In accordance with section 212(a)(7)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(7)(B)), a nonimmigrant alien who makes an application for a visa or for admission into the United States is required to possess a passport that: (1) is valid for a minimum of six beyond the date of expiration of the initial period of the alien's admission into the United States or contemplated initial period of stay and, (2) authorizes the alien to return to the country from which he or she came, or to proceed to and enter some other country during such period. Because of the foregoing requirement, certain competent authorities have agreed that their passports will be recognized as valid for the return of the bearer for a period of six months beyond the expiration date specified in the passport, thereby effectively extending the validity period of the foreign passport an additional six months beyond its expiration date, see 22 CFR 41.104(b).

The list of competent authorities who have made the necessary assurances is shown below: