General Information:
B-1/B-2 Non-Immigrant Visa is designed for foreign nationals who
are coming to the United States for business (e.g. attending meeting and
conventions), tourism purposes or to obtain medical treatment. You may also
use the visa for a short-term training if your foreign employer is covering
your salary. You are not allowed to use this visa to work in the US and / or
to study.
Travelers from certain eligible countries may also be able to visit the U.S.
without a visa, under the
Visa Waiver Program, which exempt citizens from certain countries from the
Visa requirement, provided they are holding a machine readable passport. These
countries include: Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino,
Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Visa Applications:
Visa applications may ONLY be made at a US Consulate in your country of
residence. There is a presumption in the law that every Visa applicant is an
intending immigrant. In order to overcome this presumption you will have to
convince the Consular Officer that you have a residence, which you have no
intention to abandon, i.e. that you have binding ties that will insure your
return at the end of the trip.
Extension of Stay in the US and Change of Status?
When you come to the US with a B-1/B-2 Visa the Immigration Officer at the port
of entry will usually grant you permission to stay (A Status) for a period of up
to six months. This Status may be EXTENDED or CHANGED to another status, for
example, to H,
R, L,
E-1, E-2, or
F/J/M OR Green Card.
Frequently asked questions:
For how long can I extend my stay?
Extensions of B-1/B-2 status are normally granted for a period of up to six
months at a time.
When is the time to apply for the extension?
The application must be received at the United States Citizenship
& Immigration Services (USCIS) BEFORE your status is expired. This date is
indicated on the I-94 Card which the Immigration Officer attached to your
passport when you entered the US. We recommend our clients to file
application to extend their status at least three weeks before their status
expire.
What is my status during the process of the application?
If you filed your application on time your stay is legal and is
extended until the USCIS will make a decision on your case. If your application
is approved your stay in the US will be extended from the time your status
expired until the time stated at approval notice. For Example, if your status
expired on January 1, 2006 and on December 12, 2005 you applied for an extension
of stay for additional six months and on March 25, 2006 the application is
approved , your will (normally) be permitted to stay in the US until June, 30,
2006.
How long does it take for the USCIS to make a decision on my
application? The USCIS will normally make a decision on your
application in approximately 90 days. Sometimes, the USCIS issue a "Notice of
Action", requesting additional documents and/or information to support your
application and this procedure effects the processing time. You may check your
case status online using our case
status page.
What are the documents I need to submit with my application?
A copy of your passport may suffice. However, we recommend that
you send with the application a copy of your return flight ticket and also a
copy of a recent bank statement or other documents you may have, to demonstrate
your ability to support yourself during the stay.
Do I have to come to your office in order to file the
application?
No. Almost every application to EXTEND or to CHANGE a status does
not require a personal meeting in our office and can be made through mail, fax
or email correspondence.
How much does it cost to apply for an extension of
my B-1/B-2 Status
|
USCIS filing fees |
$300 |
|
Legal Fees |
$99 |
How do I start a case?
If you wish to apply for an extension of your B-1/B-2 Status in
the US please mail us a copy of your passport and your I-94 card (both sides), a
copy of your flight ticket, and a recent bank account showing a balance of at
least $3,000, together with a check for the legal fees.
*Note that the above prices are subject to change at any time and without
further notice. Prices do not include applications for dependents, dealing with
Notice of Actions, out of pocket expenses and any unexpected circumstances we
may have to address.
**This is general information and is NOT intended to provide
legal advice.
