22/4/0
Now, those arriving in the US on B-2 visas will find it extremely difficult to obtain permission to stay for more than 30 days, although previously INS officers would allow stays of up to 6 months without issue. Only visitors who can convincingly justify the need for a longer stay will be able to remain in the US for more than 30 days. Extending the stay will also no longer be easy.
Foreigners with B-1 and B-2 visas are prohibited from studying at US educational institutions until they change their status to F (academic study) or M (vocational study). Foreigners arriving on B visas will be able to change their status to student only if they previously discussed this when obtaining the visa. Otherwise, they will have to return home and apply for a student visa at the US embassy. Previously, students were allowed to file a petition for a change of status and begin studying while their applications were being processed by the INS.
The innovations will not affect the majority of foreigners arriving in the US, since 90% of those entering on B category visas (visitor, tourist, and business visas) stay in the US for no more than 2-3 weeks. It will be difficult for retirees who come to visit their children settled in the United States. As a rule, this category of visitors prefers to stay for several months, which is not surprising given the long flight, high airfare, and time zone changes.
Some media outlets have reported that the new rules limit the validity period of visas. This is not true; the visa validity period does not change. The confusion arises because, unlike Schengen countries, the US does not indicate the length of stay on the visa. The visa validity period is the period during which its holder can enter the United States. The length of stay is determined at immigration control and is unrelated to the visa validity period. As Visas.ru emphasizes in its report, the above changes refer precisely to the length of stay.
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