When living, studying, or working in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa, renewing your Vietnamese passport is essential to ensure your rights and maintain your lawful immigration status.
Individuals staying in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa (such as students, tourists, temporary workers, etc.) can renew their Vietnamese passport in the U.S. without having to return to Vietnam. Below are important notes and detailed guidance on the passport renewal process for international students, temporary workers, tourists in the U.S., or fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens.
Requirements for renewing a Vietnamese passport in the U.S.
Individuals staying in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa (such as students, temporary workers, tourists, etc.) may renew their Vietnamese passport in the U.S. However, to be eligible for renewal, you must be able to prove that your stay in the U.S. is lawful. The requirements include:
- Your Vietnamese passport must still be valid or have only recently expired. If your passport has been lost and you no longer have a copy or photo of it, you will need to apply for a new Vietnamese passport instead. This process usually takes longer due to additional verification requirements.
- Provide proof of your lawful stay in the United States.
Required documents
To renew your Vietnamese passport in the U.S., please prepare the following documents:
- Passport application form with photo attached
- Two photos (2 x 2 inches or 4 x 6 cm)
- Curriculum vitae / personal background form
- Original expired Vietnamese passport
- Proof of lawful stay in the United States
Proof of lawful immigration status in the United States is especially important when renewing a Vietnamese passport, particularly for individuals holding nonimmigrant visas (such as student, tourist, or temporary work visas).
A U.S. visa allows you to enter the United States, but it does not by itself prove your lawful immigration status. To demonstrate lawful stay, individuals in nonimmigrant categories (such as tourists, students, or temporary workers) should use their Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record), which is automatically issued upon entry. The I-94 record can be retrieved from the official website of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
However, proving your immigration status using the I-94 may vary depending on your situation, as the I-94 issued for each type of nonimmigrant visa is different:
Renewing a Vietnamese passport in the U.S. for tourists and temporary workers
For tourists (B1/B2 visa holders) and workers (such as L1 or H1B visa holders), the I-94 typically specifies both the date of entry and the authorized period of stay, including the expiration date.
Therefore, when renewing a Vietnamese passport in the U.S. for tourists or temporary workers, the applicant only needs to submit an I-94 showing the authorized period of stay.
Renewing a Vietnamese passport in the U.S. for international students
For international students (F-1 or M-1 visa holders), the I-94 is typically marked with “D/S” (Duration of Status), meaning they may remain in the United States as long as they maintain their student status.
Detailed information about the student’s status, including the academic program and period of study, is provided on Form I-20 issued by the U.S. educational institution.
Therefore, when renewing a Vietnamese passport for international students, applicants must provide both Form I-94 and Form I-20.
Renewing a Vietnamese passport in the U.S. for fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens
For fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens (K-1 visa holders), the I-94 typically shows an authorized period of stay of 90 days
- If the passport renewal is completed within the 90-day period, submitting Form I-94 is sufficient.
- However, if the renewal takes place after the 90-day period while the applicant is waiting for adjustment of status (green card processing), an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) may be submitted to prove lawful stay in the United States.
Note: The I-797C receipt notice issued by USCIS while waiting for adjustment of status from a K-1 visa does not provide information about the authorized period of stay. Therefore, it is not sufficient to prove lawful presence in the United States.
Important notes about your old passport and visa when renewing a Vietnamese passport
Generally, U.S. nonimmigrant visas such as tourist, student, or temporary work visas are issued as multiple-entry visas, meaning:
- If your U.S. tourist visa is still valid, you may continue traveling to the United States without applying for a new visa.
- If you are studying or working in the U.S., you may travel back to Vietnam to visit family and then return to the U.S. to continue your studies or employment, as long as your visa remains valid.
To verify this, you can check the “Entries” section on your visa. If it is marked with “M,” it means the visa allows multiple entries. According to guidance from the U.S. Department of State, if your visa is in an expired passport, it remains valid until its expiration date, unless it has been canceled or revoked.
You may continue using a valid U.S. visa that is placed in an expired passport together with your newly renewed passport when entering the United States. Therefore, when renewing your passport, you should keep your old passport containing the valid U.S. visa and must not remove the visa sticker to attach it to your new passport.
To keep your old Vietnamese passport containing a valid U.S. visa when renewing your Vietnamese passport in the United States, you should:
- When renewing your passport at the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in the U.S.: you are required to submit your old passport. If you wish to keep it, you must clearly state in the “Request Details” section of the passport application form: “Please retain my old passport because it contains a valid U.S. visa”. In most cases, the old passport will be hole-punched to invalidate it, but you will still be able to keep the valid visa inside.
- If you are in the U.S. and renew your passport through ICAFAS: you only need to take a photo of the information page of your old passport and send it to ICAFAS. ICAFAS will assist you with the renewal process, and you will be able to retain your old passport.
Conclusion
Renewing your Vietnamese passport while living or working in the United States is not a complicated process, but it does require proper documentation and compliance with the correct procedures. If you need further assistance with renewing your Vietnamese passport in the U.S., please contact ICAFAS for detailed guidance and support.
