What happens if my passport expires before the L-1 visa?

The L-1 visa is stamped in your passport, so it must be valid throughout the process. If your passport expires before the visa is issued, the path forward is to renew your passport first and then continue with the application using the new document.

Renewal is done through the competent authority in your home country. Once you have your new passport, update your application details and inform the U.S. consulate or embassy, which will advise on any additional documents or the procedure for linking the visa to the new passport.

• A valid passport is a requirement for the L-1 visa.
• Renew your passport before completing the visa process.
• Update your details and notify the consulate about the change.

It is common for the old passport containing the visa and the new passport to be used together in certain situations, but this depends on official guidance. For that reason, it is worth confirming the procedure with the consulate and official sources before traveling, rather than relying on unofficial information.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.