How to Extend Your B1/B2 Visitor Visa During COVID 19

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One of the most important things to remember is to file your application for a visa extension before your current visa expires. If you are in a situation where you’ve already overstayed and don’t have an application for an extension in place can create trouble and raise questions. Thus, you must file your extension at least 45 days prior to the date of the required departure mentioned in your I-94. In a situation, if your visitor visa has already expired, the best option is to contact an immigration attorney to find out what could be your options.

Transcript of How to Extend Your B1/B2 Visitor Visa During COVID 19

Page 1: How to Extend Your B1/B2 Visitor Visa During COVID 19

How�toExtendYour�B1/B2Visitor�VisaDuringCOVID�19�

Page 2: How to Extend Your B1/B2 Visitor Visa During COVID 19

Extending you B1/B2 visaThe coronavirus pandemic has

turned the entire world upside down

and has severely disrupted the

normal life. With so many

restrictions being imposed to curb

the rapid spread of the virus, travel

restrictions and border closures are

enacted by the countries like never

before.

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In this process, several airlines have

suspended travel, and have

compelled people to stay where they

are away from their home countries.

If you are currently in the U.S. and

experiencing a similar fate, and are

unable to return to your home

country, you may have to stay in the

U.S. longer than you had

anticipated. The sudden restrictions

have undoubtedly caused a lot of

trouble but it is for the better good.

Page 4: How to Extend Your B1/B2 Visitor Visa During COVID 19

If you have entered the United

States with a B1/B2 visitor visa, and

find yourself stuck in the U.S., you

do not have to worry. If you have to

stay in the U.S. due to travel

restrictions, you won’t be deported

by the immigration law. In this case,

you will have to file for an extension

of your visitor visa until you can go

back to your home country. If you

are wondering how to extend your

B1/B2 visa, here’s how you can do

it:

Page 5: How to Extend Your B1/B2 Visitor Visa During COVID 19

Amid COVID 19 pandemic, when the

world economy is falling apart, you

are worried about your and your

family’s health and stuck in the U.S.

all you can do it extend your visa and

wait for the situation to get better

and favorable. The USCIS allows you

to extend your B1/B2 visitor visa in

this unusual situation created by

COVID 19.

Can Your Visa Be Extended DuringCOVID 19?

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How to File For your VisaExtension?

USCIS will consider all the visa

extension applications under these

extenuating circumstances of

COVID 19. Here is a step-by-step

guide on how you can file for visitor

visa extension:

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Fill�out�Form�I-539�(Extensionof�non-immigrant�visa)

The first and foremost step is to

fill out the Form I-539. You can

fill this form online by

downloading it and filling the

details As many of the USCID

branches could be temporarily

closed.

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Written Statement

Include a written statement (in

the form of a letter) in which you

must specify the reason for

requesting a visa extension. In

this case, you must clearly state

that your country has closed its

borders due to the pandemic and

you will not be allowed to travel

back to your home country until

the restrictions are lifted.

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Other than providing the written

statement you are also required

to provide the supporting

documents for your visa extension

to demonstrate that you won’t be

a financial burden to the country.

Here is the list of the supporting

documents that you need to

present:

Attach�other�supporting�documents

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Proof that your extended stay

in the U.S. is temporary and

that you will be returning to

your home country as soon as

the restrictions are lifted. This

could include copies of your

return tickets or proof that

you are still employed in your

home country.

1.

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2. Copies of return air tickets.

As you are not certain when your

home country’s restrictions will

be lifted, you can consider

buying tickets with flexible dates.

On the other hand, if your

country has a formal lockdown

you can consider buying a ticket

after the lockdown ends.

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3. opies of your Form I-94. The Form

I-94 is your Arrival-Departure Record

Card and thus, you present its copy to

the USCIS

4. Proof that shows financial

independence while living in the U.S.

You need to show the USCIS that you

will be financially independent during

your extended stay in the U.S. You can

demonstrate this by providing proof of

your income or bank statements.

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5. Documents pertaining to the impact

your extended stay might have on

your foreign employment or

residency. For example, This could

include a letter from your employer

confirming continued employment.

Filing Fees: Lastly, you will have to

pay the filing fee of $370 and

possibly an $85 biometric fee when

you submit your visa extension

application.

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Note: Once you have submitted

your visa extension application,

USCIS will provide you a receipt

with a 13-digit case number. You

can anytime check the status of

your application online and also its

processing time using your case

number.

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One of the most important things to remember is to file your

application for a visa extension before your current visa expires.

If you are in a situation where you’ve already overstayed and

don’t have an application for an extension in place can create

trouble and raise questions. Thus, you must file your extension at

least 45 days prior to the date of the required departure

mentioned in your I-94. In a situation, if your visitor visa has

already expired, the best option is to contact an immigration

attorney to find out what could be your options.

Things to take care of when filing for an extension

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Once you’ve filed for the

extension, you do not have to

worry even if your stay expires

before you finally receive your visa

extension. You are legally allowed

to stay in the U.S. for 240 days

after the expiry date listed in your

I-94, but only if you have evidence

(13 digit case number issued by the

USCIS) of your I-539 application.

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Contact�Us353 1963 0777

[email protected]

www.immigrationlawyerfl.com