B-2 Visa Question

[Don Pardo]

As I understand, B-2 visas are now issued for either 1 or 2 years.  It seems to be clearly implied, then, that if someone enters the U.S. on a B-2 visa, he/she could legally stay in the U.S. for (at least) up to 1 year.  Are there circumstances where that might not be true....does anyone know?

Irina heard, from Russian travel agents and a friend who works at the U.S. Consulate in Vladivostok, that when someone enters the U.S. on a B-2 visa, the INS officer at the POE will somehow stamp on the visa a date when the visa holder must leave.....whether the individual is here as a tourist or visitor.  That wouldn't seem to make any sense to me.

Does anyone know anything about this?

Thanks,
Don

[Bill P]

... in response to B-2 Visa Question, posted by Don Pardo on Nov 21, 2002

Hey Don-

  I don't know how it is now, but when we got a B-2 for my mother in law (from Ukraine) in July, they asked all sorts of questions about the purpose of the trip and the length of stay.  Of course, I had to write a letter justifying why we were inviting her to come.  Where the average stay was 6 months previoulsy, it can be as short as a month now.  We should have asked for six months, but asked for and received 3 months.  They write on the visa how long it should be good for and her passport was stamped with the three month deadline when she entered the US.  It could be that it was good for a year, meaning that she could enter the country within a year.  But recenly things have changed and maybe things are more relaxed post-9/11 aniversary.  I'd still be interested in anyone's experience with getting these visas from Ukraine in the last few months.

-Bill

[Don Pardo]

... in response to Re: B-2 Visa Question, posted by Bill P on Nov 21, 2002

Bill,

Thanks for the reply.  Let me make sure I understand.  When she was issued the visa, it was written on the visa that the duration was 3 months (but no specific dates)?  Then, when she actually entered the U.S., they stamped the visa with the specific date of the 3 month deadline (expiration)?

If that's the case, then it would seem that one should ask for the maximimum possible duration, especially considering that the visas are multi-entry.  On the other hand, if the applicant asks for a lengthy duration for the visa, he/she may be more likely to be denied the visa?

I had been under the impression that all B-2 visas are now issued for durations of at least 1 year, regardless of how short a duration the applicant requested.  In other words, even if they apply for a 2 week visit, I understood that they would be given a 1 year visa.  However, based on your experience, that wouldn't seem to be the case.  I'm certainly getting conflicting information on how these visas are issued (which is usual for these types of issues....with the INS and State Dept.).

Sorry, but I have had no personal experience with these yet, let alone with them being issued for Ukrainians.

Thanks again,

Don

[Bill P]

... in response to Re: Re: B-2 Visa Question, posted by Don Pardo on Nov 22, 2002

That's what happened in our case, but of course that was before last September when they were worried about new attacks on the US.  It will be interesting to see what other people's experience's are.  

-Bill P