Travelers who mistake U.S. visa expiration date for authorized stay risk immigration issues

However, these two are distinct concepts, and understanding the difference is crucial for avoiding potential issues with U.S. immigration laws.

A U.S. visa in a foreign citizen’s passport grants permission to apply for entry to the U.S., but it does not automatically authorize entry or determine the duration of stay.

The visa simply signifies that a consular officer has reviewed the applicant’s eligibility and approved them for travel to a U.S. port of entry, such as an airport or land border crossing. The final decision on entry and the length of stay is made by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry.

“Please be aware, a visa does not guarantee entry to the United States. Additionally, the visa expiration date shown on your visa does not reflect how long you are authorized to stay within the United States. Entry and the length of authorized stay within the United States are determined by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer at the port-of-entry each time you travel,” the US State Department stated.

The visa expiration date, printed on the visa, represents the period during which the holder can travel to a U.S. port of entry. This period is known as the visa validity.

For example, a single-entry visa allows the holder to enter the U.S. once during the visa validity period, while a multiple-entry visa permits the holder to enter multiple times, provided they do not exceed the number of entries allowed and the visa remains valid.

“The admitted-until date or D/S notation, shown on your admission stamp or paper Form I-94, is the official record of your authorized length of stay in the United States. You cannot use the visa expiration date in determining or referring to your permitted length of stay in the United States,” said the department.

Foreign visitors on nonimmigrant visas who wish to stay longer in the U.S. must apply for an extension with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before their authorized stay expires.

Failure to leave the U.S. by the date authorized by the CBP officer or USCIS will result in being out of status, which is a violation of U.S. immigration laws.

For more information on visa extensions and maintaining legal status in the U.S., visit the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.