Can I hold more than one non-immigrant U.S. visa at a time?
Yes, you can!
You can have more than one nonimmigrant U.S. visa, but you can be in only one nonimmigrant status in the U.S. at a time. Visas will generally be stamped in your passport. You can use those visas based on the purpose of your trip to the U.S.
Example 1: If you hold a B-2 visitor visa and you also apply for an F or M student visa, you can use the student visa to travel to the U.S. for education purposes. Depending on the principal purpose of your trip to the U.S., you can either use your visitor or your student visas. If your principal purpose of travel to the U.S. is tourism, you can go to the U.S. using your B-2 visa. If it is education, you can use your F or M visa.
Remember, student visas will be good only until you complete your studies in the U.S. Once your studies are over, your student visa may be cancelled. If you wish to come back to the U.S. as a temporary visitor after completing your studies, you can do so with your valid visitor visa.
Example 2: If you hold an H-4 visa and an L-1 visa, you will have to travel to the U.S. on your L-1 visa, if you wish to work in the U.S. That is because, not all H-4 visa holders are allowed to work in the U.S.
Holding multiple visas is possible. But you need to wisely use your valid visas as some visas may allow you to work in the U.S. and some may not. If you hold a visitor visa and a work visa, you will not be able to work in the U.S. if you travel on your visitor visa.
Keep track of our immigration blog for more immigration facts!