Enterline & Partners Consulting | info@enterlinepartners.com

Search
Close this search box.

How Often Can Someone Visit and Stay in the United States on a B-1 B-2 Visitor Visa?

It is often misunderstood that those who enter the United States on a B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa and granted a 6 month stay are allowed to leave the United States, re-enter and be granted another 6 months upon re-arrival. While there may be reasons why this is acceptable, and many visitors who have done so  may not have encountered any issues, frequently applying for reentry  could result in the visitor being denied entry into the United States if the Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) Officer determines that the visitor does not have “non-immigrant intent” – but rather “immigrant intent.”  Proving non-immigrant intent is the number one requirement for eligibility to enter the United States as a visitor, and consecutive long periods of stay are indicative of more permanent intent to stay in the United States.

Visitors who arrive in the United States for long-term visits (up to 6 months at a time) with short gaps in between each visit may have more difficulty proving non-immigrant intent and have a higher risk of having their B-1/B-2 Visitor Visas revoked by a CBP Officer and sent back to their origin because of a belief that the arriving visitor is “living” in the United States as opposed to merely “visiting” the United States. This can occur even if the arriving visitor fully complies with the terms and conditions of his or her B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa, such as not having engaged in unauthorized employment.

Visitors who make long term visits such as 3-6 months with large gaps in between each visit are in a better position than visitors who make  long-term stays with short gaps in between each stay. These visitors should be prepared to answer questions raised by a CBP officer regarding ties to their country of residence, such as employment, family, school, reasons for long visits in the United States, etc.

Visitors who take frequent short trips to the United States for a few weeks at a time throughout the year for business meetings, conferences, visiting friends and family, etc., will have a lower risk of having issues with a CBP officer upon arrival. However, these visitors should also come prepared to answer questions regarding their trip, such as being able to explain their itinerary as well as showing proof of a return ticket to their country of residence.

Holders of B-1/B-2 Visitor Visas living in Asia who may have questions regarding frequent short and long-term visits to the United States are encouraged to contact us at info@enterlinepartners.com and speak with a U.S. immigration attorney in Ho Chi Minh City, Manila and Taipei.

ENTERLINE & PARTNERS CONSULTING

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Office

Suite 601, 6th Floor, Saigon Tower
29 Le Duan Street
Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Tel: +84 933 301 488

Email: info@enterlinepartners.com

Facebook: Enterline & Partners – Dịch vụ Thị thực và Định cư Hoa Kỳ

Website: http://enterlinepartners.com

Manila, Philippines Office

LKG Tower 37th Floor
6801 Ayala Avenue
Makati City, Philippines 1226

Tel: +632 5310 1491

Email: info@enterlinepartners.com

Facebook: Enterline and Partners Philippines

Website: https://enterlinepartners.com/language/en/welcome/

Copyright 2022. This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. This article may be changed with or without notice. The opinions expressed in this article are those of Enterline and Partners only.

CATEGORY
time
recent posts
CTA_Collection

Over 18,000 successful customers with Enterline &
Partners, realizing the dream of immigration

Latest News

National Visa Center/American Institute In Taiwan No Longer Accepting Taiwan Birth Certificates

Sometime in 2024, the United States Department of State (“DOS”) quietly updated its requirements for birth certificates in the DOS Reciprocity Schedule for Taiwan.  Birth Certificates seem no longer required or accepted for Taiwan nationals. The only acceptable document for proof of birth is now an Individual Household Registration Transcript. The Individual Household Registration Transcript is part of Taiwan’s greater Household Registration System to which all Taiwan nationals must have registered with the Taiwan government.  The Transcript provides a record of a household’s members and their relationship to each other, including details like birth, marriage, and death. Moreover, DOS National Visa Center is not accepting bilingual Chinese and English versions which are now widely available. The National Visa Center is requiring an original Chinese version and an original English version issued by the Household Registration Office, although we have been successful submitting a translation of the original Chinese version.  

Read more >

David Enterline And Ryan Barshop Speak At AILA APAC Seoul Conference

Enterline and Partners attorneys David Enterline and Ryan Barshop recently spoke at the 2025 American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”), Asia Pacific Chapter (“APAC”) Annual Conference in Seoul, South Korea. David Enterline was the discussion leader of the EB-5 Panel titled “EB-5 State of Play Under the New Administration”.  Along with important challenges like I-485 processing delays, USCIS receipt number issues, visa rollover concerns, and ongoing litigation—including IIUSA’s challenge to USCIS’s sustainment policy and the Battineni v. Mayorkas ruling regarding EB-5 fund sourcing requirements—the topics covered included the encouraging rise in I-526/I-526E and I-829 petition approvals. Updates on tax planning, concurrent filing tactics and other topics were also discussed. On the panel “Live from the Trenches with Consular Post Experts in our APAC Region”, Ryan Barshop was one of the featured speakers. The event’s topics included advice on how to handle visa procedures at U.S. Embassies and Consulates throughout Asia. During

Read more >

DHS to Begin Screening Foreign Nationals Social Media Activity for Antisemetism

Effective immediately, the United States Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) will begin considering a foreign national’s antisemetic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals as grounds for denying immigration benefits. The new policy, which is consistent with President Donald Trump’s Executive Orders on Combatting Antisemetism, Additional Measures to Combat Antisemitism and Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats; will apply to foreign nationals applying for an adjustment of status, foreign students on F-1 and M-1 student visas and those affiliated with educational institutions linked to antisemetic activity. The United States Department of State provides a working definition of antisemitism as “certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestation of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions or religious facilities.” Under the new

Read more >
Vietnam
icons8-exercise-96 chat-active-icon