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Original source date: The Department of State page does not state a publication date.
The expiration date printed on a U.S. visa is often confused with the period a person is authorized to remain in the United States. They are not the same.
The visa is a travel document
A valid visa generally allows a traveler to request admission at a U.S. port of entry. It does not guarantee admission, and its expiration date does not determine the authorized length of stay after entry.
The I-94 records the authorized stay
The admission record—usually Form I-94—shows an “admit until” date or, for some classifications, “D/S” for duration of status. Travelers should retrieve and review the I-94 after each entry and promptly address any apparent error.
Practical safeguards
- Keep copies of the passport biographic page, visa, admission stamp, and I-94.
- Calendar the I-94 date and any filing deadline well in advance.
- Review whether work, study, or other conduct is permitted in the admission category.
- Obtain advice before international travel while an extension, change of status, adjustment, asylum, or parole request is pending.
Official source: U.S. Department of State: What the Visa Expiration Date Means.