Tourist Visa

[downunder301 0]

When you entered the U.S. on a tourist visa what period of stay did the immigration officer stamp in your I-94? Trying to get an idea what is normal.

Edited March 11, 2012 by downunder301

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

6 months is standard and is the maximum allotted time.

[aaydrian 479]

You will always get 6 months if you continuously stay for a short period of time over a one year period. But as that changes and visitor's actions become suspicious then you may get as little as 2 weeks entry.

[downunder301 0]

You will always get 6 months if you continuously stay for a short period of time over a one year period. But as that changes and visitor's actions become suspicious then you may get as little as 2 weeks entry.

I have 4 or 5 weeks of stuff I want to do with the family and book flights to other cities in the U.S.. The last thing I want to do is make arrangements like this and then have them tell me I only have 2 weeks of entry when I booked a return flight 1 or months later. Hence why I am trying to see what everyone gets. I have not taken the family to the U.S. before so have no clue what to expect.

Process sounds stupid to me. If someone looks suspicious why even bother letting them enter? If someone is going to break the law or not return what do you hope to achieve by only allowing them 2 weeks to do it?

[Boiler 46,128]

6 months is normal, I have seen 1 day.

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

If you have a return flight, and you haven't been over-using your tourist visa, I can almost guarantee you they will give you 6 months, or at the very least a few days over the date of your return flight.

[aaydrian 479]

I have 4 or 5 weeks of stuff I want to do with the family and book flights to other cities in the U.S.. The last thing I want to do is make arrangements like this and then have them tell me I only have 2 weeks of entry when I booked a return flight 1 or months later. Hence why I am trying to see what everyone gets. I have not taken the family to the U.S. before so have no clue what to expect.

I highly doubt that as a 1st time visitor they will give you 2 weeks or less especially if your visiting in the summer months (school's out & its family time + they hope that by September kids have to return to school & parents already back to work).

Process sounds stupid to me. If someone looks suspicious why even bother letting them enter? If someone is going to break the law or not return what do you hope to achieve by only allowing them 2 weeks to do it?

That's the thing. If immigration thinks that you're abusing the purpose of a B2 visa (most times working in US) they will send you home on the next available flight meaning you will not be allowed to leave the airport. However, immigration will give you a small space of time to exit the US if they have an inkling you're up to something but at the moment their feeling isn't on strong enough grounds to deny the visa holder any admission. For example someone who spends over a 2 yr period (730 days ) about 1/2 (400 days) of that time in the US but for the last few months they haven't visited or if they have it was for a very short time. Point is, the amount of time you're allowed in the US (B2 visa) is inversely proportional to the amount of time you actually do spent in the US. Less = More (max 6mths).

6 months is normal, I have seen 1 day.

Okay now that's just sad. You know the reason/have any idea behind the 1 day allowance?

[Boiler 46,128]

I think it was Grandparents from India bring a child back with a long history of long stays.

They gave them a day to drop off the child.

[Dakine10 5,452]

The inlaws have visited for a month every year since 2003. They always get stamped for 6 months. AFAIK, they almost always stamp either for the six months max or if they have a reason not to give six months, they stamp for the duration of the intended trip. They don't stamp for abitrary lengths of time.