

Regardless of how you get the Damaged Passport/VISA situation resolved, should'nt you inform your counsel that you have travelled outside the country and re-entered (legally, of course).


1) When you applied for VISA re-validation did you mention that a immigrant petition has been filed for you with USCIS and you are waiting on action.

2) Your I-485 petition would have recorded your latest I-94, last date of entry, VISA stamp number etc., in the petition. All this info is now changed since you have a new VISA stamp, I-94 & newer date/port of entry different from what was recorded on your pending AOS petition.

Regardless of how you feel about what the counsel might say regarding travelling and re-entering against their advise, I think you should always keep the counsel in the loop and provide them with the most accurate and current information so that they can help you in case of a RFE or address any other issues with your application down the line. It does'nt help your cause or theirs when you deliberately supress information...That's like shooting yourself in the foot...

[swamy]

I remember answering yes to the question on I140 and I also had a copy of the 140 handy in case they wanted to see it. But the conversation lasted barely 10 secs as all she wanted to know was if I was still with the same firm. & I know I have to tell my attorneys at some point and I also realize that they probably dont care all that much about what happens to my case eventually but Im just stalling in the hope that my AP somehow gets approved even though I left the country after applying for it when my then H1 had expired.
Senk1s - thanks for the links - they answered my question which basically is stand in line again assole! And though its pain for me to go thru figuring out what to do, I can perfectly understand why others may find it amusing and it's fine so long as I get answers to my q's so thanks again for the links.

[sapota]

US visas are machine readable. I believe that they have a thin magnetic strip with info on it. (In fact did you know that US visas are scannable as identification while doing e-checkins at US aiports (atleast some airlines).

It may be that the machine readable portion is still ok.

But to be on safer ground, getting re-stamped would be better & depend on your exact situation (i.e how many years ur stamp is valid, whether any travel plans outside US, etc etc.

[reddy_h]

Didn't notice that the passport was still in my jeans when I did the laundry:( The passport ID pages don't look damaged but the picture on the visa page looks fuzzy - & I just got my visa restamped 3 weeks ago! Anyone knows what the procedure is to get a new stamp? The consulate pages mention only about lost passports

Sorry buddy. You need to reapply for your passport and then apply for visa stamping again.

[guesswho]

Surprisingly the same Fragomen firm told me that it is OK to travel on H1 while my I-485 is pending! In fact, I have to get my 3 yr H-1 stamped when I go to India in Jan and they know that. Fragomen advised me against using Advance Parole for travel citing reason that if I do that I will have to use EAD for work (the attorney agreed that it is a gray area and it is safer to use EAD for work if entering on advance parole).

About your washing episode, I have heard stories like this from friends though I personally don't know anyone to share their experience with you. So you are not alone...


I remember answering yes to the question on I140 and I also had a copy of the 140 handy in case they wanted to see it. But the conversation lasted barely 10 secs as all she wanted to know was if I was still with the same firm. & I know I have to tell my attorneys at some point and I also realize that they probably dont care all that much about what happens to my case eventually but Im just stalling in the hope that my AP somehow gets approved even though I left the country after applying for it when my then H1 had expired.
Senk1s - thanks for the links - they answered my question which basically is stand in line again assole! And though its pain for me to go thru figuring out what to do, I can perfectly understand why others may find it amusing and it's fine so long as I get answers to my q's so thanks again for the links.

[wanna_immigrate]

Its high time they start making waterproof visa and passport. If they can make it machine readable they should able to make it washable in case you get dirt on it.

Kidding aside. You can get a new I-94 by filing a i-102 form and sending it to USCIS. Its a very simple process and its free of cost if you are asking for replacement.

My immigration attorney is Fragoman. Based on my experience tell them everything I dont think they would remember anything they said previously :)

Hope that helps

[jayus2k]

To correct the situation.
-> i had to get a new passport from the Indian Embassy in washington DC
-> The old passport was returned back to me with "Cancelled" stamped on it
-> The visa in the old passport was still valid ( I travelled with it, and I did not have any problems reentering.

My passport was also in jeans and the visa was in a decent situation, so I think your's might be in a similar condition.

I wish i hadn't laundered my passport, but stuff happens, and from experience, i can say that it is not as bad as it seems.

--Hope this helps.
Jay

[swamy]

To correct the situation.
-> i had to get a new passport from the Indian Embassy in washington DC
-> The old passport was returned back to me with "Cancelled" stamped on it
-> The visa in the old passport was still valid ( I travelled with it, and I did not have any problems reentering.

My passport was also in jeans and the visa was in a decent situation, so I think your's might be in a similar condition.

I wish i hadn't laundered my passport, but stuff happens, and from experience, i can say that it is not as bad as it seems.

--Hope this helps.
Jay

Yeah its like 60-70% ok - & if I can read it hopefully a machine can too. And I am getting a new passport.
Fragomen being inconsistent in what they say is nothing new I guess - they actually had an faq on their site saying it's ok to travel after filing 485 on an expired H1 so long as we get a new stamp to get back in but they took it out later and thenthe attorney emailed me saying I shouldn't risk travelling. anyway I guess I'll just get a new stamp the next time Iam in chennai - thanks everyone

[green_card]

a) you have brass balls. huge ones at that

b) the song "living on the edge" should be your constant theme song and should play as you walk around jangling those big brass orbs. :D

Hats off. i would never have the guts to pull off an international travelling coup like you did, especially post 9/11, especially after the attorney had asked you not to, with an expired H1 AND at the risk of losing the 485....

maybe the song "The Gambler" should play as you walk away and the credits roll...."know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em....know when to walk away....know when to run...."

Maan gaye guru. you are my new hero

scaredy cat that i am, i waited 7 years to visit India, and that was just to avoid F1 to H1 and visa stamping (of course this was right after 9/11)


..........because they didn't like the idea of my travelling after filing 485 as my H1 had expired- they were worried the 485 would be considered abandoned if I travelled without parole. I sort of told them I wont so its very awkward now to call up & tell them ' hey guess what-I ignored your advise and travelled and I'm back with my new visa stamp but its too clean for you to see?!'.