Should I renew my passport and can I keep my old one?

by Geraldine
(Kula, Maui Hawaii)

Question: My passport expires in 2015. However, I travel a lot and only have 2 (not consecutive) blank pages left and India requires a visa -- and two consecutive pages. However, I have my Chinese Visa in my current passport and would will be traveling back to China in 2011.

Time frame of my travel plans:
November 2010- Japan/China
January 2011- India ( visa required --need two consecutive pages for their visa)
March/April 2011- China ( I have a multiple entry visa that expires April 30, 2011)

It appears that I need to apply renew my passport to get a India visa stamp for my travel in Jan 2011, because I do not have two consecutive pages for the stamp.

However, I still need my old (existing) passport because it has my Chinese visa stamp and I will be traveling to China Nov 2010 and March or April 2011.

What shall I do?

Answer: You can apply to add visa pages to a passport. You need to submit our current, valid U.S. Passport and the completed Form DS-4085, Application for Additional Visa Pages to the address on the form. The fee is $82 for this service.

Routine processing takes 3 to 4 weeks although it can take longer, especially during peak travel seasons like the end of the year. You can requested expedited service for $60 and get the pages added in only 2 to 3 weeks.

If you need the application processed sooner, then you can employ the services of a professional passport expediter. Fees range from $65 to $299 for same day service. Expediters can also process your travel visa applications.

The passport with the visas in it will be returned to you.