Renewing a visitor's visa in the US....?

Question

In general, how many can a visitor's visa to the US be renewed? Can the person stay in the US while their request is being processed, or do they have to leave the country until the visa is renewed and then come back? Are their different rules based on what country the person is from?

Would it make sense for someone to stay in the US for 1 consecutive year and still be on a valid, un-expired visitor visa that was renewed when it expired without them having to leave? OR should the visa have expired and they would have to leave the country?

How many times/what is the total time period that someone can request a visitor visa? What is the max # of times the government will grant the visitor visa?

Answer 1

Due to the number of people wanting to visit the US, the maximum validity of the B1/B2 visa is 10 years (or less in some cases). That means that you can use your visa to ENTER the US for as long as it is valid. Now, the length of stay in the US is determined at the port of entry (I-94) which is usually 6 months. This is extendable but you must have a very good reason to have this extended. Then you must leave the country. If your visa expires while in the US, you have until the expiration of your I-94 to leave the country or you will be in vioation of your visa and may be barred from entering the country again. You may re-apply for a new visa from your country of origin subject to the usual requirements.**

Answer 2

First and foremost, you must recognize the difference between the validity period of a visa, and length of time permitted to remain in the US.  Even if someone has a visa that is valid for a period of 5-years (as is the case for Egyptian nationals, based on international reciprocity), the person may only legally remain in the US for the length of time granted at the port of entry when the person entered the US - for most B1/B2 visitors, that amount of time is 6-months or less.  In the same vein, even if a visa has expired while the holder is in the US, the person is still considered to be legally in status as long as the period of stay authorized by the I-94 has not been exceeded.

Visas cannot be re-newed; when they are expired, they are expired,  However, length of stay, granted at the port of entry and indicated on the I-94 arrival form (small white card in passport, stamped at US port of entry), can be applied for while the foreign national is still in the US, as can change of status (going from one type of status to another, i.e., from visitor to student).  However, neither petition (duration of status or change of status) is guaranteed, and in fact, they are requently  denied without substantial justification.  NOTE:  A US visa can only be applied for and issued overseas.

An individual may request a visitor visa as often as desired - there are few constraints on the number of applications permitted.  And, as long as the applicant continues to be able to demonstrate a legitimate reason to travel to the US, and is deemed likely to follow all legal requirements, it is likely that the visas will continue to be issued.  However, even if a person holds a valid visa, the CBP officers at the US ports of entry will make their own determination as to whether the foreign national should be permitted to enter the US - if the CBP officers determine that the visa holder's travel patterns to the US indicate that the traveller is essentially using a non-immigrant visa to facilitate living in the US, the officers may deny entry into the US.

For more information, see the US Embassy Cairo website:

http://cairo.usembassy.gov/consular/niv....

Answer 3

once a visa is expired ? you must leave the US, there are no renewal for  visitor visa , nor extension,while you are in the US.

you MUST leave the US ,the government will not grant visitor visa after your visa is expired and while you are still in the US .

this is the rule for most visitor visas .