Your visitor visa duration depends on the visa type and what the border officer stamps in your passport
A visitor visa does not come with a set expiration date for how long you can stay. Instead, the US Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry decides your permitted stay when you arrive and stamps an I-94 arrival/departure record into your passport. This stamp shows the date you must leave by — typically written as "D/S" (duration of status) or a specific date like "12/15/2025".
The length of stay varies widely. Most visitor visa holders receive between 6 months and 10 years of permission to stay, but the actual time granted on arrival can be much shorter. A tourist from Canada might receive 6 months; a business visitor might receive 3 months; a student or exchange visitor operates under different rules entirely. The officer has discretion and considers your stated purpose, ties to your home country, and documentation you present.
Your visa stamp in your passport is separate from your I-94 permission to stay. You can have a valid 10-year visitor visa but be permitted to stay only 3 months on a single entry. When those 3 months end, you must leave — even if your visa is still valid. To stay longer on a future trip, you would need to leave the US, return to your home country, and re-enter.
Key Takeaways
- The I-94 stamp in your passport, not your visa, determines how long you can stay on each entry to the US.
- Most visitor visa holders receive 6 months to 10 years of permission per entry, but the border officer decides the actual length when you arrive.
- Overstaying your I-94 date by even one day makes you deportable and can bar you from future US entry.
- You cannot extend a visitor visa stay by filing paperwork; you must leave and re-enter if you want to stay longer on a future trip.
- Certain visa categories like F-1 (student) and J-1 (exchange) have different rules and are not subject to the standard I-94 duration.
What the I-94 stamp actually means
When you pass through US immigration at the airport or land border, the officer reviews your passport, visa, return ticket, and the reason for your visit. They then decide how long you are permitted to stay and record this in your I-94 record. This is the official document that controls your legal presence in the US — not the visa itself.
The I-94 is now electronic for most visitors. You can check your I-94 record online at the CBP website using your passport number and date of birth. The record shows your admission date and your departure date (or "D/S" if duration of status applies). If you cannot find your record online, you can request a copy from CBP at the airport where you entered.
If your I-94 says you must leave on June 30, 2025, that is a hard important date. Staying past that date, even for a few hours, puts you in violation of US immigration law. You would be considered deportable and could face a ban on future entry.
How long different visitor categories typically receive
The length of stay granted depends partly on your visa category and partly on the officer's judgment. Here are the general ranges:
| Visa Type | Typical Stay Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| B-1 (business visitor) | 3 to 6 months | Officers often grant shorter stays for business than tourism. |
| B-2 (tourist) | 6 months | Six months is common but not may provide; some receive 3 months. |
| B-1/B-2 (combined) | 6 months | The most common visitor visa; six months is the standard grant. |
| Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) | 90 days | Fixed at 90 days; no extension possible without leaving and re-entering. |
| F-1 (student) | Duration of status (D/S) | Controlled by your school's SEVIS record, not the I-94 date. |
| J-1 (exchange) | Duration of program | Controlled by your sponsor organization, not the I-94 date. |
The officer's decision is final at the port of entry. You cannot negotiate or appeal the I-94 date you receive. If you believe the officer made an error, you can contact CBP after arrival, but changing the decision is difficult.
What happens if you overstay your I-94 date
Overstaying is one of the most serious immigration violations. Even staying one day past your I-94 departure date makes you deportable and can result in removal proceedings, a ban on future entry, and difficulty obtaining any US visa in the future.
If you overstay, you accrue "unlawful presence." The consequences depend on how long you stay past your I-94 date. Overstaying by more than 180 days triggers a 3-year bar on re-entry; overstaying by more than 1 year triggers a 10-year bar. These bars explore even if you leave voluntarily.
If you realize you will overstay, do not wait until the important date passes. Contact an immigration attorney when ready. In rare cases, you may be able to file a motion to extend your stay or change your status, but this requires legal help and is not may provide. Most visitor visa holders cannot extend their stay through any filing; they must leave.
How to check your I-94 departure date
You should verify your I-94 record as soon as possible after arrival. Mistakes happen — the officer may have entered the wrong date, or the system may have recorded it incorrectly. Catching an error early gives you time to contact CBP and request a correction.
Go to the CBP website at cbp.gov/i94 and select "Retrieve your I-94." You will need your passport number, date of birth, and passport country. The system will show your admission date and departure date. Write down or screenshot this information and keep it with your passport.
If you cannot find your record online, you may not have been issued an I-94 (some visa-exempt travelers do not receive one), or the record may not have been entered yet. Contact the CBP office at the port where you entered and request a copy of your I-94 arrival/departure record. You can also request this by mail if needed.
Extending your stay or changing your status
If you are on a B-1/B-2 visitor visa and want to stay longer, you have two options: leave the US and re-enter, or change your status to another visa category before your I-94 expires.
Leaving and re-entering is the simpler path for most people. You depart before your I-94 date, travel outside the US, and return. When you re-enter, you receive a new I-94 with a new departure date. However, if you leave and when ready return, the border officer may question whether you have ties to your home country and grant you a shorter stay the second time.
Changing your status means filing a petition to switch to a different visa category — such as F-1 (student), H-1B (specialty occupation worker), or L-1 (intracompany transfer) — before your visitor status expires. This requires an employer or school to sponsor you and involves filing with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The process takes weeks or months and is not available for all visa types. You must consult an immigration attorney to explore whether this is possible for your situation.
Visa validity versus I-94 stay duration
Many people confuse their visa validity with their permitted stay. These are two separate things. Your visa is a document issued by a US embassy or consulate abroad that allows you to travel to a US port of entry. It can be valid for 10 years. Your I-94 is the permission granted at that port of entry for how long you can stay once you arrive.
Example: You have a 10-year B-1/B-2 visa issued in 2020. You enter the US in 2025 and receive an I-94 permitting you to stay until December 31, 2025. Your visa is still valid, but you must leave by December 31. If you want to return in 2026, you can use the same visa to enter again — you do not need a new one — and you will receive a new I-94 with a new departure date.
If your visa has expired, you cannot use it to enter the US at all, even if you have not used it yet. You would need to explore for a new visa at a US embassy or consulate before traveling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I extend my I-94 stay date without leaving the US?
No. Visitor visa holders cannot extend their I-94 stay through any filing or request. Your only options are to leave before your I-94 expires and re-enter (which gives you a new I-94), or to change your status to a different visa category before your current status expires. Changing status requires an employer or school sponsor and is not available for all situations.
What if the border officer gave me the wrong I-94 date?
Contact CBP when ready and request a correction. You can reach the CBP office at the port where you entered or call the CBP National Customer Service Center. Bring your passport and any documentation showing the error. CBP can issue a corrected I-94, but you must act quickly — do not wait until your departure date is near.
Can I stay longer if I have a job offer from a US company?
A job offer does not extend your visitor visa stay. However, your employer can sponsor you for an H-1B visa or another work visa category, which requires filing a petition with USCIS before your I-94 expires. This process takes time and is not may provide. You must consult an immigration attorney to determine whether you are may be able to access and whether your employer is willing to sponsor you.
What does "D/S" mean on my I-94?
"D/S" stands for "duration of status" and means your stay is not limited to a specific date. Instead, your permitted stay is tied to your status — for example, as a student or exchange visitor. You must maintain that status (such as being enrolled full-time if you are an F-1 student) to remain in the US. If you lose your status, you must leave when ready.
Do I need to leave the US before my I-94 date or can I leave on that date?
You must leave on or before your I-94 departure date. If your date is December 31, you can depart on December 31, but you cannot stay past midnight. If you are unsure about your exact departure time, leave a day early to avoid any risk of overstaying.