10yr Us Tourist Visa

[Rdrokit]

Went down to the US Embassy to get a tourist visa for the wife. Since I could not be in the interview I could not ask any questions. We got the wife's passport yesterday in the mail and they gave her a 10year tourist visa. The only paperwork that came with the passport said that she would get fingerprinted and a photo taken when arriving in the US to make sure it was her. What it did not say was how long can she stay in the US. It is a 10 year visa but I don't think they would let her stay 10 years so what is the maximum stay??

[ssimpson]

If it's the same as my old 10 Year Visa, the 10 year period refers to the length of validity of the visa, not the permitted length of stay. I used to travel to the US regularly in the 90's, and then it was up to US Immigration to determine length of stay upon arrival. In my experience, the maximum stay was 6 months but generally they'd ask you your purpose of visit and proposed length of stay, and of it was more than a few weeks, you'd need sufficient evidence to warrant an extended stay. I would imagine it's a lot stricter now, but you've done the hard part and at least got the visa.

[Irene]

If it's the same as my old 10 Year Visa, the 10 year period refers to the length of validity of the visa, not the permitted length of stay. I used to travel to the US regularly in the 90's, and then it was up to US Immigration to determine length of stay upon arrival. In my experience, the maximum stay was 6 months but generally they'd ask you your purpose of visit and proposed length of stay, and of it was more than a few weeks, you'd need sufficient evidence to warrant an extended stay. I would imagine it's a lot stricter now, but you've done the hard part and at least got the visa.

That is correct. I had the same experience. Even in those days, a 10-year visa is not routinely given.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

My wife and I usually go for only 4-6 weeks but in each instance she's been stamped in for 6 months. It could be that the Immigration officer just doesn't want to reset his rubber date stamp. Note, her trips show up on the computer screen so he can see that she's been consistent in prior travels.

For Irene, the 10-year visa IS pretty common for the last 15++ years or so, if the case looks good to the Consular officer, it just saves them work in the future. My wife, tho, had two short-term visas first before she was issued a 10-year visa, she'd showed she was returning each time. BTW, we weren't married at that time.

Mac

[mizzi39]

Congratulations to you and your wife. my wife received her 10 year visa back in January and she will be using it for the first time when we go to the States in a few weeks. Like others have stated, even if you are only going for 3-4 weeks, they will generally stamp it up to 6 months per entry. Look at the Visa to the left under entries. There should be an "M" which means multiple.

[Rdrokit]

Thanks for the replys. And mizzi39 there is an M under entries.

[Svenn]

How frequent can visits be to the US on a tourist visa? a border officer told me once they leave, they have to wait 6 months before coming back... is that law or just suggestion??!!

[Thanyaburi Mac]

How frequent can visits be to the US on a tourist visa? a border officer told me once they leave, they have to wait 6 months before coming back... is that law or just suggestion??!!

I doubt that there's any such "6-month" rule but it is pretty discretionary on the part of the "border" officer.

I'd bet if you were stamped in for 6 months and stayed the full 6, then departed for, say, Vancouver BC for a day, turned around and asked for another 6 months, you'd get some grilling.

However, such as for a business person, going for a week or a month every 3-4 months doesn't seem to be a problem at all.

It is, after all, a multiple entry visa which just allows one to present themselves at the border for "inspection" by the interview officer who will determine the length of stay allowed, or order a turn around right there. A visa is not a permit to enter the U.S.

Mac

[Langsuan Man]

However, such as for a business person, going for a week or a month every 3-4 months doesn't seem to be a problem at all.

I would think that a business person using a Tourist Visa would be cause for concern

[Thanyaburi Mac]

However, such as for a business person, going for a week or a month every 3-4 months doesn't seem to be a problem at all.

I would think that a business person using a Tourist Visa would be cause for concern

Well, yes, but believe the 10-year visa is a "B1/B2," business and tourism, which is what my wife's says, just looked at it.

Mac

[mizzi39]

However, such as for a business person, going for a week or a month every 3-4 months doesn't seem to be a problem at all.

I would think that a business person using a Tourist Visa would be cause for concern

Well, yes, but believe the 10-year visa is a "B1/B2," business and tourism, which is what my wife's says, just looked at it.

Mac

I think that all 10 year tourist visas are standard as my wifes visa says the same.

[Naam]

However, such as for a business person, going for a week or a month every 3-4 months doesn't seem to be a problem at all.

I would think that a business person using a Tourist Visa would be cause for concern

Well, yes, but believe the 10-year visa is a "B1/B2," business and tourism, which is what my wife's says, just looked at it. Mac

I think that all 10 year tourist visas are standard as my wifes visa says the same.

tourist/business visa = same same. that's why you are asked "purpose of your visit?" maximum stay is 6 months but actual stay is up to the discretion of the immigration officer. the latter has even the power refuse entry even though a visa was issued.

[Eggmeng]

My business partner here got a 10 year visa about 9 years ago. We used it once to visit my family years ago when we were still a couple back then. They stamped her in for six months.

She is a culinary professional, and I wonder if she would be violating any laws if she had done (or were to do now) some paid consulting work or teaching while there, not as someone's employee, but as a foreign business owner providing a service.