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Other Visa Concerns
 

Cancelled Visa

U.S. immigration officers at the Port of Entry are authorized to deny admission and/or cancel visas when they believe visa regulations have been violated. In order to make future trips to the United States, one must reapply for a nonimmigrant visa. Should one wish to apply for a new visa, please comply with the Nonimmigrant Visa Application Procedures.

Change in Marital Status

  • Maiden Name To Married Name
    Female holders of valid visas on passports reflecting their maiden name may present to the U.S. immigration officer at the Port of Entry a legal document, such as marriage certificate printed on the Philippine National Statistics Office security paper, attesting to the change of the surname every time she travels to the United States.

Should one wish to have a valid visa transferred in a new name and in a new passport, one must reapply for a visa. Please comply with the Nonimmigrant Visa Application Procedures.

  • Terminated or Annulled Marriage
    Generally, female holders of valid visas on passports reflecting their married name may use the visa to travel if they have the marriage annulment decree printed on the Philippine National Statistics Office security paper, for Philippine marriages, or certified copy of divorce certificates. The decree, however, must specify that they are allowed to revert to their maiden name.

Should one wish to have a valid visa transferred in a new name and in a new passport, one must reapply for a visa. Please comply with the Nonimmigrant Visa Application Procedures.


Change of Name

Visa holders of valid visas on passports reflecting their incorrect, old, assumed name, such as the following, may reapply for a nonimmigrant visa :

  • incorrect spelling of the name
  • without the second name (ex: “Jose Reyes dela Cruz” instead of “Jose Pedro Reyes dela Cruz”)
  • without a suffix (Jr., Sr., III, etc.)
  • Ma. instead of Maria

To reapply, please comply with the Nonimmigrant Visa Application Procedures.

Damaged Visa

If a visa is mutilated, tampered, soaked in water, torn, not properly affixed, or damaged other than the normal wear-and-tear causes, the visa is considered invalidated. In order to make future trips to the United States, one must reapply for a nonimmigrant visa. Should one wish to reapply, please comply with the Nonimmigrant Visa Application Procedures.


Errors on Printed Visas

It is your responsibility to check the information printed on the visa upon its receipt to ensure accuracy of the data. Biographic information on the visa should match the information found on the passport biographic page. Discrepancies on the visa must be corrected prior to use. The Nonimmigrant Visa Unit will only process correctons within one year of issuance.

Error(s) on Visa Issuance

For errors such as the following:

  • Incorrect visa classification
  • Misspelled name(s)
  • Incorrect date of birth, gender or nationality

Please call the Embassy call center at (02) 982-5555 or (02) 902-8930, available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., for instructions on how to send the documents to the Embassy. Include a letter that clearly states the error. The Nonimmigrant Visa Unit shall determine the legitimacy of all visa correction requests.

Lost Visas

For a lost visa issued in Manila, send a copy of the police report or affidavit of loss with the visa holder’s full name and date of birth to the Embassy’s Fraud Prevention Unit. They can be sent to any of the following:

  • Fax number: (02) 301-2005
  • E-mail: fpmmanila@state.gov
  • Postal Address: Fraud Prevention Unit, American Embassy Manila, Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila 1001

Upon receipt of the notification, the visa will be cancelled. In case the visa is recovered, do not use it.

There is NO AUTOMATIC REPLACEMENT of lost visas. One has to reapply for a nonimmigrant visa in order to make future trips to the United States by complying with the Nonimmigrant Visa Application Procedures.

Multiple-Entry, Indefinite Visas

Since March 31, 2004, all multiple-entry, indefinite visas, regardless of date of issuance, became invalid for travel. Persons with multiple-entry, indefinite visas must apply for a new visa in order to make future trips to the United States. Please note that the U.S. Department of State no longer issues visas with indefinite validity.

Should one wish to reapply, please comply with the Nonimmigrant Visa Application Procedures.

Overstay

One who has overstayed the authorized period of admission may no longer use the visa with which he or she entered the United States under U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act Section 222(g). This section renders void the visas of nonimmigrants who remain in the United States "beyond the period of stay authorized by the Secretary of Homeland Security." Most likely, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will turn the person around at the Port of Entry.

To re-enter the United States, one must obtain a new nonimmigrant visa in the country of the alien’s nationality. Should one wish to reapply, please comply with the Nonimmigrant Visa Application Procedures.


Visa on Expired Passport

Holders of valid visas in expired passports need not apply for a new visa.  US visas are valid through the expiry date printed on the visa regardless of the passport’s expiry date.  Simply travel with both passports when entering the United States.


Please feel free to visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page for more information on nonimmigrant visa processing.

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