Read the visa and admission record as different documents. Compare the actual I-94 or other relevant status record with the person's case before making a stay or departure plan.
Identify the purpose of each record
The Department of State explains that the visa expiration date must not be used to determine the permitted length of a US stay. The admission record can show an admitted-until date or a duration-of-status notation. The official guidance distinguishes the travel visa from the authorised stay recorded at admission. Read US Department of State: What the Visa Expiration Date Means.
Your working sheet
The following is an editorial organisation tool, not an official application checklist. Copy the rows that help and fill them with your own verified records.
| Check | What to record |
|---|---|
| Travel visa | Record visa category entries and expiry without treating that date as the stay limit |
| Admission | Copy the class of admission and admitted-until or D/S notation exactly |
| Later record | Keep any subsequent USCIS decision and unresolved discrepancy with the original admission evidence |
A practical example
Imagine a visa sticker remains valid long after the admitted-until date shown for a visit. The reader should investigate the admission and stay instructions, not use the sticker's later date as permission to remain. A D/S record also needs the relevant status conditions, rather than an invented fixed date.
Before the next step
Use the official I-94 service and responsible agency's correction or advice process if records differ. Extensions, status changes and an unclear duration-of-status situation need their own current instructions. Seek qualified help promptly when the actual permission or deadline is uncertain.
Continue with the guide library or save the next task in the moving planner. Official requirements can change; the source above was checked on 17 October 2026.