Entering the US twice within one week on B2 visa
I'm meeting my American family in the US. Next day we're flying to Mexico, and then we'll return 5 days later. 2 days after that I'm flying out of the US.
I know on an ESTA passport a visit to Mexico doesn't reset the US clock so technically I will not have left the US, but does that also apply to B2 tourist visa passports?
Best Answer
The particular rule about visits to Canada and Maxico "not resetting the clock" applies, as far as I know, only to the Visa Waiver Program, and not to travelers with visas.
However, even if it did, I can't see how it would create any problem for you, since your final exit from the US will only be about a week after you first entered. No matter whether any clock is or is not reset, this is by all means an unproblematic short visit.
You will have a problem if your B-2 visa only allows a single entry, though -- since your plan clearly involves entering the United States twice. But that is not connected to any "resetting of clocks". Even under the VWP rules, the result of the neighbor-country rule is not that you "did not leave the US and reenter", but merely that at your admission the second time you enter will be limited to until 90 days after the first entry. Both entries are real entries, though.
However, it seems to be quite rare for B-2 visas to be issued for a single entry only. The visa does have an "Entries" field, but all examples I could quickly find on Google Image Search showed this fill out with M(ultiple). There are scattered claims on the net that certain nationalities are more at risk for getting a single-entry visa, but no hard data.
Pictures about "Entering the US twice within one week on B2 visa"
How many times can I enter with B2 visa?
The holder of a B-2 visa can stay for a maximum of 180 days per entry (several times consecutively or at a time). These conditions apply to all visits until the visa has expired. After that the person must reapply for the visa at their U.S. consulate.How many times can you visit the US on a tourist visa?
There is no limit on the number of times you may enter the U.S. under either ESTA of a visa. However, if reentering the U.S. using ESTA soon after staying for nearly 90 days, you can expect to be questioned in detail by the immigration officer about the purpose of your visit.How many times can you enter the US on a B1 B2 visa in a year?
A B-1/B-2 visa does not grant permanent resident status \u2014 it is a temporary visa \u2013 but the holder can apply for a green card. The maximum amount of time issued for a B1/B2 visa is 180 days. This visa allows for multiple entries into the United States. Need help applying for your B-1/B-2 visa?How soon can I reenter the USA on B2 visa?
If you have a B1/B2 visa, you can visit the United States whenever you want to \u2013 as long as your passport is valid.How frequently can I visit the United States as a B-1 or B-2 visitor?
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Matthias Groeneveld, Matthias Groeneveld, Pixabay, Charles Parker