Can I enter the U.S. with an expired passport that still has a valid O-1 visa?

As a rule, you need a valid passport to travel, even if your O-1 visa is still within its validity period. Attempting to board with only an expired passport typically causes problems at check-in or upon arrival.

There is, however, a common solution when the visa is in an old, expired passport: travel with both passports together. You carry the new valid passport alongside the old passport that contains the approved O-1 visa.

For this to work smoothly, a few precautions help:

• The old passport with the visa must be intact and legible, with no damage.
• The details in both passports must be consistent (same person).
• The new passport must be within the validity period required for the trip.

The final decision always rests with the authorities at check-in and upon arrival. Therefore, before you travel, confirm the procedure with the airline and with the U.S. consulate or embassy.

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.