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The document that truly determines how long you can stay in the United States is the I-94 form, an electronic record that is generated at the moment of entering U.S. territory.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the I-94 functions as an official proof of admission and shows the date until which a visitor is authorized to legally remain in the United States.
What is the I-94 form?
The I-94 form is the entry and exit record used by the CBP to document the admission of foreign visitors to the United States. Currently, most of these records are electronic and can be consulted online.
This document includes information such as:
- Fecha de ingreso a Estados Unidos.
- Categoría migratoria del visitante.
- Número de admisión I-94.
- Fecha límite de permanencia autorizada.
The I-94 is considered the official record of legal admission to the country and can be used as proof of the visitor's temporary immigration status.
The visa and the I-94 are not the same thing
The visa and the I-94 serve different functions. The visa allows you to request entry into the United States at a port of entry, while the I-94 establishes how long the person can remain within the country once admitted.
For example, a B1/B2 tourist visa may be valid for several years, but the authorized time to stay in the United States during a specific visit will be what appears on the I-94.
How do I know until when I can stay in the United States?
CBP indicates that travelers can check their record for free on the official I-94 portal. The "Admit Until Date" field appears there, which shows the deadline for authorized stay.
To verify it you must:
Enter the official CBP I-94 website.
Select the "Get Most Recent I-94" option.
Enter your passport details.
Check the "Admit Until Date" section. That is the date that determines how long you can legally remain in the United States.
The same platform also allows you to check your recent history of entries and exits from the country.
What happens if I stay longer than authorized?
Official information from CBP and USCIS states that visitors must leave the country on or before the date indicated on the I-94.
Therefore, authorities recommend checking the record after each entry into the United States and keeping a copy of the information obtained online.
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