I-94/I-94W Card and Length of Stay

Upon entering the U.S., a small white card, Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record will be placed in your passport. If you are traveling on the Visa Waiver Program, you will receive Form I-94W, Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival-Departure Record, a green card.

On I-94/I-94W card, the U.S. immigration inspector records either a date or "D/S" (duration of status). In most cases, a specific date will be indicated on the Form I-94 (in the lower right-hand corner). If your I-94 contains a specific date, that is the date by which you must leave the United States.

Be aware that there is a difference between the duration of stay permitted in the U.S. and validity of a visa. Your visa may be valid for several years, and yet your authorized period of stay, as shown on the Arrival-Departure Record, Form I-94, may be limited to a few weeks.

The date or D/S notation, shown on your Arrival-Departure Record (I-94 or I-94W), is the official record of the your authorized length of stay in the U.S. You cannot use the visa expiration date in determining or referring to your permitted length of stay in the U.S.

If you enter with a J-1 or F-1 visa, then your I-94 card should state the visa type and "D/S" (Duration of Status). If you do not have "D/S" on your I-94 card, then you should speak to an ISS advisor immediately after your arrival to the United States.

If you enter with a B1 or B2 visitor visa, the I-94 card will generally be issued for 6 months -which is the maximum length of stay in the United States on a B1/B2 visa. Visitors may apply for extension of the length of stay.

Your Form I-94, or I-94W is a very important document to keep in your passport, since it shows your permission to be in the U.S.

You must turn in your I-94 card to the immigration official each time you are exiting the U.S. You will be issued a new I-94 when you reenter the U.S.

• FAQ on I-94 Card - including what to do if you forget to surrender the card when leaving the U.S.
• Application for Replacement/Initial I-94 - I-102 to replace lost I-94.

If a visitor stays in the United States beyond the expiration date on the I-94 card and does not get an extension of stay, then the visitor is out of status with DHS. This is called "Visa Overstay" which results in the current B1/B2 visa being automatically voided. The only place visitors can then apply for a new visa is in their home country.

If a visitor applies for an extension of stay, then the visitor should leave the United States whenever the extension should expire even if DHS has not informed the visitor whether or not the extension is approved.

Remaining in the United States beyond the expiration of the initial I-94 card or the extension of stay can result in consequences that could have long-term effects.

Visitors who enter the United States, or file a request for an extension of their stay are not eligible to begin a course of study until a change of status to F1 or M1 by DHS is approved or the visitor leaves the United States and gets an F1 or M1 visa. Please refer to Students Entering the U.S. on Non-Student Visa section for more information.

B1/B2 lengths of stay in the United States can be extended by filing Form I-539. For eligibility and instructions, please refer to the following documents:

• How do I extend my stay? by USCIS
• I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
• Instructions for Form I-539

Note that you must submit an application for extension of stay before your current status expires. USCIS might take as long as several months to process your request for extension of stay. USCIS suggests that you file Form I-539 at least 45 days before your stay expires.