Extending Your Stay in the U.S.
Many United States visas come with specific timelines that dictate how long an individual is allowed to stay in the country. Once the visa expires, he or she faces deportation from the U.S. However, the government also recognizes that there are special circumstances under which it could be unsafe or harmful for a person to return to their home country.
There are several ways in which a visa holder can work to extend their stay in the United States. However, it can be difficult to prove your case to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. To help you reach your goal of remaining in the United States, you should contact an experienced Orange County immigration attorney from Garg & Associates, P.C., today at 949-540-6704.
Filing to Lengthen Your Visit
If you want to extend your stay in the U.S., it is important to begin filing your paperwork before your original visa expires. Should it expire before you apply for an extension, you can face deportation as well as become barred from the United States.
You can apply for an extension if you meet the following requirements:
- You were lawfully allowed into the U.S. with a nonimmigrant visa
- Your visa is still valid
- You have not committed any crimes that cancel your visa
- You have not violated any of your conditions for admission
- Your passport is still valid and will continue to be even if you lengthen your stay
Technically, you do not file an actual “extension” with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in order to lengthen your stay. Instead, you file to change your status with the Form I-539 – Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.
Contact Us
It can be very confusing and time-consuming to file all of the visa extension paperwork required by the U.S. government. However, this should not exclude you from staying in the United States. For dedicated legal help in proving your need to stay in the U.S., contact an experienced Orange County immigration lawyer from Garg & Associates, P.C., at 949-540-6704 today to discuss your case.
