Quick answer
The visa expiration date does not determine the length of a U.S. stay. CBP makes a new admission decision at each entry and records the class and admitted-until date, or D/S, on Form I-94. Travelers should retrieve the record after every arrival. A foreign resident of Brazil must search with the passport actually presented to CBP, not necessarily the passport connected to Brazilian residence.
A visa and an I-94 perform different functions
A U.S. visa permits a foreign national to travel to a port of entry and request admission for the stated purpose. It does not authorize entry by itself. CBP decides whether to admit the person and how long that visit may last.
The I-94 is the admission record. It can show a date that arrives long before the visa expires. Using the visa's printed expiration as the departure deadline can create an overstay even when the visa sticker appears valid.
Retrieving the correct record
Use i94.cbp.dhs.gov and enter the identity and passport details used at inspection. Name order, passport number, country of issuance and date of birth must match. Dual nationals should not search only with the passport used for Brazilian immigration.
Save the most recent record after arrival and before departure. Travel history can assist with review, but it is not a perfect substitute for boarding passes, entry stamps and evidence of onward presence.
Admitted-until date and D/S
A specific admitted-until date is the deadline to leave unless USCIS grants another valid period or status. A later visa expiration does not extend it. D/S means duration of status and is used in categories tied to maintaining a qualifying programme or activity.
D/S is not unlimited permission. Ending study, exchange or qualifying employment, violating conditions or engaging in unauthorized activity may affect status even though no calendar date appears.
Errors and correction routes
Check name, class, passport and date. A clerical error made at inspection may be addressed with CBP or an appropriate Deferred Inspection Site. Bring the passport, visa, travel record and evidence of what occurred.
A correct date that the traveller would like to extend is not a CBP correction. It may require a timely USCIS extension or change-of-status request. Filing does not guarantee approval.
Departure records and future applications
Some exits, particularly land travel, may not update immediately. Keep proof of departure and of entry into the next country. A missing history line does not automatically prove an overstay, but it should be evaluated before a later visa or admission question is answered.
Remaining beyond the authorized period can void a visa in some circumstances and create future ineligibility. MVA Vistos can review the record for residents and binational families in Brazil, but only U.S. authorities can correct status or admission data.
Brazilian residence is a separate record
The I-94 governs U.S. admission; it does not extend a Brazilian residence permit or prove a right to return to Brazil. Foreign residents should separately confirm their passport and Brazilian immigration documents before travel.
When a family uses different nationalities, each person has an individual I-94. A parent's date or class does not control a child or spouse, and every record should be checked independently.
Travelers admitted on a specific date should build departure plans around that date, not around the maximum stay they expected before travel. A return ticket is evidence of planning but does not amend the period granted by CBP.
If an employer, school or exchange sponsor changes an activity connected to status, the traveller should not assume that the electronic I-94 will explain the whole situation. Programme documents and USCIS or sponsor records may also need review.
A screenshot should not be edited or treated as the legal source. Retrieve the current record from the official website and keep the unaltered PDF with the travel evidence.
Checking early also leaves time to seek correction before another flight or immigration filing depends on the inaccurate entry record.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I retrieve an I-94?
At i94.cbp.dhs.gov using the passport presented at entry.
Which date controls the stay?
The I-94 admitted-until date or valid D/S controls the authorized period, not visa expiration.
What does D/S mean?
Duration of status, subject to continuing compliance with the qualifying activity and rules.
Should I check after every entry?
Yes. Each admission may produce a different class or period.
What if my departure is missing?
Keep travel proof and review the record. A missing online movement alone is not a final legal conclusion.
Can MVA change an I-94?
No. MVA can review it; correction or status decisions belong to CBP or USCIS.
Official sources consulted
- https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/
- https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/i-94
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/visa-expiration-date.html
- https://www.uscis.gov/visit-the-united-states/extend-your-stay
Specialized consular assistance
MVA Vistos can review I-94 records for foreign residents and binational families in Brazil. CBP and USCIS alone control admission, correction and status decisions.
Editorial note
Informational content updated on September 3, 2026. MVA Vistos is a private, independent consular-assistance company. It is not part of, and does not represent, any government, embassy or consulate. Rules, fees and procedures may change, and the competent authority makes every final decision.
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