Non-Immigrant Visas

Frequently Asked Questions

Traveling to/from the United States

• How long can I stay in the United States?
• Can I use my Malaysian Driver’s license when I visit the United States?
• Which food products can I take to the United States?
• I forgot to turn in my I-94 when I left the United States. What should I do?

How long can I stay in the United States?

Upon arrival in the United States, you'll present your passport (with your U.S. visa) to an immigration official, who will then determine how long you can stay, up to a maximum of 6 months.  Remember, the validity period of your visa is NOT the length of time you may stay--it is simply the period that the visa may be used to apply for admission to the United States. Holders of multiple entry visas may enter the United States as many times as they like during the validity of the visa. Those with single entry visas may only enter once. A Non-Immigrant who remains in the United States beyond the period for which s/he has been granted permission to stay may become subject to deportation.

Can I use my Malaysian driver’s license when I visit the United States?

Visitors who wish to rent cars and drive in the United States must have a valid driver’s license from their own country. In some cases, an international driver’s license may be required. You can contact individual car rental companies directly for specific information.

Driver’s licenses accepted in the United States are:

• Any license issued by any U.S. state, territory or possession.
• A license issued by a Canadian province.
• A license issued by a country that participated in the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic or the 1943 Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automobile Traffic (Both Hong Kong and Macau are signatories to the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic).
• A license issued by a country that has a reciprocal agreement with the United States.

Which food products can I take to the United States?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) establishes criteria for the admissibility of plant, dairy and meat products returning with travelers and determines what may be admitted into the United States.

All travelers entering the United States from a foreign country must declare all:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Plants and plant products
• Meat and meat products
• Animals, birds, and eggs

Your declaration may be oral, written, or both, and must cover all items carried in your baggage and hand luggage. If you are returning from abroad, you will be given a Customs Declaration form on which to declare your agricultural products. You will also be asked to indicate whether you have visited a farm or ranch outside the United States. USDA officers inspect passenger baggage for undeclared agricultural products. Failure to declare any items may result in delays and fines of up to USD 1,000.

Agricultural products of U.S. origin, such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and birds taken out of the United States, cannot always be brought back into the country. These items should be declared upon returning. Consult in advance with USDA inspectors.

The USDA also can be contacted at 00-1-301-734-8896 for information about the admissibility of plant or plant products.

I forgot to turn in my I-94 when I left the United States. What should I do?