Entering U.S. exactly on the day of visa "expiration date"
I'm a bit surprised from my US Visa. I plan to go to a conference on 3rd of April. Amazingly though, the visa expiration date is written as April 3rd. So what does that mean. Can I enter the US on April 3rd? or should I enter one day earlier?
Best Answer
(As I just learned) A US Visa does not actually give you permission to enter the US, it just gives you permission to travel to a US Port of Entry and request permission to enter the US which can then be granted or denied by the immigration officer there. (Details)
The wording of that webpage implies that you can, indeed, travel to a port of entry on the expiration date, April 3rd. Of course if your flight is a little bit delayed and you arrive on April 4th all bets are off!
Edit not from OP: From travel.state.gov:
Comment not from OP
Although there is definitely ambiguity between 00:00 hours and 24:00 hours (ie start of first minute or end of last minute of the day) and I consider up to Tuesday to mean precisely on Monday or before visa authorities normally "play safe" (because of such ambiguity) and start and end dates are inclusive. In the insurance sector better consideration is given to this, for example 1/1/16 - 2/2/16 might have "bdi" appended, ie including both Jan 1 and Feb 2.
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Can I arrive on the day my visa expires?
Yes, the visa expiration date is the last day you can use that visa to apply to enter. Show activity on this post.Can I travel to us when my visa is about to expire?
A visa must be valid at the time a traveler seeks admission to the United States, but the expiration date of the visa (validity period/length of time the visa can be used) has no relation to the length of time a temporary visitor may be authorized by the Department of Homeland Security to remain in the United States.Can I enter us one week before my visa expires?
You can legally stay in the United States until the expiration of your authorized period of stay. However, you will not be able to travel to the United States Port of Entry to seek a new admission unless your visa has been renewed by the American Embassy in your country of Nationality.Are we allowed to enter US with less than 6 months expiry date?
As a general rule, passports must be valid for six months beyond the date the traveler will exit the United States. However, the United States has signed agreements with a number of countries to waive this requirement.Visa Expiration Date vs. I-94: How Long Can I Stay In the United States?
More answers regarding entering U.S. exactly on the day of visa "expiration date"
Answer 2
Yes, the visa expiration date is the last day you can use that visa to apply to enter.
Answer 3
As of early 2018, the travel.state.gov website has been updated with a new URL and new wording about this, although the rules appear to be the same. It now says:
The visa expiration date is shown on the visa along with the visa issuance date. The time between visa issuance and expiration date is called your visa validity. The visa validity is the length of time you are permitted to travel to a port-of-entry in the United States.
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