USA visa run on a tourist visa
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1
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I have a 5-year US visa that gives me 6 months each visit. I am thinking of doing my dental treatment (braces) here in The US. But the problem is, it takes 18 months. Can I do visa runs like to Europe or to Cuba and go back to the USA? Like 3 weeks to The Netherlands and go back to the US? I heard I can’t visit adjacent countries like Canada or Mexico. Please help. Thank you.
visas visa-runs
asked Jun 29 at 22:53
Banni Bestina
192
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I have a 5-year US visa that gives me 6 months each visit. I am thinking of doing my dental treatment (braces) here in The US. But the problem is, it takes 18 months. Can I do visa runs like to Europe or to Cuba and go back to the USA? Like 3 weeks to The Netherlands and go back to the US? I heard I can’t visit adjacent countries like Canada or Mexico. Please help. Thank you.
visas visa-runs
asked Jun 29 at 22:53
Banni Bestina
192
3
By "doing my dental", do you mean studies? That belongs on Expatriates.
– Henning Makholm
Jun 29 at 23:07
@Banni Bestina Even if visa runs are feasible in your situation, I’d avoid trying to do it via Cuba
– Traveller
Jun 30 at 9:52
What kind of dental procedure takes 18 months to complete? (Obviously, you're not talking about dental school right? It takes far longer than 18m in the US.)
– xuq01
Jun 30 at 12:48
Could be training to be a dental assistant. That would fit the timeline better.
– mkennedy
Jun 30 at 15:41
It’s having dental treatment (braces)
– Banni Bestina
Jun 30 at 22:07
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I have a 5-year US visa that gives me 6 months each visit. I am thinking of doing my dental treatment (braces) here in The US. But the problem is, it takes 18 months. Can I do visa runs like to Europe or to Cuba and go back to the USA? Like 3 weeks to The Netherlands and go back to the US? I heard I can’t visit adjacent countries like Canada or Mexico. Please help. Thank you.
visas visa-runs
asked Jun 29 at 22:53
Banni Bestina
192
I have a 5-year US visa that gives me 6 months each visit. I am thinking of doing my dental treatment (braces) here in The US. But the problem is, it takes 18 months. Can I do visa runs like to Europe or to Cuba and go back to the USA? Like 3 weeks to The Netherlands and go back to the US? I heard I can’t visit adjacent countries like Canada or Mexico. Please help. Thank you.
visas visa-runs
asked Jun 29 at 22:53
Banni Bestina
192
edited Jun 30 at 22:17
asked Jun 29 at 22:53
Banni Bestina
192
asked Jun 29 at 22:53
Banni Bestina
192
asked Jun 29 at 22:53
Banni Bestina
192
192
3
By "doing my dental", do you mean studies? That belongs on Expatriates.
– Henning Makholm
Jun 29 at 23:07
@Banni Bestina Even if visa runs are feasible in your situation, I’d avoid trying to do it via Cuba
– Traveller
Jun 30 at 9:52
What kind of dental procedure takes 18 months to complete? (Obviously, you're not talking about dental school right? It takes far longer than 18m in the US.)
– xuq01
Jun 30 at 12:48
Could be training to be a dental assistant. That would fit the timeline better.
– mkennedy
Jun 30 at 15:41
It’s having dental treatment (braces)
– Banni Bestina
Jun 30 at 22:07
 |Â
show 1 more comment
3
By "doing my dental", do you mean studies? That belongs on Expatriates.
– Henning Makholm
Jun 29 at 23:07
@Banni Bestina Even if visa runs are feasible in your situation, I’d avoid trying to do it via Cuba
– Traveller
Jun 30 at 9:52
What kind of dental procedure takes 18 months to complete? (Obviously, you're not talking about dental school right? It takes far longer than 18m in the US.)
– xuq01
Jun 30 at 12:48
Could be training to be a dental assistant. That would fit the timeline better.
– mkennedy
Jun 30 at 15:41
It’s having dental treatment (braces)
– Banni Bestina
Jun 30 at 22:07
3
3
By "doing my dental", do you mean studies? That belongs on Expatriates.
– Henning Makholm
Jun 29 at 23:07
By "doing my dental", do you mean studies? That belongs on Expatriates.
– Henning Makholm
Jun 29 at 23:07
@Banni Bestina Even if visa runs are feasible in your situation, I’d avoid trying to do it via Cuba
– Traveller
Jun 30 at 9:52
@Banni Bestina Even if visa runs are feasible in your situation, I’d avoid trying to do it via Cuba
– Traveller
Jun 30 at 9:52
What kind of dental procedure takes 18 months to complete? (Obviously, you're not talking about dental school right? It takes far longer than 18m in the US.)
– xuq01
Jun 30 at 12:48
What kind of dental procedure takes 18 months to complete? (Obviously, you're not talking about dental school right? It takes far longer than 18m in the US.)
– xuq01
Jun 30 at 12:48
Could be training to be a dental assistant. That would fit the timeline better.
– mkennedy
Jun 30 at 15:41
Could be training to be a dental assistant. That would fit the timeline better.
– mkennedy
Jun 30 at 15:41
It’s having dental treatment (braces)
– Banni Bestina
Jun 30 at 22:07
It’s having dental treatment (braces)
– Banni Bestina
Jun 30 at 22:07
 |Â
show 1 more comment
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
8
down vote
I have no idea what "doing [your] dental" means, but regardless - No, you can not do this.
Each time you enter the US your entry is at the discretion of the immigration staff. Even with a visa, they can choose to allow you in for the normal time period for your visa (generally 180 days for a B1/B2 visa), refuse your entry, or allow you in but for a limit time period.
US CBP has a general rule of thumb that visitors should spend as much time out of the US as they spend within it. Thus if you spend a full 180 days in the country, you would be expected to spend ~180 days out of it before returning.
If you were to return a few weeks later as you've suggested, you would almost certainly be either refused entry, or allowed to enter for a limit time period (eg, maybe 30 days). A further attempt to return after that time period was up would almost without doubt be rejected.
answered Jun 29 at 23:38
Doc
66k3154250
Just for clarify, the question was edited by someone other than the poster - it originally stated that they were in the US to "do my dental", without any clarification on what that was. The edit may or may not have captured the actual intent of the original poster...
– Doc
Jun 30 at 7:05
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
To add to Doc's answer, you cannot work on the visitor visa at all.
And to perform dental work in the USA you need to be licensed in the state you plan to work. As far as I know, this requires you to graduate from an approved dentistry school (which generally means US-based school), and pass the background check and the exam. And you need social security number for the background check, which you will not have on a visitor visa.
answered Jun 29 at 23:43
George Y.
17.4k12671
1
I think "do dental work" means "have dental work done on my teeth."
– phoog
Jun 30 at 1:32
1
"having dental work done on your teeth" does not take 18 months.
– DJClayworth
Jun 30 at 2:32
1
I am not familiar with any kind of dental work which would require a consecutive 18 months stay. It is also strange to come to the USA to have dental work done, as many places around the world do it cheaper without compromising on quality.
– George Y.
Jun 30 at 2:33
The original question stated the OP wanted to "do my dental". The edit has potentially changed the question as the original intent wasn't clear. There was no specific statement from the OP that they were going to work.
– Doc
Jun 30 at 7:08
Hey guys it’s Braces (orthodontic treatment)
– Banni Bestina
Jun 30 at 22:03
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
1
down vote
Every time you enter the US, it's at the discretion of the officer to decide if your visit is legitimately tourism, based on what you say and on your travel history recorded in their system. However, it's probably not seen as a normal tourist activity to stay for 18 months to get braces done. It also depends on how long you're staying in the US on each visit---but again it's at the officer's discretion; there's not a specific cutoff. If you only visit the US for a couple days every month for 18 months, that's almost surely fine. If you stay five months then leave for a couple weeks and want to return for another five months, it could be a problem. Although there is a rule about treating short trips to Canada/Mexico/adjacent countries differently, that's less relevant than the officer's perception of your intentions.
answered Jul 1 at 15:21
krubo
2,229419
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
8
down vote
I have no idea what "doing [your] dental" means, but regardless - No, you can not do this.
Each time you enter the US your entry is at the discretion of the immigration staff. Even with a visa, they can choose to allow you in for the normal time period for your visa (generally 180 days for a B1/B2 visa), refuse your entry, or allow you in but for a limit time period.
US CBP has a general rule of thumb that visitors should spend as much time out of the US as they spend within it. Thus if you spend a full 180 days in the country, you would be expected to spend ~180 days out of it before returning.
If you were to return a few weeks later as you've suggested, you would almost certainly be either refused entry, or allowed to enter for a limit time period (eg, maybe 30 days). A further attempt to return after that time period was up would almost without doubt be rejected.
answered Jun 29 at 23:38
Doc
66k3154250
Just for clarify, the question was edited by someone other than the poster - it originally stated that they were in the US to "do my dental", without any clarification on what that was. The edit may or may not have captured the actual intent of the original poster...
– Doc
Jun 30 at 7:05
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
I have no idea what "doing [your] dental" means, but regardless - No, you can not do this.
Each time you enter the US your entry is at the discretion of the immigration staff. Even with a visa, they can choose to allow you in for the normal time period for your visa (generally 180 days for a B1/B2 visa), refuse your entry, or allow you in but for a limit time period.
US CBP has a general rule of thumb that visitors should spend as much time out of the US as they spend within it. Thus if you spend a full 180 days in the country, you would be expected to spend ~180 days out of it before returning.
If you were to return a few weeks later as you've suggested, you would almost certainly be either refused entry, or allowed to enter for a limit time period (eg, maybe 30 days). A further attempt to return after that time period was up would almost without doubt be rejected.
answered Jun 29 at 23:38
Doc
66k3154250
Just for clarify, the question was edited by someone other than the poster - it originally stated that they were in the US to "do my dental", without any clarification on what that was. The edit may or may not have captured the actual intent of the original poster...
– Doc
Jun 30 at 7:05
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
up vote
8
down vote
I have no idea what "doing [your] dental" means, but regardless - No, you can not do this.
Each time you enter the US your entry is at the discretion of the immigration staff. Even with a visa, they can choose to allow you in for the normal time period for your visa (generally 180 days for a B1/B2 visa), refuse your entry, or allow you in but for a limit time period.
US CBP has a general rule of thumb that visitors should spend as much time out of the US as they spend within it. Thus if you spend a full 180 days in the country, you would be expected to spend ~180 days out of it before returning.
If you were to return a few weeks later as you've suggested, you would almost certainly be either refused entry, or allowed to enter for a limit time period (eg, maybe 30 days). A further attempt to return after that time period was up would almost without doubt be rejected.
answered Jun 29 at 23:38
Doc
66k3154250
I have no idea what "doing [your] dental" means, but regardless - No, you can not do this.
Each time you enter the US your entry is at the discretion of the immigration staff. Even with a visa, they can choose to allow you in for the normal time period for your visa (generally 180 days for a B1/B2 visa), refuse your entry, or allow you in but for a limit time period.
US CBP has a general rule of thumb that visitors should spend as much time out of the US as they spend within it. Thus if you spend a full 180 days in the country, you would be expected to spend ~180 days out of it before returning.
If you were to return a few weeks later as you've suggested, you would almost certainly be either refused entry, or allowed to enter for a limit time period (eg, maybe 30 days). A further attempt to return after that time period was up would almost without doubt be rejected.
answered Jun 29 at 23:38
Doc
66k3154250
answered Jun 29 at 23:38
Doc
66k3154250
answered Jun 29 at 23:38
Doc
66k3154250
answered Jun 29 at 23:38
Doc
66k3154250
66k3154250
Just for clarify, the question was edited by someone other than the poster - it originally stated that they were in the US to "do my dental", without any clarification on what that was. The edit may or may not have captured the actual intent of the original poster...
– Doc
Jun 30 at 7:05
add a comment |Â
Just for clarify, the question was edited by someone other than the poster - it originally stated that they were in the US to "do my dental", without any clarification on what that was. The edit may or may not have captured the actual intent of the original poster...
– Doc
Jun 30 at 7:05
Just for clarify, the question was edited by someone other than the poster - it originally stated that they were in the US to "do my dental", without any clarification on what that was. The edit may or may not have captured the actual intent of the original poster...
– Doc
Jun 30 at 7:05
Just for clarify, the question was edited by someone other than the poster - it originally stated that they were in the US to "do my dental", without any clarification on what that was. The edit may or may not have captured the actual intent of the original poster...
– Doc
Jun 30 at 7:05
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
To add to Doc's answer, you cannot work on the visitor visa at all.
And to perform dental work in the USA you need to be licensed in the state you plan to work. As far as I know, this requires you to graduate from an approved dentistry school (which generally means US-based school), and pass the background check and the exam. And you need social security number for the background check, which you will not have on a visitor visa.
answered Jun 29 at 23:43
George Y.
17.4k12671
1
I think "do dental work" means "have dental work done on my teeth."
– phoog
Jun 30 at 1:32
1
"having dental work done on your teeth" does not take 18 months.
– DJClayworth
Jun 30 at 2:32
1
I am not familiar with any kind of dental work which would require a consecutive 18 months stay. It is also strange to come to the USA to have dental work done, as many places around the world do it cheaper without compromising on quality.
– George Y.
Jun 30 at 2:33
The original question stated the OP wanted to "do my dental". The edit has potentially changed the question as the original intent wasn't clear. There was no specific statement from the OP that they were going to work.
– Doc
Jun 30 at 7:08
Hey guys it’s Braces (orthodontic treatment)
– Banni Bestina
Jun 30 at 22:03
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
2
down vote
To add to Doc's answer, you cannot work on the visitor visa at all.
And to perform dental work in the USA you need to be licensed in the state you plan to work. As far as I know, this requires you to graduate from an approved dentistry school (which generally means US-based school), and pass the background check and the exam. And you need social security number for the background check, which you will not have on a visitor visa.
answered Jun 29 at 23:43
George Y.
17.4k12671
1
I think "do dental work" means "have dental work done on my teeth."
– phoog
Jun 30 at 1:32
1
"having dental work done on your teeth" does not take 18 months.
– DJClayworth
Jun 30 at 2:32
1
I am not familiar with any kind of dental work which would require a consecutive 18 months stay. It is also strange to come to the USA to have dental work done, as many places around the world do it cheaper without compromising on quality.
– George Y.
Jun 30 at 2:33
The original question stated the OP wanted to "do my dental". The edit has potentially changed the question as the original intent wasn't clear. There was no specific statement from the OP that they were going to work.
– Doc
Jun 30 at 7:08
Hey guys it’s Braces (orthodontic treatment)
– Banni Bestina
Jun 30 at 22:03
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
To add to Doc's answer, you cannot work on the visitor visa at all.
And to perform dental work in the USA you need to be licensed in the state you plan to work. As far as I know, this requires you to graduate from an approved dentistry school (which generally means US-based school), and pass the background check and the exam. And you need social security number for the background check, which you will not have on a visitor visa.
answered Jun 29 at 23:43
George Y.
17.4k12671
To add to Doc's answer, you cannot work on the visitor visa at all.
And to perform dental work in the USA you need to be licensed in the state you plan to work. As far as I know, this requires you to graduate from an approved dentistry school (which generally means US-based school), and pass the background check and the exam. And you need social security number for the background check, which you will not have on a visitor visa.
answered Jun 29 at 23:43
George Y.
17.4k12671
answered Jun 29 at 23:43
George Y.
17.4k12671
answered Jun 29 at 23:43
George Y.
17.4k12671
answered Jun 29 at 23:43
George Y.
17.4k12671
17.4k12671
1
I think "do dental work" means "have dental work done on my teeth."
– phoog
Jun 30 at 1:32
1
"having dental work done on your teeth" does not take 18 months.
– DJClayworth
Jun 30 at 2:32
1
I am not familiar with any kind of dental work which would require a consecutive 18 months stay. It is also strange to come to the USA to have dental work done, as many places around the world do it cheaper without compromising on quality.
– George Y.
Jun 30 at 2:33
The original question stated the OP wanted to "do my dental". The edit has potentially changed the question as the original intent wasn't clear. There was no specific statement from the OP that they were going to work.
– Doc
Jun 30 at 7:08
Hey guys it’s Braces (orthodontic treatment)
– Banni Bestina
Jun 30 at 22:03
 |Â
show 1 more comment
1
I think "do dental work" means "have dental work done on my teeth."
– phoog
Jun 30 at 1:32
1
"having dental work done on your teeth" does not take 18 months.
– DJClayworth
Jun 30 at 2:32
1
I am not familiar with any kind of dental work which would require a consecutive 18 months stay. It is also strange to come to the USA to have dental work done, as many places around the world do it cheaper without compromising on quality.
– George Y.
Jun 30 at 2:33
The original question stated the OP wanted to "do my dental". The edit has potentially changed the question as the original intent wasn't clear. There was no specific statement from the OP that they were going to work.
– Doc
Jun 30 at 7:08
Hey guys it’s Braces (orthodontic treatment)
– Banni Bestina
Jun 30 at 22:03
1
1
I think "do dental work" means "have dental work done on my teeth."
– phoog
Jun 30 at 1:32
I think "do dental work" means "have dental work done on my teeth."
– phoog
Jun 30 at 1:32
1
1
"having dental work done on your teeth" does not take 18 months.
– DJClayworth
Jun 30 at 2:32
"having dental work done on your teeth" does not take 18 months.
– DJClayworth
Jun 30 at 2:32
1
1
I am not familiar with any kind of dental work which would require a consecutive 18 months stay. It is also strange to come to the USA to have dental work done, as many places around the world do it cheaper without compromising on quality.
– George Y.
Jun 30 at 2:33
I am not familiar with any kind of dental work which would require a consecutive 18 months stay. It is also strange to come to the USA to have dental work done, as many places around the world do it cheaper without compromising on quality.
– George Y.
Jun 30 at 2:33
The original question stated the OP wanted to "do my dental". The edit has potentially changed the question as the original intent wasn't clear. There was no specific statement from the OP that they were going to work.
– Doc
Jun 30 at 7:08
The original question stated the OP wanted to "do my dental". The edit has potentially changed the question as the original intent wasn't clear. There was no specific statement from the OP that they were going to work.
– Doc
Jun 30 at 7:08
Hey guys it’s Braces (orthodontic treatment)
– Banni Bestina
Jun 30 at 22:03
Hey guys it’s Braces (orthodontic treatment)
– Banni Bestina
Jun 30 at 22:03
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
1
down vote
Every time you enter the US, it's at the discretion of the officer to decide if your visit is legitimately tourism, based on what you say and on your travel history recorded in their system. However, it's probably not seen as a normal tourist activity to stay for 18 months to get braces done. It also depends on how long you're staying in the US on each visit---but again it's at the officer's discretion; there's not a specific cutoff. If you only visit the US for a couple days every month for 18 months, that's almost surely fine. If you stay five months then leave for a couple weeks and want to return for another five months, it could be a problem. Although there is a rule about treating short trips to Canada/Mexico/adjacent countries differently, that's less relevant than the officer's perception of your intentions.
answered Jul 1 at 15:21
krubo
2,229419
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Every time you enter the US, it's at the discretion of the officer to decide if your visit is legitimately tourism, based on what you say and on your travel history recorded in their system. However, it's probably not seen as a normal tourist activity to stay for 18 months to get braces done. It also depends on how long you're staying in the US on each visit---but again it's at the officer's discretion; there's not a specific cutoff. If you only visit the US for a couple days every month for 18 months, that's almost surely fine. If you stay five months then leave for a couple weeks and want to return for another five months, it could be a problem. Although there is a rule about treating short trips to Canada/Mexico/adjacent countries differently, that's less relevant than the officer's perception of your intentions.
answered Jul 1 at 15:21
krubo
2,229419
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Every time you enter the US, it's at the discretion of the officer to decide if your visit is legitimately tourism, based on what you say and on your travel history recorded in their system. However, it's probably not seen as a normal tourist activity to stay for 18 months to get braces done. It also depends on how long you're staying in the US on each visit---but again it's at the officer's discretion; there's not a specific cutoff. If you only visit the US for a couple days every month for 18 months, that's almost surely fine. If you stay five months then leave for a couple weeks and want to return for another five months, it could be a problem. Although there is a rule about treating short trips to Canada/Mexico/adjacent countries differently, that's less relevant than the officer's perception of your intentions.
answered Jul 1 at 15:21
krubo
2,229419
Every time you enter the US, it's at the discretion of the officer to decide if your visit is legitimately tourism, based on what you say and on your travel history recorded in their system. However, it's probably not seen as a normal tourist activity to stay for 18 months to get braces done. It also depends on how long you're staying in the US on each visit---but again it's at the officer's discretion; there's not a specific cutoff. If you only visit the US for a couple days every month for 18 months, that's almost surely fine. If you stay five months then leave for a couple weeks and want to return for another five months, it could be a problem. Although there is a rule about treating short trips to Canada/Mexico/adjacent countries differently, that's less relevant than the officer's perception of your intentions.
answered Jul 1 at 15:21
krubo
2,229419
answered Jul 1 at 15:21
krubo
2,229419
answered Jul 1 at 15:21
krubo
2,229419
answered Jul 1 at 15:21
krubo
2,229419
2,229419
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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Clash Royale CLAN TAG
3
By "doing my dental", do you mean studies? That belongs on Expatriates.
– Henning Makholm
Jun 29 at 23:07
@Banni Bestina Even if visa runs are feasible in your situation, I’d avoid trying to do it via Cuba
– Traveller
Jun 30 at 9:52
What kind of dental procedure takes 18 months to complete? (Obviously, you're not talking about dental school right? It takes far longer than 18m in the US.)
– xuq01
Jun 30 at 12:48
Could be training to be a dental assistant. That would fit the timeline better.
– mkennedy
Jun 30 at 15:41
It’s having dental treatment (braces)
– Banni Bestina
Jun 30 at 22:07