What is the difference between visa validity and length of stay?
B1/B2 Visa
January 03, 2026
572 views
Answer
📋 Summary:
Visa validity is how long you can use the visa to enter the U.S. (usually 10 years). Length of stay is how long you can stay per entry (usually 6 months, determined by CBP officer). These are two different things.
These are two completely different concepts:
- Visa Validity: How long your visa stamp is valid (usually 10 years)
- Length of Stay: How long you can stay per entry (usually 6 months)
- Example: 10-year visa means you can enter anytime in 10 years, but each stay is limited to 6 months
Additional Information:
- Visa validity is printed on your visa stamp
- Length of stay is determined by CBP officer at port of entry
- Check I-94 online to see your exact departure date
- You can enter multiple times during visa validity period
- Each entry gets a new length of stay (up to 6 months)
💡 In Other Words:
Think of visa validity like a gym membership - it's valid for 10 years, so you can go anytime in those 10 years. Length of stay is like how long you can stay each time you visit - usually 6 months per visit. So you can visit many times over 10 years, but each visit is limited to 6 months.
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