Visa & Entry Boston

Visa

(Travelers seeking to enter the United States for business or tourism (B-1/B-2 visa), or in transit (C-1) for less than 90 days may be eligible to travel to the United States visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) if they meet specific requirements.

You will require a visa to travel to the United States unless you are eligible to enter the United States visa free under the Visa Waiver Program, or you are a citizen of Canada or Bermuda.

A visa is also required if you applied for travel authorization under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and your registration has been denied.

Entering and Exiting the United States

Entry: A visa does not guarantee your entrance to the United States, but gives you permission to enter the U.S. port of entry and request permission of the U.S. immigration inspector to enter the U.S. People with a valid visa are subject to inspection at the port of entry by officials of the DHS. DHS officers allow entry to the great majority of applicants with visas, but they also have the authority to deny admission.

Length of Stay: Upon entering the U.S., an immigration official will place an I-94 form with departure time in your passport. In most cases, a specific date will be indicated on the Form I-94. This is the date by which you must leave the United States.

Please return your I-94 to the DHS officers upon departure from the United States. If you return home with your Form I-94 in your passport, it means that your departure from the United States was not recorded properly and DHS may conclude you remained in the United States. Please click here (DOC-27KB) to see how to return your I-94 and correct this record.

Extension of Stay: Non-immigrants wishing to request extensions of stay in the U.S. should file a petition at the DHS Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services well in advance before the date they must depart the U.S. If a request is approved, they may stay in the U.S. within the period of the extension granted by the USCIS. If a request is denied, they must depart the U.S. before the date given on their I-94 cards. Failure to depart the U.S. within the authorized duration of stay or within the authorized extension of stay may cause future visa denial.