sql to copy nvarchar to date field

what platform?

MS SQL 2008

For SQL Server, you can use ISDATE() function to assist you.  Basically filter the data to records with ISDATE(visaexp) = 1, then UPDATE visaexpd = CONVERT(DATE, visaexpd).

EDIT: here is a demonstration.

DECLARE @users TABLE(
    id BIGINT IDENTITY,
    visaexp NVARCHAR(25),
    visaexpd DATE,
    PRIMARY KEY(id)
);

INSERT INTO @users(visaexp)
VALUES('NA'),
      ('01/01/2012'),
      ('01/30/2014'),
      (NULL)
;

UPDATE @users
SET visaexpd = CONVERT(DATE, visaexp, 101)
WHERE ISDATE(visaexp) = 1
;

SELECT id, visaexp, visaexpd
FROM @users
;

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The results:

id                   visaexp                   visaexpd
-------------------- ------------------------- ----------
1                    NA                        NULL
2                    01/01/2012                2012-01-01
3                    01/30/2014                2014-01-30
4                    NULL                      NULL

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MSDN: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187928(v=sql.105).aspx

Right .. I just don't know the syntax, not a real sql programmer hence the help

I was editing my comment to add a more concrete example.  Please refresh my comment above for syntax help as well as Microsoft reference on CONVERT() function.

Here is the reference for ISDATE:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187347(v=sql.105).aspx

Note: I showed CONVERT with format code 101 (U.S. - mm/dd/yyyy) as an example, but you can leave this off or use a different code.  Just be sure the consistency of your data, so that the resulting date is what you intended.

Yeah .. the example doesn't really help me. I actually need the query that would copy the data from the tables I have. Ill wait for someone to create the query based on the table and fields info.

Something like:

Update users
set visaexpD = visaexp

IF .. visa exp is a date

Should be something simple.

:)