Your B1/B2 stay is limited by the expiration date your customs officer writes in your passport, not by your visa stamp

When you enter the United States on a B1/B2 visa, the customs officer at the airport or border crossing decides how long you can stay. This decision is written as a date in your passport — typically stamped as "I-94" or written as "Admitted Until" — and that date is what matters. Your visa itself (the sticker in your passport) can be valid for 10 years, but it is only a ticket to board a plane or cross a border. Once you are inside the country, the customs officer's stamp controls when you must leave.

Most visitors on a B1/B2 visa receive permission to stay for six months from the date they arrive. Some receive less — 30 days, 60 days, or 90 days — depending on the officer's judgment and your stated purpose. A few receive more, though this is uncommon. The officer makes this decision based on what you tell them about your trip, how long you say you need, and whether they believe you plan to leave when your time is up.

Key Takeaways

  • The date written in your passport by the customs officer is your actual important date, not the expiration date of your visa stamp.
  • Most B1/B2 visitors receive six months, but the officer can grant anywhere from 30 days to longer periods based on your stated purpose.
  • You must leave by the date in your passport or you become out of status, which can affect future visa renewals and re-entry.
  • If you need to stay longer, you can request an extension from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before your current permission expires.
  • Overstaying even one day creates a record that can bar you from returning to the United States for years.

What the customs officer decides when you arrive

The customs officer has the power to set your stay length on the spot. They look at your passport, your return ticket, your bank statements, and your answers to their questions. If you say you are visiting for two weeks to see family, they might grant you 30 days. If you say you are here for business meetings over three months, they might grant you six months. If you cannot explain your purpose clearly or if they suspect you plan to work or stay permanently, they can grant you as little as 30 days.

The decision is recorded on your I-94 form, which is now electronic for most visitors. You can check your I-94 record online at the CBP (Customs and Border Protection) website using your passport number. This record shows the exact date you must leave. If the date is wrong — for example, if the officer made a typo — you can request a correction at a local USCIS office, but you should do this before your stated departure date.

The difference between your visa and your permission to stay

Your B1/B2 visa is a document that lets you board a plane or cross a border to enter the United States. It does not control how long you stay once you are here. A visa valid until 2034 does not mean you can stay until 2034. It means you can use it to enter the country multiple times until 2034, but each time you enter, a new customs officer sets a new stay date.

This is why many people are confused: they see their visa is valid for 10 years and assume they can stay for 10 years. In reality, each entry is separate. You could enter on January 1 and be told you must leave by March 1. You could leave, return on April 1 with the same visa, and be told you must leave by June 1. The visa is just your entry pass; the customs officer's stamp is your actual important date.

How to extend your stay if six months is not enough

If you need to stay longer than the date in your passport, you can file a request for an extension with USCIS before your current permission expires. This is done on Form I-539, process to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. You must file it at least 45 days before your current important date, though filing earlier is safer. There is a filing fee, and USCIS will take several weeks to several months to decide.

Extensions are not automatic. USCIS will look at why you need more time and whether your reason fits the B1/B2 category. If you originally said you were visiting for two weeks and now you want to stay for a year, they may deny the extension. If you have a legitimate reason — a family emergency, a business project that took longer than expected — your chances are better. You should not work while your extension is pending, and you should not leave the country, because doing so can cancel your pending request.

What happens if you overstay your important date

Staying past the date in your passport makes you out of status. This is a violation of immigration law, even if you overstay by one day. Once you are out of status, you cannot legally work, and you cannot extend your stay — you can only leave. If you are caught working or if you are stopped by police, you can be detained and deported.

More importantly, overstaying creates a permanent record. If you overstay by more than 180 days, you become subject to a three-year bar on re-entry. If you overstay by more than one year, you become subject to a ten-year bar. This means even if you leave voluntarily, you cannot return to the United States for years, and future visa applications will be denied. Even overstaying by a few days can cause problems when you try to renew your visa or enter the country again.

How to check your current stay important date

You can look up your I-94 record online at the CBP website (cbp.gov/i94). You will need your passport number and your date of birth. The record will show the date you were admitted and the date you must leave. Print this page and keep it with your passport. If you lose your I-94 stamp or cannot find it in your passport, this online record is your proof of your important date.

If the date shown is wrong, contact your nearest USCIS office or a CBP port of entry to request a correction. Bring your passport and any documents that show what date the officer actually told you. Do this as soon as you notice the error, because the wrong date could cause you to accidentally overstay.

Planning your departure before your important date

You should book your flight or arrange your border crossing to leave several days before your important date, not on the important date itself. Flights get delayed, and if you miss your flight and your important date passes, you are out of status. Airlines also check your I-94 before you board an international flight, and they will not let you leave if your permission has expired.

If you are driving to Canada or Mexico, the same rule applies: you must cross the border before your important date. Once you leave the United States, your I-94 is cancelled and your stay ends. If you want to return, you will need to go through customs again and receive a new stay date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I stay longer than six months if I ask the customs officer at the airport?

Yes, you can ask, but the officer is not required to grant it. Most officers grant six months as a standard. If you have a specific reason — a long-term business project, a family situation — you can explain it and ask for more time. The officer will decide based on what you tell them and whether they believe you will leave when your time is up.

What if I want to stay for a year on a B1/B2 visa?

You cannot stay for a full year on a single B1/B2 entry. The maximum is usually six months, though extensions are possible. If you need to stay for a year, you would need a different visa category, such as an L-1 (intracompany transfer) or O-1 (individual with extraordinary ability). Talk to an immigration attorney about whether a different visa fits your situation.

If my visa is valid until 2030, can I stay until 2030?

No. Your visa expiration date and your stay important date are two different things. Your visa is valid until 2030, but each time you enter the country, a customs officer sets a new important date — usually six months from your arrival. You can use your visa to enter multiple times until 2030, but you cannot stay continuously for that long on a B1/B2.

What should I do if I realize I will overstay by accident?

Contact USCIS when ready and file an extension request on Form I-539 before your important date passes. If you file before you go out of status, you may be allowed to stay while your request is pending. If you wait until after your important date, you cannot file an extension — you can only leave. Leaving voluntarily is better than being deported, but either way, overstaying creates a record that affects future travel.

Can I change my stay date after I arrive?

You cannot change it yourself. Only USCIS can change it through an extension request, and only if you file before your current important date. You cannot go back to the airport and ask the customs officer to change the date they already wrote. If you need more time, file Form I-539 with USCIS as soon as you know you need it.