|
If you are a tourist traveling to the US under a travel or visitor visa, you can apply to extend your stay within US borders for up to another 6 months with a visitor visa extension. The process is quite simple, merely follow these steps:
Apply for the extension before your I-94 expiration date. You can still be in legal status in the United States if your visa stamp in your passport has expired. As long as your I-94 is still valid you are legally in the United States and thus permitted to apply for a visa extension. It is best to wait 6 weeks before the I-94’s expiration date to apply. If you apply for a visa extension after your I-94 has expired, the application will be denied and you may be deported.
Wait for at least 3 months. It is best to apply for a visa extension only after 3 months of entering the US. Otherwise the US State Department most likely will conclude that you intended to prolong your stay before you arrived and thus assume intentions of illegal immigration.
Prepare the I-539 Form for extension of stay. It is important to fill this document out completely, leaving nothing blank. Use legible hand writing and the English language and alphabet.
Include a photocopy of your I-94. Never send the original I-94 form as you should keep this for identification purposes. Photocopy your I-94 and include the photocopy with the application when you mail it.
Include a photocopy of every page of your passport. This should include all the blank pages. Send the photocopies along with the application form.
Provide a new proof of financial support. Just as you had to fill out a proof of financial support when applying for your original visitor visa, you must now fill out a new one. This is a statement with additional bank statement proof that you have enough money to pay for your time in the US, including your trip home.
Pay appropriate fees. You will need to check what the current filing fee for visitor visa extension applications is. The fee changes from time to time. Often there is an electronic way to pay. If you have any questions you can contact your nearest US consulate.
You must provide proof that you have a legitimate reason to extend your stay in the US. You should write a letter explaining your reasons for wanting to stay longer. List items in your original itinerary that you have not yet had a chance to do, such as visit the West coast, see the Grand Canyon, go to Disneyland, etc. You must also prove that your job and family in your home country will not suffer during your prolonged absence, and will still be waiting for you when you return home.
Remember that applying for a visitor visa extension does not necessarily mean that it will be granted to you. If the US State Department has any question that you wish to remain in the US indefinitely then you will not be granted an extension
|
