I last entered the U.S. in September 2019, and since then, I’ve gone through two H-1B visa renewals within the U.S. Due to personal reasons, I haven’t traveled back to India to get my visa stamped.
I’m now planning to visit India in 2026 for H-1B visa stamping. In the Travel section of the DS-160 form, I need to list all my previous entries into the U.S. and specify how long I stayed after each entry.
For my most recent entry (September 2019), I haven’t left the U.S. since then — which adds up to about six to seven years of continuous stay.
Should I indicate the duration as 7 years for that entry?
And would listing such a long stay raise any concerns or flags during the visa process, assuming all my status renewals have been valid?
Additionally, my current H-1B approval is valid until April 2027. Would it be fine to travel to India in February 2026 for visa stamping, even though my petition would have just over a year remaining at that point?
Lastly, in the Travel Plans section of the DS-160, I’ve indicated that I plan to return to the U.S. in February 2026. There’s a text box that asks, “How long do you intend to stay in the U.S.?”
If I expect to get another H-1B extension beyond 2027 and already have an approved I-140, should I:
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Enter the stay duration only until April 2027 (the current petition end date), or
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Mention a longer intended stay based on my I-140 approval and expected future renewals?
