Non-Immigrant Visas
Visas & Duration of Stay in the U.S.
Please note that your visa expiration date does not indicate the length of time you can stay in the U.S. What your visa shows is the time period in which you can seek permission to enter the U.S. and how many “entries” into the U.S. you can make in that period, that is, how many times you may seek permission to enter the U.S.
When you arrive in America, an officer of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) decides your “duration of stay”. The decision is based upon the type of visa you hold, the purpose of your entry into the U.S. and the length of time thought necessary to accomplish your purpose. The date of expiration on your visa will have no effect on the length time you are granted for duration of stay. You simply must arrive in the U.S. before your visa expires.