How Long Can Indians Stay in the US on a Tourist Visa? I-94 Rules

Many Indian families see a long validity on a B-1/B-2 visa and assume they can stay for that long. That assumption is wrong. Two separate records are involved, issued by two separate agencies: the visa from the State Department's consular officers in India, and the I-94 from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on arrival. The rules below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For fees, interviews and centres, see our US visa guide for Indians.

What is the difference between your visa and your I-94?

In short: the visa gets you to the door, and the I-94 tells you how long you can stay inside.

Who decides how long you can stay, and when?

The decision is made on arrival, not in India. The CBP officer at the port of entry decides how long you may stay and records it on the online Form I-94. The consular officer who issued your visa in Delhi or Mumbai does not set the length of any particular visit.

That is why what you say and carry at entry matters. Under section 214(b), every B applicant must show that the trip is a temporary visit for business, pleasure or medical treatment, that they plan to stay for a specific, limited period, that they have funds to cover expenses in the US, and that they have a residence and binding ties outside the US. Keep your return plans consistent with what you told the consular officer at your visa interview.

How do you check the stay on your I-94?

The I-94 is an online record, kept on CBP's website at i94.cbp.dhs.gov. After you enter the US, look up your record there and note the date it shows. That date, not the visa's expiry, is the one to plan your return flight around. If your parents are visiting you, check their record as well.

Does a long visa validity let you stay longer?

No. The visa's expiry date is the last day you may use it to enter the US. It does not show how long you may stay on any one visit. Whatever validity and number of entries your visa shows, the length of each trip is decided at entry.

Our records do not confirm the validity in months or the number of entries that US posts currently give Indian B visa holders, because the State Department's reciprocity page could not be read when we checked. Look at the expiry date and entries printed on your own visa.

How are F-1 student rules different from B-2?

Students now follow a different rule. From 15 September 2026, F student and J exchange-visitor admission changed from 'duration of status' to a fixed period up to the programme length, not exceeding four years, with extensions requested from USCIS. The F-1 post-completion departure period was cut from 60 to 30 days. That rule is published for F and J visitors; your B-2 stay is still whatever the CBP officer records on your I-94.

Planning a long visit to family in the US

B-2 covers tourism, visits with friends or relatives, medical treatment and activities of a fraternal, social or service nature. B-1 and B-2 are often issued together as one B-1/B-2 visa. If you plan a long stay with children or relatives in the US, prepare for it at the visa stage:

• Apply early: the official advice is to apply at least three months before your travel date.
• Do not buy tickets yet: the US visa service says not to buy tickets until the visa is issued. Use a verifiable flight reservation if you need to show dates.
• Expect the wait: after the interview, nonimmigrant visas typically take 7-10 working days, and individual cases may take longer.
• Budget the fee: the B-1/B-2 fee is $185, non-refundable, payable in rupees at the consular exchange rate, which the US Embassy set at INR 98 per USD from 25 May 2026.

Mistakes that cause trouble with the length of stay

• Reading the visa as a stay permit: the visa expiry date is only the last day to enter.
• Not checking the I-94: the I-94 date governs your stay, so look it up after every entry.
• Vague plans at the interview: a B applicant must show a specific, limited period of stay.
• Assuming ESTA applies: India is not a Visa Waiver Program country, so ESTA is not available to Indian passport holders.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp us at +91 95230 91018 or reach us via our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I stay in the US if my B-2 visa expires during my trip?

Yes. The official US visa information service for India says you may stay for the period on your I-94 even if the visa expires during your stay. The visa's expiry only limits when you can enter.

Can I renew my US visitor visa without an interview?

Possibly. If your B-1, B-2 or B-1/B-2 visa is still valid or expired within the past 12 months, you were at least 18 when it was issued and you meet the other conditions, you may qualify for an interview waiver. The consular officer may still call you for an interview.

Do Indians need a visa for a short US holiday?

Yes. India is not a Visa Waiver Program country, so Indian citizens need a visa even for short tourist or business trips. There is no visa on arrival or eVisa for Indians.

Where do I attend the US visa interview in India?

At the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulates General in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata, after a biometrics appointment at a Visa Application Center at least 2 business days earlier. Anyone legally present in India may apply at any of the five posts.