Est wrote:
>
> Thank you Joe and J J for clearing some cobwebs. Now another question
> arises. Suppose at the POE- Port of Entry, upon asked by the immigration
> officer how long the traveller wishes to be in the US he says anyone of the
> following-- 2 weeks or 3 weeks or a month and his I-94 is stamped with a six
> month entry. It means officially he can be in the US for 6 months. However,
> what if he stays there for 3 or 4 months? As he has already told the officer
> that he intends to be there for 2-3 weeks or a month.
> Will there be any issue during his subsequent visit?
There shouldn't be any problem at all. You've been authorised to stay
for 6 months, whatever your original intention. There's no problem with
changing your mind and staying longer, as long as you leave by the date
on your I-94. I think you'd technically be committing an offence if you
lied about your intentions (said two weeks when you intended to stay 6
months) and that could come back to haunt you later if it were ever
spotted (which is unlikely); but changing your mind once you've entered
is fine. The only real implication of staying longer is what it does to
your pattern of being in the USA - in essence, if you stay in longer,
you'll need to stay out for longer to minimize the risk of problems next
time.
There are two big things you mustn't do; overstay the date on your I-94,
and give the impression of trying to live in the USA rather that visit
the USA. Clearly, the more time you spend in the USA (particularly as
long individual visits rather than repeated short ones) the more you
give the impression of living there rather than visiting. |
