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Further information about interpreting your visa can be found at the Department of State’s Consular Affairs website.
The expiration date of your visa is the last day you may use the visa to enter the United States. It does not indicate how
long you may stay in the United States. Your stay is determined by the Department of Homeland Security at the port of
entry. As long as you comply with the Department of Homeland Security decision on the conditions of your stay, you
should have no problem.
A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States, but allows a foreign citizen coming from abroad to travel to a
U.S. port of entry and request permission to enter the United States. The Department of Homeland Security, U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have authority to permit or deny admission to the United States, and
determine how long a traveler may stay. At the port of entry, upon granting entry to the United States, the Customs and
Border Protection officer will determine the length of stay permitted. Previously, travelers received a paper I-94 (record
of admission) with this information. This process is now automated, with some exceptions. The traveler will be provided
with a CBP admission stamp on their travel document that shows the date of admission, class of admission, and
admitted-until date. Learn more on the CBP Website. If a traveler needs a copy of their I-94 for verification of alien
registration, immigration status or employment authorization, it can be obtained from www.cbp.gov/I94. You can
review information about admission on the CBP Website.
The United States is an open society. Unlike many other countries, the United States does not impose internal controls
on most visitors, such as registration with local authorities. Our immigration law requires consular officers to view every
visa applicant as an intending immigrant until the applicant proves otherwise. In order to enjoy the privilege of
unencumbered travel in the United States, you have a responsibility to prove you are going to return abroad before a
visitor or student visa is issued.
214(b) Every alien (other than a nonimmigrant described in subparagraph (L) or (V) of section 101(a)(15), and other
than a nonimmigrant described in any provision of section 101(a)(15)(H)(i) except subclause (b1) of such section) shall
be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application
for a visa, and the immigration officers, at the time of application for admission, that he is entitled to a nonimmigrant
status under section 101(a)(15). An alien who is an officer or employee of any foreign government or of any international
organization entitled to enjoy privileges, exemptions, and immunities under the International Organizations Immunities
Act, or an alien who is the attendant, servant, employee, or member of the immediate family of any such alien shall not
be entitled to apply for or receive an immigrant visa, or to enter the United States as an immigrant unless he executes
a written waiver in the same form and substance as is prescribed by section 247(b).
Our consular officers have a difficult job. They must decide in a very short time if someone is qualified to receive a
temporary visa. Most cases are decided after a brief interview and review of whatever evidence of ties an applicant
presents. To qualify for a visitor or student visa, an applicant must meet the requirements of sections 101(a)(15)(B) or
(F) of the INA respectively. Failure to do so will result in a refusal of a visa under INA 214(b). The most frequent basis
for such a refusal concerns the requirement that the prospective visitor or student possess a residence abroad he or
she has no intention of abandoning. Applicants prove the existence of such residence by demonstrating that they have
ties abroad that would compel them to leave the United States at the end of the temporary stay. The law places this
burden of proof on the applicant.
Ties are the various aspects of your life that bind you to your home country. Strong ties vary from country to country,
city to city, and person to person, but examples include:
Your job;
Your home; and/or
Your relationships with family and friends.
While conducting visa interviews, consular officers look at each application individually and consider the applicant’s
circumstances, travel plans, financial resources, and ties outside of the United States that will ensure the applicant’s
departure after a temporary visit.
Is a denial under Section 214(b) permanent?
No. A refusal, or ineligibility, under Section 214(b) is for that specific application, so once a case is closed, the consular
section cannot take any further action. There is no appeal process. If you have additional information that should be
considered related to the visa decision, or there are significant changes in your circumstances since your last
application, you may reapply for a visa. To reapply, you must complete a new application form, pay the application fee,
and schedule an appointment for a new interview. Review the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulatewhere you
plan to reapply to learn about any reapplication procedures.
For information about visa ineligibilities other than 214(b), please visit the Department of State’s Consular
Affairs website.
Student Visa
What is an I-20 and how do I get it?
The Form I-20 is an official U.S. Government form, issued by a certified school, which a prospective nonimmigrant
student must have in order to get an F-1 or M-1 visa. Form I-20 acts as proof-of-acceptance and contains the information
necessary to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, apply for a visa or change visa status, and be admitted into the United States.
The Form I-20 has the student’s SEVIS identification number, which starts with the letter N and is followed by nine
digits, on the upper right side directly above the barcode.
Track My Passport
For a Family, any adult applicant of the family that interviewed together may collect the passports from the document
delivery centers. It is not necessary for all the family members to appear to collect the passports.
For an individual, any individual may collect the passport if they provide the following documents:
The applicant’s representative must provide a signed “authorization form.” The signature on the authorization
form has to exactly match the signature on the passport. The signed “authorization form” should include the name of
the person authorized to collect the passport, plus the phone number and address of the person picking up the
passport. You should also provide a valid photo ID of authorized person (e.g. valid passport, voter ID, etc.).
A VALID photo ID of authorized person (e.g., passport, voter ID, etc.)
Original DS-160 confirmation page
For officials of Bangladesh Government, international organizations, foreign embassies, etc., one of the authorized staff
from the same organization from his/her office may collect the passport on his/her behalf. But the applicant must
provide:
A signed authorization letter. The signed authorization letter must be printed on an official letterhead and include a
recent date and the signature of the applicant (signature that exactly matches the signature on the passport) attesting
the full name, designation and the signature of the person who will collect the passport/s.
The signed authorization letter should also include the phone number and address of the person picking up the
passport.
A VALID photo ID of authorized person (e.g., valid passport, voter ID, etc.)
Original DS-160 confirmation page.