For background, you can learn more about the H-1B visa here, and about the B-2 tourist visa here . But if you want to change status between the H-1B and B-2, how does the timing matter? Can I file a…
If you want to come to the U.S. and explore E-2 investment opportunities, you should enter as a B-1 business visitor (either on a B-1 visaor as anESTA business visitor). Exploring investment opportunities is an activity that is specifically allowed…
No, in general we discourage travel outside the U.S. while a change of status petition is pending. Travel Outside the U.S. While Change of Status Petition Is Pending An individual who has status under one nonimmigrant visa category can change…
Participants of some J-1 visa programs are subject to a 2 year home residency requirement. This means, that the J-1 visa participants will have to return to their home country for at least 2 years after the completion of the…
If you are a national of a treaty country and you want to come to the U.S. to engage in international trade between the U.S. and your home country, E-1 visa is a great option for you. Our clients often…
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that permits a company to hire workers in specialty occupations. There are a limited number of H-1B petitions that USCIS can adjudicate every year (65,000 Regular Cap petitions and additional 20,000 U.S. Advanced…
When you enter the U.S. on a visa, your I-94 date governs the amount of time that you are permitted to stay in the U.S. Normally, when status is about to expire, there is an option to either extend status,…
At the moment, USCIS is not offering flexibility to nonimmigrant who are unable to depart the U.S. because of the COVID outbreak. Foreign nationals who are soon out of status may seek a change or extension of status to stay…
While most E-2 visas are filed at U.S. Consulates abroad, there are some instances where an applicant may apply for a change of status while in the U.S. For example, an applicant could enter the U.S. on B status and…
Starting on August 29, 2019, E-2 visa reciprocity for French nationals will decrease from the current 60 months (5 years) to 15 months (1 year and 3 months). The amount of time an E-2 visa can be granted for varies…
When in the U.S., it may be possible to apply to change status to E-2 status. (Eg. moving from an F-1 to E-2) If an applicant changes status in the U.S. and has family members abroad, the question comes up…
One way to apply for an E-2 visa if you are in the U.S. is to file an I-129 form to change status. While most applicants apply for E-2 visas at a Consulate, there are some instances where applying through…
USCIS have announced today that it has began to accelerate USCIS’ transition into a digital business model. Starting today, Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status can now be filed online. Form I-539 is primarily used for dependents of nonimmigrant…
The E-2 treaty investor agreement signed between the United States and Israel came into effect on May 1, 2019. Israeli nationals who are interested in investing in the United States can now apply for the E-2 visa. USCIS has also announced…
In plain language, the phrases ‘change of status’ and ‘adjustment of status’ may sound like they are describing the same process. However, in immigration law there is a fundamental difference between these two procedures. Change of Status When you come…
USCIS has extended and expanded the suspension of premium processing for certain H-1B cases. This suspension affects Fiscal Year 2019 pending cap cases and, starting from September 11, 2018, most changes of employer, changes of status, and amendment applications. This…
If you are an F-1 student and an H-1B cap petition to change status to H-1B has been filed on your behalf, traveling internationally could impact your ability to change status and reenter the United States. It is very important…
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a program that was introduced by the Obama Administration in June 2012 to provide work authorization and administrative relief from immigration enforcement action to certain unlawfully present aliens who entered the United States…
The H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa suitable for individuals who have a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent and a job offer from a sponsoring employer in a specialty occupation that is related to their field of study. A specialty…
We just received an approval for a B-1 visa for an applicant that is applying for an E-2 visa through USCIS. The applicant entered the U.S. on a B-2 visa and changed status to a B-1 to give him the…
An E-2 visa is a visa that can be issued to nationals of certain countries who want to start a business in the U.S. that will ultimately hire U.S. workers. The business can be a small one that requires a…
An E-2 visa is a great visa for a person who wants to launch a startup or purchase a business in the United States. In order to obtain the visa the applicant must invest in a business in the United States,…
We just received approval for an E-2 visa and change of status applications filed at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a Bangladeshi investor and his family. The applicant invested in and became majority owner of a Halal grocery.…
People visit the United States for many different reasons, such as tourism, starting a business venture or visiting family members and friends. While you are in the U.S. your circumstances may change and you may want to extend your stay…
An E-2 visa is a visa that is available for entrepreneurs, investors and business owners who wish to live in the U.S. to develop and direct the operations of a business. The visa is perfect for those who want to…
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