How long is US visitor visa valid for?

Decoding the Duration of a US B Visitor Visa: More Than Just a Stamp

The question of how long a US visitor visa (specifically, a B-1/B-2 visa) is valid is a common one, often met with confusion. It’s not simply a single number, but a nuanced answer encompassing both the visa’s validity period and the permitted duration of each individual stay.

The crucial point is that a US B-1/B-2 visa doesn’t dictate the length of your entire stay in the United States. Instead, it grants you multiple entries over a specific period. Think of it as a permission slip, valid for a set time, allowing you to enter the country numerous times for short visits. The visa itself, stamped in your passport, typically indicates a validity period of up to ten years. This means the visa remains valid for entry into the US for up to ten years from the issuance date.

However, this ten-year validity doesn’t mean you can stay for ten years straight. The duration of each individual visit is determined by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry. They assess your specific circumstances – purpose of visit, ties to your home country, financial resources, and itinerary – and determine how long you may stay, usually up to a maximum of six months. This six-month period can be shorter, depending on the officer’s assessment. Crucially, this is not automatically granted for the full six months; it’s a maximum allowance.

Therefore, while your B-1/B-2 visa might be valid for ten years, your actual stay on any single visit is determined independently by CBP upon each entry. You might enter for two weeks one time, a month another, and potentially the maximum six months on a third occasion, all within the ten-year validity period of your visa.

It’s important to note that the ten-year validity is not guaranteed. The issuing consular officer determines the validity period based on your individual application and circumstances. It could be shorter than ten years, or even less than a year, depending on various factors. Likewise, exceeding the permitted stay allotted by CBP at the port of entry can lead to serious consequences, including deportation and future visa denials.

In short, the longevity of a US B visitor visa is a two-part answer: a maximum ten-year validity for multiple entries, coupled with individual stay limits (up to six months) determined at each port of entry. Understanding this distinction is vital for anyone planning multiple trips to the United States on a visitor visa.