Duration of visitor visa

[nina.mb 8]

Hi all - happy holidays! 

2 quick clarifying questions for those of you who have experience with visitor visas: 

1. how long and how many entries is the standard visitor visa good for? I've heard 10 years, multi-entry, but unclear as to whether this is the default or if the consulate can opt for different configurations? If the latter, is there somewhere in the paperwork to request the desired length, etc.?
    
2. Will a visitor visa indicate specific travel dates, for example valid April 1- May 1? Or is it open, for example good for entry up to 6 months any time after April 1? We don't yet have confirmed dates for the housewarming that we're hoping to have my mother-in-law attend, but would like to get a jump on the visa process. I realize that we'll have to provide a travel itinerary for the application, but wondering whether the visa will be tied specifically to the dates provided. 

Thanks in advance for your wisdom! 

Cheers

[Boiler 45,486]

Usually 10 years multi visits, but could be say 6 months single entry. You do not request, you get what you get.

 

 

[inloveVEN 46]

Hi 

a visa can have validity up to 10 years, meaning that the visitor can travel all the time but never overstaying the time limit that was stamped in your passport by the time you get into USA. It is commonly 6 month but not necessarily everybody is given 6 moth ( is based on the decision of the officer )

for people that are filling for the first time it can be possible that the visa will emitted and be valid only for the time of the trip. but if you are given a visa for 1, 2,5 or 10 years, you can travel whenever you want. always keeping in mind that you can not overstay your time limit

Edited December 30, 2016 by inloveVEN

[snowcat 58]

On 12/31/2016 at 1:02 AM, nina.mb said:

Hi all - happy holidays! 

2 quick clarifying questions for those of you who have experience with visitor visas: 

1. how long and how many entries is the standard visitor visa good for? I've heard 10 years, multi-entry, but unclear as to whether this is the default or if the consulate can opt for different configurations? If the latter, is there somewhere in the paperwork to request the desired length, etc.?
    
2. Will a visitor visa indicate specific travel dates, for example valid April 1- May 1? Or is it open, for example good for entry up to 6 months any time after April 1? We don't yet have confirmed dates for the housewarming that we're hoping to have my mother-in-law attend, but would like to get a jump on the visa process. I realize that we'll have to provide a travel itinerary for the application, but wondering whether the visa will be tied specifically to the dates provided. 

Thanks in advance for your wisdom! 

Cheers

1) Not sure if the rule applies to all countries, but in the Philippines (where I'm from), they usually give 10-year multi-entry visas if you get approved. However, there are cases where you get less, like, for example, my mom (who is disabled) needed a caregiver to travel to the U.S. and the caregiver was given a visa, but only a 6-month one, while my mom and the rest of the family got 10-year multi-entry visas. (Not entirely sure though if the caregiver's visa was a tourist visa or if it fell under another classification.) I don't think there are configurations other than 6-month and 10-year. You can't request desired length.

 

2) It doesn't have specific travel dates. It is (usually) valid for 10 years from the date of issue, and you can enter the U.S. (for 6 months at a time) anytime during those 10 years.

[KierenHby 899]

Country of residence and intended purpose of visit are factors that determine length of visa. I've come across everything between 10-yr multiple entry, as well as 14-day single entry for B2 visas. 

[nina.mb 8]

Hi all - 

 

First of all, thanks so much for your insights on visitor visas leading up to my mother-in-law's interview. Great news - she was given a 10-year, multiple-entry visa! 

 

We have yet to fix travel dates for her first trip and were planning to take our time in doing so, given the duration of the visa. But we wanted to make sure that there are not any regulations that would require her to initiate travel within a certain amount of time after receiving the visa. For example, something that says that she must first enter the US within, let's say, 6 months of receiving the visa in order for it to remain valid for the full 10 years. 

 

Grateful for any feedback, thanks in advance!

[KierenHby 899]

10 minutes ago, nina.mb said:

But we wanted to make sure that there are not any regulations that would require her to initiate travel within a certain amount of time after receiving the visa.

None

First trip could be 2 yrs from now. Congrats