The information that follows was provided by staff at the Immigration Adjudication headquarters of the Homeland Security Department in Washington, DC, during a 24 June 2003 telephone interview.

A foreigner can hold any number of United States visas at the same time, and each of them can remain valid throughout their specific period of validity, even if concurrently. However, the person can be in the United States only under one category at any given time3/4that is, under the category granted by one of the visas held, and none other.

In the specific example given, a person holding a ten-year multiple visitor visa who is later issued a work visa valid for three to six months would not have their visitor visa cancelled. After the work visa expires, the person can continue to use the visitor visa to enter and remain in the United States; alternatively, the work visa could go unused, and the person could enter and remain in the United States under the visitor visa's category throughout the period in which the work visa was valid.

In a case like the example given above, the visitor visa could be cancelled for reasons other than receiving and/or using another visa: it would require some action by authorities against the individual or, for example, an immigration violation by the individual, to have his or her visa cancelled. When a visa is cancelled, the passport3/4specifically the visa stamp on a passport3/4is usually marked or written over by an immigration officer indicating that the visa has been cancelled.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Untied States of America. 24 June 2003. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration Adjudications, Washington, DC. Telephone interview with staff.