10 Year Toursit Visa

[easttech]

My GF was just granted a tourist visa, the embassy called her today and told her to pickup tomorrow and they told her it was a 10 year visa. What exactly does that mean? Can she come to the USA multiple times and stay each time the maximum amount of time? I think this is good that they gave her 10 year, but I'm not sure?

[GU22]

If it were the UK, then the simple answer would be "Yes."

That is she could travel to the UK as often as she liked during the 10 year life of the visa provided she didn't spend more than 6 months in the UK at any one time. However, if there was only a brief period between visits then Immigration would probably take the view that she was using it as a cheaper alternative to a settlement visa and so could refuse her entry. There is no hard rule on this, but the guideline is that visitors should not spend more than 6 months out of 12 within the UK.

I would imagine that the situation for the US is very similar.

[Carmine6]

My GF was just granted a tourist visa, the embassy called her today and told her to pickup tomorrow and they told her it was a 10 year visa. What exactly does that mean? Can she come to the USA multiple times and stay each time the maximum amount of time? I think this is good that they gave her 10 year, but I'm not sure?

Sounds like your girlfriend did good. Guess you'll know soon whether it is it single or multiple entry, but seems like they wouldn't give her a single entry that's good for 10 years. Found this on a website since the State Department search is terrible.

http://www.murthy.com/vista.html

"Generally, visas maybe granted anywhere from 1 month to 10 years, depending on the category of the visa and individual person's eligibility. What this means is that one can travel to the United Sates from abroad at any time during the time that the visa is still valid and has not expired. It does not mean, for example, that an individual can stay continuously for ten years if s/he has been issued a 10-year visa stamp in the passport. Generally, a tourist who enters on the 10-year multiple entry visa, is only given six months to stay in the U.S. If one wishes to stay in the U.S. longer, s/he has to file for an extension of status with the USCIS.

Visas may be granted for single or multiple entries. With a single entry visa, a person must reapply for the visa after leaving the U.S., when s/he wishes to return. The multiple entry visa allows the person to travel to the U.S. as many times as required within the duration of the visa. H1Bs are almost always multiple entry visas for beneficiaries from most countries, though the B-1 or B-2 business or tourist visa may be single- or multiple- entry."

[lopburi3]

There should be a field in the lower left side "Entries" (just below the passport number field) and below it should be the letter "M" for multi entry. At least that was the format a few years ago.

Believe GU22 gave a good overview. One thing to remember is that visa is still valid even after passport expires so keep that old passport.