EXTENSION OF STAY
IN THE U.S.
Many individuals have
difficulty understanding the difference between the validity of a visa, which is
a stamp placed in a national passport or in a laisser-passer, and permission to
remain in the United States. This page is designed to clarify the difference
between a visa and extension of stay.
A visa is granted by the
Department of State, either by the Visa Office in Washington, D.C. or at one of
our Consulates or Embassies outside of the U.S.
Permission to enter and/or
remain in the United States and extensions of stay in this country are granted
by the Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
Upon entering the United
States, the INS Office at the port of entry places in your passport or laisser-passer
a small white card, Form I-94. On this card the INS officer writes in either a
date or "D/S" (duration of status). The date on the Form I-94 is
controlling. That is, if you have "duration of status" you may remain
in the U.S. as long as you are in the same job or same category of job. If you
have a date on your Form-94, you should apply for your extension of stay with
INS prior to its expiry.
The Department of State has
no authority to extend your stay or change the information/date on the Form
I-94.
A visa is used solely
to make application to INS to re-enter the U.S. after being outside of this
country. That is, a visa is used only to cross borders and has nothing to do
with the length of your stay in the U.S.
Visa
Services
Source: U.S. Department of
State
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