The U.S. Department of Homeland Security—Secure Your Entry & Departure
DHS US-VISIT Program
The Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) US-VISIT Program tracks the entry and exit of foreign visitors by
using electronically scanned fingerprints and photographs. US-VISIT
currently applies to all visitors (with limited exemptions) holding
non-immigrant visas, regardless of country of origin. This system,
which begins with the collection of non-immigrant visa applicants’
electronically scanned fingerprints in consular sections abroad and
continues with DHS officers’ verifying such data at U.S. ports of entry
and departure, will create a coordinated and interlocking network of
border security for the U.S. Click for more information on the DHS US-VISIT Program .
More
travel Information for visitors to the United States (for the purpose
of working, studying, business travel or immigration) may be found on the web page of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
DHS Redress Center Launched in February 2007
U.S.
Department of Homeland Security's Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS
TRIP) provides a single point of contact for travelers who have
inquiries, or who seek resolution to the difficulties they experience
during travel screening at U.S. Ports of Entry, including being denied
or delayed boarding; denied or delayed entry into or exit from the
United States; or continuous referral for additional screening.
Detailed information on this program may be found at the DHS TRIP web page.
DHS Officers Determine Alien’s Entry into the U.S., Duration of Stay & Extension of Stay
Entry:
A visa is not a guarantee of entry into the United States. A visa is
simply permission to apply for entry into the United States at the U.S.
port of entry before the visa expires. Persons with valid visas are
subject to inspection at the port of entry by officials of the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS officers allow entry to the
great majority of applicants with visas, but they also have the
authority to deny admission.
Length of Stay: If entry
permitted, the DHS official also decides how long a visitor can stay in
the U.S. for any particular visit. Upon entering the U.S., an
immigration official places Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record in your
passport. In most cases, a specific date will be indicated on the Form
I-94. This is the date by which you must leave the United States.
Please remember to return your I-94 card to the DHS officer upon
departure from the United States. If you return home with your Form
I-94 in your passport, it means that your departure from the United
States was not recorded properly and DHS may conclude you remained in
the United States. Please click here to see how to return your I-94 and correct this record.
Extension of Stay: Non-immigrants wishing to request extensions of stay in the U.S. should file a petition at the DHS Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services well
in advance before the date they must depart the U.S. If request
approved, they may stay in the U.S. within the period of the extension
granted by USCIS. If request denied, they must depart the U.S. before
the date given on their I-94 cards. Failure to depart the U.S. within
the authorized duration of stay or within the authorized extension of
stay may cause future visa denial.
What is USCIS?
The
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS), provides immigration-related services and
benefits.
Specifically, USCIS is responsible
for the administration of immigration and naturalization adjudication
functions and establishing immigration services policies and
priorities. These functions include adjudication of immigrant
petitions, naturalization petitions, refugee/Asylum applications, and
employment based non-immigrant petitions. Please click here
to access their site for further information. If you are interested in
their premium-processing program that expedites the petition process,
please click here.
USCIS Sub-Offices in China:
USCIS
has overseas offices abroad which provide limited services to U.S.
Citizens, permanent residents of the U.S. and certain other persons who
are visiting or residing outside the United States who need assistance
in immigration matters. These services include: Abandonment of Alien
Status as a Lawful Permanent Resident, Adoptions, Immediate Relative
Immigrant Petitions, Transportation Boarding Letters, etc. Click on
the following USCIS sub-offices in China for details of the services
they provide.
Beijing Sub-Office
Guangzhou Sub-Office
Hong Kong Sub-Office
How to Apply
Special Issues
