B2 Visa tied to J1 Visa + I-94 issue

S

sniglet

New Member
Hi all,

Ok, so let me lay out the situation as best I can.

My UK passport is well in date (expires May 2018).

My B2 visa expires in April 2009 and is annotated as "To accompany J1 **** ****" where **** **** is my girlfriend's name. When I was issued the visa the embassy official stated that my visa was tied to her J1 (will this help me coming extend my I-94?). The whole premise of my B2 application was based around the fact she would fund my stay, which she has. I've done no work while I've been in the US, just enjoyed myself.

My current I-94 expires on the 12th November 2008 (not long away I know!). Flights back to the UK are booked already.

My question is, what would be the most effective way for me to remain in the USA until April 2009 (the expiry of my B2)? Do I have to return to the UK or would any foreign soil be ok? I have no issue with returning to the UK for an amount of time, but it would be great if someone could help me find out how long this would need to be.

If anyone has a US phone number I could call to get advice on this, I'd also much appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,
Nick
 
You may file for a 6 month extension. See the USCIS website for instructions. If it is denied and you have not yet left the US, your visa will be voided therefor it is generally not advised. Read the forum for other problems that result from an extension.
 
Hey Concerned4us,

Thanks for the reply.

So basically you'd suggest filing for an I-94 extension and leaving the country 'til that's resolved. Good advice and many thanks.

If anyone has any more information that may help, please feel free to post.

EDIT: Just called the USCIS and receive the following information:

- Provided my application is received before the expiry date, I have 240 days from expiry of the I-94 where I will still be legally able to stay in the USA on my B2 visa.

- If the application is denied I will have been 'out of status' from the time my application has been denied. This may affect my future B2 (and other?) visa status.

- In terms of processing time of appliactions they are still working through applications from October 2007 so it may take some time!

Nick
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Sorry about the double post, but assumed this was a better idea than making a new thread.

I've made a decision and decided to leave the USA to return to the UK for a few weeks. This is based on the fact that I have the annotation ¨to accompany J1¨ on my visa which means I am accompanying my partner while in the USA and is covered by this document:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/laws/telegrams/telegrams_1414.html

Does anyone think (or have experience) that the following will make re-entry problematic? :

1) My girlfriend will not be returning to the UK with me and as such will not be with me on re-entry into the USA.

2) We did not know that we should have asked for the full year of I-94 status when we first arrived and as such I only got a 6 month I-94 on first entry; will this complicate things on re-entry?

Many thanks for any advice.
 
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