How to File a U.S. Visitor Visa Extension
- Fill out Form I-539, Extension of a Non-Immigrant Visa
- Include a written statement explaining your reasons for an extension.
- Provide supporting documents to prove that your extended stay is temporary
- Include copies of return air-tickets
- Provide a copy of your I-94
- Show financial independence and proof that you will not become a...
Full Answer
Is it hard to get an US tourist visa?
There are many factors that can improve or hamper your odds for approval of a US tourist visa. The primary reason for the interview is to convince the consular officer that you have no intention of overstaying or immigrating permanently to the US. Being unemployed, or employed for a short period of time at the same job may hurt your case.
How to extend visitor's visa in USA?
Documents required for the US visa extension:
- Completed I-539 Form (PDF) Or File Online ( I-539 Online) If you decide to e-file, follow these tips and information on how to submit supporting documents. ...
- An application stating the reason for the requested extension. ...
- Proof of financial support during this extended stay.
- Copy of your return tickets as a proof of your temporary stay intentions.
How long can a B1/B2 visa holder stay in the US?
Permanent residence in the United States. A B-1/B-2 visa does not grant permanent resident status - it is a temporary visa - but the holder can apply for a green card. The maximum amount of time issued for a B1/B2 visa is 180 days. This visa allows for multiple entries into the United States.
How do I apply for a visa extension?
Extension of Stay. If you came to the United States on a nonimmigrant visa and you want to extend your stay you must apply with USCIS before your authorized stay, denoted on your admission stamp or paper Form I-94, expires.
Can you extend stay in USA on tourist visa?
If you want to extend your stay in the United States, you must file a request with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on the Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status before your authorized stay expires.
How can I stay in US after my tourist visa expires?
The status does not end when the visa expires. However, you will require a valid visa anytime you seek entry into the U.S. If your visa expires and you are traveling internationally, you will need to get a new visa before returning to the U.S.
Can I stay more than 6 months in USA on tourist visa?
When you enter the U.S., a customs officer will give you authorization to stay in the U.S. for up to six months. If you'd like to stay for longer, you may be able to apply to extend this for up to one year.
Can I extend my stay in US after 90 days?
It is possible to extend your stay past the allowed 90 days in the Visa Waiver Program but only in case of an emergency. Keep in mind that any extension is not to exceed 30 days.
How can I stay in U.S. longer than 3 months?
You must apply for a visa (B2 visa) if you want to stay in the U.S. for more than 90 days, no matter what the reason. You must apply for a visa (B1 visa) if you are traveling to the U.S. for employment or business purposes involving remuneration, even if not staying longer than 90 days.
Can B1 B2 visa be converted to green card?
As a B-1/B-2 visitor, you could potentially apply for a green card from within the United States, a process known as “adjustment of status” (AOS). You can also apply from your home country using consular processing.
How can I convert my tourist visa to work permit in USA?
If you want to change the purpose of your visit while in the United States, you (or in some cases your employer) must file a request with USCIS on the appropriate form before your authorized stay expires.
What is a good reason to extend B2 visitor visa?
Typical reasons for extending B2 visa status includes continuation of tourism activities, social meetings with friends and relatives, and participating in social organizations and functions. In some cases it is prudent to change status from another nonimmigrant visa category to B1 or B2 status.
How many times can you visit U.S. in a year?
How long to stay out of the US before returning? The significance of the 2-year ESTA validity is that during this period you can practically return to the US as many times as you want, as long as you never exceed the 90-day period.
What happens if I stay more than 6 months in USA?
If you overstay by one year or more, after you depart the U.S., you will be barred from reentering the U.S. for ten years. This is because unlawful presence is one of the many U.S. grounds of inadmissibility, with built-in penalties.
How long can I stay in the US on a B1 B2 visa?
6 monthsB visa length of stay B1 and B2 visa holders are allowed to stay in the US for up to 6 months at a time. Each visa application will be assessed on its own merit, and the adjudicating officer may grant a stay of less than 6 months – this is the maximum period for an initial stay under the B classification.
How soon can I re enter the USA on tourist visa?
How Soon Can You Visit the U.S. Again on a B Visa? Technically you can visit the United States whenever you want to if you have a B1/B2 visa and a valid passport. There aren't any rules or laws requiring you to wait a specific time before you are allowed to return.
Can I stay in the US after my B2 visa expires?
You can legally stay in the United States until the expiration of your authorized period of stay. However, you will not be able to travel to the United States Port of Entry to seek a new admission unless your visa has been renewed by the American Embassy in your country of Nationality.
How long can I stay after visa expires?
You may be banned from reentering the U.S. for three years. This happens if you stay in the U.S. for more than 180 days but less than 1 year after your visa expiration date, but leave the country before formal removal proceedings begin.
What can I do if I overstayed my visa?
If you entered the United States legally and overstayed your visa, and your green card sponsor is a U.S. citizen, you can apply for Advance Parole. You'll be able to go abroad and return to the United States without facing re-entry bars.
How long can you stay in America without a visa?
90 daysThe Visa Waiver Program (VWP), administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in consultation with the State Department, permits citizens of 40 countries to travel to the United States for business or tourism for stays of up to 90 days without a visa.
How long before your USCIS authorization expires can you extend your stay?
Check for the dates online to determine when your authorized stay expires. USCIS recommends that you apply to extend your stay at least 45 days before your authorized stay expires.
When should I apply for Visa extension?
USCIS recommend that you apply to extend your stay at least 45 days before your authorized stay expires, but the USCIS Service Center must receive your application by the day your authorized stay expires.
How long is a US visitor visa valid for?
These are generally issued for a period of six months, but an additional maximum extension of 6 months can be granted based on the USCIS approval.
How to extend I-94 visa?
If you want to extend your I-94 date or extend US visitor visa stay in the United States, you must file a request with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on the Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Non-immigrant Status before your authorized stay expires. If you remain in the United States longer than authorized, you may be barred from returning and/or you may be removed (deported) from the United States. Check for the dates online to determine when your authorized stay expires. USCIS recommends that you apply to extend your stay at least 45 days before your authorized stay expires.
What happens if you get denied a visa extension?
If your visa extension application rejected or denied, you will receive a letter that will tell you why the application was denied. You will then be required to leave USA immediately.
What happens if I get an extension for my visa?
If your application for an extension is approved you will be issued a replacement I-94 with a new departure date. Make a copy of this approval letter and I-94 and keep into your record, these will be useful for future entry to USA. You should carry these when you make next US trip or appear for a fresh US visa next time.
What happens if you are refused permission to extend your stay?
The CIS cautions that if you are refused permission to extend your stay, you may encounter problems with Consulates overseas the next time you apply for a U.S. visa because their computer records will indicate that you did not leave the U.S. within the time frame of your initial period of entry.
What happens if I get denied an extension of stay?
If your application is denied, you will be required to depart the United States immediately.
What happens if you get denied a visa?
If your application is denied, you will be required to depart the United States immediately. In short, you take a leap of faith that everything will turn out alright. In addition, if your application is denied, any visa in your passport that was granted in connection with your status becomes void.
How long does a USCBP officer have to admit a traveller?
This lack of notice given to the traveller is a problem because in such circumstances USCBP officers by law are required to admit travellers for a minimum period of six months, regardless of the time requested, unless the traveller’s passport is valid for only a shorter period of time.
How does an I-94 extension work?
The process is arcane but can be understood. When you enter the U.S. as a visitor, you are issued a Form I-94 electronically and it determines your period of authorized stay. You must extend before your period expires. (More on this in a moment) However, even ...
Is it possible to have more than one extension?
Reasonableness helps. Getting more than one extension is rare.
What happens if I get denied an extension?
However, if your extension is denied, you will be considered out of status immediately, and your visa stamp will be void. You must leave the U.S. immediately as there is no grace period. In that case, your stay beyond the I-94 expiration date will be considered an “unlawful presence” for the purposes of inadmissibility.
What happens if I get an extension for I-94?
until the new I-94 date. However, if your extension is denied, you will be considered out of status immediately, and your visa stamp will be void. You must leave the U.S. immediately as there is no grace period.
How long before I-94 expires?
You should apply at least 45 days before your authorized stay (as per the passport stamp or the date on your Form I-94) expires. The duration for which the person can stay depends upon the expiration date of the I-94, and NOT on the expiration date of the visa stamp. The date on the visa stamp is irrelevant.
Is the length of a stay reasonable?
The length of the stay was reasonable. You have not done anything else to violate your non-immigrant status (visitors cannot work in the U.S.) You are still a non-immigrant. That means you or someone on your behalf has not filed an immigrant visa petition.
Can I stay on an I-94?
The duration for which the person can stay depends upon the expiration date of the I-94, and NOT on the expiration date of the visa stamp. The date on the visa stamp is irrelevant.
How long do you have to apply for an extension visa?
The USCIS recommends that you do your visitor visa extension application at least 45 days before your initial departure date. The USCIS service centers must receive your application before your authorized stay expires. This helps you to get a case number before your departure date and allows you an extra 240 days to stay i the U.S. (or at least until your case has come to a decision).
How much does it cost to get a visa extension?
Include payment – The visa extension filing fee is $370 (for you and your family included in the application) but there may be an extra $85 biometric fee involved depending on your current type of visa.
What is an S nonimmigrant visa holder?
An S nonimmigrant visa holder (an informant on terrorism or organized crime including their dependents).
What to do after filing I-539?
After you’ve filed your I-539 there isn’t much you can do to influence the USCIS decision process but you can remain vigilant about your situation. Check the status of your case online on a regular basis and comply with the USCIS in the adjudication process.
What happens if you are denied a visa?
If your application is denied you must leave the U.S. immediately to avoid any removal procedures. If you don’t leave immediately and steps are taken against you, it could influence your ability to enter the U.S. again in the future.
Do you need copies of your immigration documents?
Keep to the dates on your immigration documents and always have copies with you to serve as proof for your legal stay in the U.S.
Can you get a visa if you have committed a crime?
You have not committed any crimes that could remove your eligibility for the visa.
How long before your stay expires can you file for an extension?
If possible, file your extension application 45 days before your stay is set to expire.
How many digits are in a USCIS extension?
Once the extension application is submitted, USCIS will give you a receipt with a 13-digit case number.
Can I extend my B-1 visa?
If you need to extend your I-94 date or U.S. visitor visa stay in the United States , you must file an extension of stay with the U.S.
How long do you have to file for an extension for a US visa?
You should file your visa extension at least 45 days before your visa expires. This is the recommendation of the USCIS because if you file on time, you may be allowed to stay in the US for another 240 days which will still depend on the reasons and other factors behind your request.
How to check if I have an extension visa?
You can also check the status of your visa extension online through the receipt case number given to you. Once your visa extension is approved, you will receive a replacement I-94 with a new expiration/departure date.
What happens if you get denied a visa extension?
On the other hand, if your visa extension got denied, you will receive a written notice about the denial. For that reason, you will have to leave the United States immediately.
How many digits are in a USCIS extension?
After filing your extension request, you will receive a 14 digit case number from the USCIS. The processing time is also indicated in this receipt. Aside from that, your schedule for biometrics appointment will be given to you so you can be fingerprinted and photographed along with other applicants.
Eligibility
Generally, you may be eligible to apply for an extension of your authorized period of stay if:
File Online
Not all nonimmigrants are able to file Form I-539 online at this time. You can check your eligibility on our website. If you are eligible, you may create a USCIS online account to file online and:
How long is a re-entry permit valid for?
For permanent residents, the re-entry permit is valid for two years from the date of issue. For conditional residents, it is valid for up to two years.
How long is an EAD card good for?
In most cases, an EAD work permit is good for one year.
Where to get documents for USCIS?
Contact USCIS and your country's embassy or consulate for all document requirements.
