General questions about visa and entry into the U.S.
What should I do if I overstayed on a previous visit?
You must apply for a visa.
I did not turn in my I-94 when I left the U.S., what should I do?
If you returned home with your Form I-94 (white) or Form I-94W (green) Departure Record in your passport, it is possible that your departure was not recorded properly.
If you departed by a commercial air or sea carrier (airlines or cruise ships), your departure from the U.S. can be independently verified, and it is not necessary to take any further action, although holding on to your outbound (from the U.S.) boarding pass - if you still have it - can help expedite your re-entry next time you come back to the United States.
If you departed by land, private vessel or private plane, you will need to take steps to correct the record. If you do not validate your timely departure from the United States, or, if you cannot reasonably prove you departed within the time frame given to you when your entered, the next time you apply for admission to the U.S., CBP may conclude you remained in the U.S. beyond your authorized stay. If this happens, your visa may be subject to cancellation or you may be returned immediately to your foreign point of origin.
Under the Visa Waiver Program, visitors who remain beyond their permitted stay in the United States cannot reenter the U.S. in the future without obtaining a visa from a U.S. Consulate. So if you are a Visa Waiver Program visitor who traveled by land to either Canada or Mexico for an onward flight, it is particularly important for you to register your timely departure if your green I-94w was not taken when you exited the U.S. If you fail to do so and you arrive at a U.S. port-of-entry seeking admission under the Visa Waiver Program without a visa, CBP Officers may order your immediate return to a foreign point of origin. If you are a VWP visitor and you left the U.S. by an air or sea carrier, you don't need to worry.
If you failed to turn in your I-94 Departure Record, please send it, along with any documentation that proves you left the United States to:
DHS - CBP SBU
1084 South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744
Do not mail your Form I-94 Departure Record or supporting information to any U.S. Consulate or Embassy, to any other CBP office in the United States, or to any address other than the one above. Only at this location are we able to make the necessary corrections to CBP records to prevent inconvenience to you in the future. The London Kentucky office does not answer correspondence, so please do not ask for confirmation that your record has been updated.
To validate departure, CBP will consider a variety of information, including but not limited to:
Original boarding passes you used to depart another country, such as Canada, if you flew home from there;
Photocopies of entry or departure stamps in your passport indicating entry to another country after you departed the United States (you should copy all passport pages that are not completely blank, and include the biographical page containing your photograph); and
Photocopies of other supporting evidence, such as:
Dated pay slips or vouchers from your employer to indicate you worked in another country after you departed the United States,
Dated bank records showing transactions to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States,
School records showing attendance at a school outside the United States to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States, and
Dated credit card receipts, showing your name, but, the credit card number deleted, for purchases made after you left the United States to indicate you were in another country after leaving the United States.
To assist us in understanding the situation and correct your records quickly, please include an explanation letter in English. Your statement will not be acceptable without supporting evidence such as noted above. You must mail legible copies or original materials where possible. If you send original materials, you should retain a copy. CBP cannot return original materials after processing.
We strongly urge you to keep a copy of what you send to DHS-CBP and carry it with you the next time you come to the United States in case the CBP officer has any questions about your eligibility to enter. Carrying those materials with you will also allow your record to be corrected at the time of entry if, for some reason, the London Kentucky office has not yet done so.
If taking short trips (30 days or less) to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands during the course of your visit to the U.S., hold onto your I-94 or I-94 (W). It should only be turned in when you leave the U.S. to return home.
Delays beyond the traveler's control, such as cancelled or delayed flights, medical emergencies requiring a doctor's care, etc. are not considered unauthorized overstays, however, you will need to bring proof of the cause of your overstay next time you travel to the U.S. in order for it to be forgiven. For airline delays, ask the airline for a letter affirming the delay or a copy of your cancelled boarding pass.
Will I have a problem if the name on my airline ticket does not exactly match the name in my passport?
If your middle name is not included on your ticket, or if your name is shortened or abbreviated on your ticket, you should not have any problems boarding the plane or entering the U.S. This is a common occurrence.
If you have recently changed your name, for example after marriage, and the name in your passport and the name on your ticket are different, we cannot guarantee that you will be allowed to board the plane or enter the United States . That is a decision for your airline and for the immigration officer at the port of entry in the U.S.
We encourage all passengers to travel with all of their documents matching their current legal name. If this is not possible, we encourage passengers to travel with clear documentation about any changes, such as a marriage certificate or change of name certification. The Embassy is unable to guarantee that you will be admitted.
I have a visa; do I also need a return ticket?
If you hold a visa of any classification, including a B-1 / B-2 visa, you are not required to hold a return ticket; you may enter the United States on a one-way ticket. AU travelers should carry with them for presentation to U.S. officials, if required, evidence of funds sufficient for their visit and, with the exception of H and L visa holders, evidence that they have a residence abroad to which they intend returning at the end of their stay. Examples of such evidence include: traveler's checks; return tickets; copy of latest bank statement; letter from parents saying they will support you; evidence of current employment; evidence of enrollment at an academic institution.
Do I need any vaccinations?
Vaccinations are no longer required for temporary travel to the United States . However, if you are intending to study or work, you should contact the school or prospective employer as they may have specific requirements.
What do I do about health insurance?
Visitors and temporary residents are required to pay their own medical costs. As a result it is advisable to take out health insurance. Temporary visitors to the United States can obtain accident and sickness insurance before departing Denmark . Most local insurance brokers as well as many travel agents can arrange such coverage with insurance firms in Denmark , Those planning on remaining in the United States for any length of time or permanently may obtain health insurance after arrival there. Sometimes it is available through an employer, as many companies arrange group insurance for their employees.
I have a holiday home in the United States ; how long can I remain there?
If you travel to the United States visa free under the Visa Waiver Program, you may remain for up to 90 days. This period cannot be extended. If you travel to the United States on a visitor (B-2) visa, the period of time you will be allowed will be determined by the immigration officer at the port of entry. Initially they can grant a stay of six months which can be extended for a further six months at their discretion. The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) has sole jurisdiction over such matters.
Can I take my medicine to the United States?
If you take medicines containing habit-forming drugs or narcotics (e.g. cough medicine, diuretics, heart drugs, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, depressants, stimulants, etc.) you should:
have all drugs, medicine and similar products properly identified; carry only the quantity that might normally be used by an individual having a health problem requiring such drugs or medicine; have either a prescription or written statement from your personal physician that the medicine is being used under a doctors direction and is necessary for your physical well-being while traveling.
Where is the Embassy located?
The Embassy is located on Dag Hammarskjolds Allé 24, 2100 Copenhagen Ø near Østerport train station.
What are the working hours of the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit?
The Nonimmigrant Visa Unit is open to the public by appointment only. To schedule a visa appointment please use the online booking service.
I'm pregnant. Can I travel to the U.S. ?
Although there are no specific regulations prohibiting pregnant foreign nationals from entering the U.S., entry is allowed or denied at the discretion of the admitting CBP officer. If the CBP officer determines that you are likely to become a ward of the government (meaning that the government must provide medical care because you do not have medical coverage while visiting the U.S.), you can be denied entry. When determining if you will be allowed to enter the U.S., CBP officers take into consideration the date your child is due for delivery and the length of time you intend to stay in the U.S. In addition, they want evidence that you have sufficient medical insurance to cover any medical necessities while you are in the U.S. If it is determined that you do not have sufficient medical insurance to cover any unexpected or expected medical care while in the U.S., you can be denied entry. Additionally, if you are pregnant and entering the U.S. at a border port of entry via vehicle, be aware the radiation detection portals deployed at the ports do not emit any radiation, and do not present a hazard to you and your unborn child. Coming to the U.S. for the purpose of child birth is not a valid reason for travel.