Definition
Visa Overstay
Remaining in the U.S. beyond the period authorized by the I-94.
A visa overstay generally accrues unlawful presence and may automatically void the underlying nonimmigrant visa. Overstays may still adjust status if they are immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, but other categories typically must use consular processing.
See also
More immigration terms
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Visa Retrogression
When a category's priority date moves backward in the Visa Bulletin.
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Visa Spillover
The reallocation of unused visa numbers from one category to another.
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Visa Stamp
A travel document placed in a passport by a U.S. consulate authorizing travel to a U.S. port of entry.
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Visa Waiver Program
A program letting nationals of designated countries enter the U.S. for tourism or business without a visa.
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Voluntary Departure
Permission to leave the U.S. on your own without a removal order on your record.
Not legal advice. Definitions are provided for educational use. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney.