The visa stamp placed in your passport by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate
shows the period during which you may enter the United States. If the
date on the visa stamp expires while you are in the U.S., it need not be
renewed until after you leave the country and wish to return again,
provided that you maintain your legal status throughout your entire stay
in the U.S. This means that you must possess a valid visa document at
all times (i.e. Form DS-2019, Form IAP-66, Form, Form I-20, TN Visa
Stamp, Employment Authorization Document, etc.). The visa document is
only valid if you remain in full-time student status.
The I-94 Card (Arrival/Departure form)
When you enter the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa status (J-1, F-1,
H-1, O-1, TN, etc.) you are issued an I-94 card at the port of entry.
This card is also known as the Arrival/Departure form. It is a small
white card usually stapled to your passport. The card displays the port
of entry, visa type, and date of arrival. The I-94 card will usually
have “D/S” written on it, which stands for Duration of Status. The I-94
card may also have a date on it. The date usually corresponds to the
expiration date of your visa document. On occasion, however, the
Immigration Inspector at the Port of Entry may write a date shorter than
your intended stay if he/she feels that you did not provide appropriate
or complete visa documentation. Always review what is written on the
I-94 card each time you enter the U.S. If a date other than D/S is
written on the card, contact Carol Murphy, International Student Advisor
immediately. When you leave the U.S., you will need to give the I-94
card to the airport official. You will be given a new card upon
re-entering. Please remember to provide the International Student
Advisor with a copy of the card every time you re-enter the U.S. It is
not necessary to relinquish your I-94 card if you are traveling to
Canada or Mexico or any other contiguous territory for a period of less
than 30 days.