Non-immigrant US Visa Expiration and Length of Stay

If you are a frequent traveler you know the importance of securing a visa to enable you to travel in the US. You are aware that a visa will allow you to do business abroad or be a tourist visitor. Many people, however, gets confused with the validity of visa as against the length of stay they are allowed in the US. This ignorance gets them into trouble when they break an immigration law of the US.

Visa is needed to be permitted to enter the US. A visa, however, does not guarantee entry to the US. It means that based on the visa application requirements, you presented your eligibility to travel under a particular purpose. If approved, you are then given a visa for your travel to any port of entry in the US. The visa you received indicates the “visa expiration” which states the time the visa will remain valid for the same purpose of travel. If a person is given a multiple entry visa, this means that he does not have to apply for a visa every time he plans to go to the US. Instead, he uses his visa until the time it is valid for use. If the visa provided is for tourism or pleasure or B2 visa, this means that this is the only purpose it is valid to be used. If the visa holder plans to work in the US, he should secure another type of visa, for instance the H2-B visa, which will make his work legal in the US.

Upon arrival at any port of entry in the US, an immigration officer will either approve or deny your entry. If approved, the immigration officer will decide up to how long you are allowed to stay in the US depending on your purpose of visit. The length of stay is seen on the Arrival-Departure Record, form I-94 or I-94W for the Visa Waiver Program. This now is your guide on the length of time you are authorized to stay in the US and not the visa’s validity. It is important that you follow the date stated on your Arrival-Departure form and not overstay because if you do, this will void your stay in the US. To avoid any problems, you should plan your departure ahead of time.

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