Every visa issued has an expiration date, and dates vary. However, the expiration date is not the main determining factor for the legal length of stay in the United States.
Understanding visas and expiration dates
Sometimes visa holders become confused about their authorization to be in the United States, and consulting a Florida immigration law attorney can ensure they stay within their legal bounds.
A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. It is more like an entry application for a projected period. At the port of entry, a Customs and Border Protection (CBO) Officer or United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official grants and determines the non-immigrant’s authorized length of stay. The official places a Form I-94 or I-94W in the individual’s passport, which indicates permission for entry and the authorized time length, either through specifying an actual date that the authorized stay ends or by indicating a duration of status (D/S). For example, a D/S allows non-immigrants such as exchange students to remain in the United States for the duration of their exchange program. Visa holders can find the D/S notation or specific date in the lower right corner of the I-94 or I-94W form. In certain situations, non-immigrants can also obtain visa extensions, and an immigration lawyer can help with that. Out-of-status is the term that applies to non-immigrants who stay past the authorized time. Out-of-status indicates an immigration law violation that makes the visa automatically void and can prevent a visa holder from being allowed future entry through a visa. It is best to consult an immigration lawyer ahead of time and take action before becoming out-of-status.
Get legal help from skilled immigration lawyers
Sternberg | Forsythe, P.A. offers immigration services for visas, visa extensions and other immigration issues. We have staff ready to assist clients in Spanish, Creole and Portuguese if English is not their native language and they need
help with translations. Our firm has three convenient Florida locations in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Orlando.