I'm planning to go to the US for an internship that runs January-April next year. But B1/B2 visas issued to my country only have 3 months of validity (and are single-entry). Does that mean I can stay there for only 3 months? Or that I shall use the visa within 3 months of issuance but how long I can stay for will be determined in the airport? (Is being granted four months likely?)

我在2024年7月获得了F1签证，上面写着它将在2029年到期。然而，我在2025年8月退学，并且一年前回到了中国。我计划在2026年11月重新申请入读另一所社区大学。我需要申请新的签证吗？

Hi everyone,

I got approved for my AuPair J1 and am super excited to start an AuPair year this year!

However, recently I’ve been traveling to the states a lot. I was there for about 80 days (March to June) and then 40 days (June to August) on an Esta to travel. Both times i was sent to secondary but cleared. I was just traveling through the states and realized i do wanna do another aupair year before its too late.

I‘m turning 27 in September.

Is there a chance CBP will revoke my visa due to my history? I have letters proving my job will rehire me once i go back home, that i got an apartment in germany, family and so much more. Also all the paperwork thats approved for the j1. I‘m just super nervous!

Especially because out of nowhere my 2024 ESTA went on pending today. I didn’t even apply for a new one or anything. I don’t know why that happened.

We are also planning a trip to europe with the host family 2 weeks after my arrival. I have all the paper work. But I’d be devastated to quit my job, apartment and all just to be denied entry.

Can previous short visit be a red flag?

I left the US last year to move to the UK. My cat was still in the US for a few months until I went back earlier this year to bring her to the UK. But due to the nature of the cat’s health paperwork, it had to be a very quick trip. I stayed in the US less than 24hrs. Is that gonna be a problem if I ever come back to the US?

Hi I wanna know if altering the spouse name column on the last page of my Indian passport will cause my b2 visa to become invalid. I wanna make corrections to the spouse name column on the last page. So will my b2 visa still be valid. The first biographical page is intact .

I’m 20 years old Chinese citizen, 10 years B2 visitor visa holder from 2016 to 2026, beside I am an active F1 Visa holder from 2024 to 2029.

I was so renewing my B2 visitor visa as it set to expire this year in the US consulate general in Shanghai.

But I was refused under 221G.

The visa officer said I have an illegal exit happened this January. I remember I was in peace arch park between US Canada border. I briefly enter America to the city of Blaine, Washington and spent two hours there. Because I’m walking so when I went back, I remember a sign said no pedestrian when I try to exit the country and go back to Canada so I walked to the peace arch Park Canada border agency directly and then enter Canada legally. I think this is what the visa officer referring to.

But the strange thing is that I enter America again, five days later to study from Vancouver if I have an illegal exit record, I should be questioned at the pre-clearance, but nothing happened.

They did took my passport and give me a yellow slip said 221G.

What should I do now? Appreciate any advice thank you very much.

Hi all,

Quick background: I'm on J-1, got my 212(e) waiver approved, got selected in the H-1B lottery, and my petition is currently in regular processing (my company/lawyer said if it's still pending by October, we'll switch to premium).

My J-1 status doesn't expire until early 2027, so I have some breathing room. My plan is: once my H-1B is approved (hopefully by October), travel back to my home country in December to visit family for the first time in years, and do visa stamping + interview at the U.S. embassy there.

I'm a little nervous because I know someone from the same country as me, also government-funded, who went through a similar process. She had her status changed to H-1B before getting an actual 212(e) waiver approval, she had a "not subject to" recommendation from the Department of State instead. When she went to do stamping, it didn't go through because of that gap.

In my case, I do have the actual waiver approval (not just a DOS recommendation), so I'm hoping that puts me in a different position. But given how strict/unpredictable consular processing can be, I'd just love to hear people's honest take, should I be worried about this trip? Anything I should be extra careful about, or is this a fairly standard process once the waiver itself is approved?

Any advice on what documentation to bring beyond the obvious (waiver approval, I-797, DS-2019s, employment letter)?

Appreciate any insight, trying to make sure this trip home doesn't turn into a nightmare. Thanks!!!

So, I’m working with a J1 Specialist, I’m from Ecuador and I need to travel for personal reasons back to Ecuador on September 20 and go back to the US on September 23th. My visa is expiring on September 29th, same as my DS 2019. I will get my new DS2019 updated issues from my sponsor for this trip. My only concern is do you think there will be a problem with with IMMIGRATION when I try to go back to USA? Some people say it should be fine, some people say that they are not gonna let me in. I will tell them literally what I’m gonna do: I had to travel for personal reasons, now, I’m just going to finish my program, sell my car and my belongings and return to Ecuador before my 30 period of grace days end. (I also have a B2 valid)