• D/S -- Duration of Status. This term represents perhaps the most significant difference between visa categories like B (visitors) and F (students). While visitor status is for a specific, limited period of time 3 to 6 months), F-1 students may remain in the United States . . . as long as they remain students! Therefore, where other visas would have an expiration date, student visas have the notation "D/S", meaning the student status continues as long as the student fulfills all the requirements necessary to keep that student status. Theoretically, as long as a student continues to be enrolled as a full-time student and fulfill all the requirements of student status, he or she may stay in the U.S. as long as necessary to accomplish his/her educational goal. For example, a student could, theoretically, spend 1 or 2 years acquiring the necessary English language skill (at Capstone EMC, of course) to enroll in college, then spend 4 years getting a Bachelor's degree, 2 more years getting a Master's degree, and 2 more years pursuing a Doctorate. That's 10 years!! Realistically, of course, although such a student's status might continue uninterrupted, it would very likely be necessary to renew visas and passports -- perhaps more than once -- during such extended study.
• I-94 -- Departure Record. Actually, this small form is given to visitors when they arrive in the U.S. It should always be kept in the passport. It shows the visitor's Admission Number, arrival date, status, and the date by which they must leave the U.S., except in the case of students, where it should have "D/S" (see above) instead.

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