Girlfriend Trying to Transfer from J-1 to Tourist Visa

[DrEllaNJ 288]

2-year home requirement is very unlikely, but easy to check: on her visa stamp, it either says: 2-year HR does NOT apply, or it says something about her having a 2-year home requirement.

 

She can stay for 30 days after her current program, but make sure she doesn't overstay as that would have serious consequences. If she wants to change to visitor status she should apply now while still in status. 

 

Otherwise, perhaps you can go visit her in Colombia?

[Keith Staffaroni 0]

1 hour ago, DrEllaNJ said:

2-year home requirement is very unlikely, but easy to check: on her visa stamp, it either says: 2-year HR does NOT apply, or it says something about her having a 2-year home requirement.

 

She can stay for 30 days after her current program, but make sure she doesn't overstay as that would have serious consequences. If she wants to change to visitor status she should apply now while still in status. 

 

Otherwise, perhaps you can go visit her in Colombia?

If she doesn't have the 2 year HR then how would she go about applying for the visitor status and are the odds good that she would get it?

[caliliving 606]

17 hours ago, geowrian said:

Not impossible, but it's a very low chance of success. She has several negative factors:

• Recently lived within the US
• Pretty high fraud country for tourist visas (>17% aggregate refusal rate last year)
• US boyfriend
• Single female in working age

Having sufficient ties to Colombia to overcome that is very difficult.

+1

 

 

Like he said very hard to get a tourist visa. I don't see it happening especially after being in the USA for so long. If ur serious about the relationship u will have to get married or go visit her. Maybe in a year she could get one if she has strong ties to Columbia 

 

[Boiler 46,086]

8 minutes ago, Keith Staffaroni said:

If she doesn't have the 2 year HR then how would she go about applying for the visitor status and are the odds good that she would get it?

Very similar process to getting the J1, just a different category. B is for Visitors.

[DrEllaNJ 288]

https://www.uscis.gov/visit-united-states/change-my-nonimmigrant-status-category/change-my-nonimmigrant-status

 

here's the how to:

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/C2en.pdf

 

[DrEllaNJ 288]

it costs $370, just fyi

[Coco8 1,042]

55 minutes ago, Keith Staffaroni said:

If she doesn't have the 2 year HR then how would she go about applying for the visitor status and are the odds good that she would get it?

If she applies while she is in the US with the J1 it is 99% probability of being denied because, as she has been living in the US, her ties to Colombia are weak. The denial will be in her record and if she applies in Colombia again, it will be denied because she would have already looked desperate applying in the US for a visitor visa. By then, it won't matter if she has tried to put together evidence of ties to Colombia.

 

Anyway, everyone is telling you the same thing. Not to be rude, but she can already stay 30 days after her J1 expires so she basically is seeking to stay 30 days + 6 months = 7 months extra. That is way too long. 

 

If she hasn't reached the limit on her J1 extension she can try that. Or if you have holidays, you can spend more time in another country.

 

Unfortunately, the only way for her to stay in the US is marriage. Or she can apply for college and come with an F1, but her parents should have a lot of money to pay for that.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 7, 2017 by Coco8

[Keith Staffaroni 0]

1 hour ago, Coco8 said:

If she applies while she is in the US with the J1 it is 99% probability of being denied because, as she has been living in the US, her ties to Colombia are weak. The denial will be in her record and if she applies in Colombia again, it will be denied because she would have already looked desperate applying in the US for a visitor visa. By then, it won't matter if she has tried to put together evidence of ties to Colombia.

 

Anyway, everyone is telling you the same thing. Not to be rude, but she can already stay 30 days after her J1 expires so she basically is seeking to stay 30 days + 6 months = 7 months extra. That is way too long. 

 

If she hasn't reached the limit on her J1 extension she can try that. Or if you have holidays, you can spend more time in another country.

 

Unfortunately, the only way for her to stay in the US is marriage. Or she can apply for college and come with an F1, but her parents should have a lot of money to pay for that.

 

 

 

 

If she doesn't have the 2 year requirement and goes back to Colombia would she after a few months be able to apply in Colombia for a tourist visa to come back to the US just for a few weeks?

[DrEllaNJ 288]

1 minute ago, Keith Staffaroni said:

If she doesn't have the 2 year requirement and goes back to Colombia would she after a few months be able to apply in Colombia for a tourist visa to come back to the US just for a few weeks?

yes but she needs to show proof of strong ties to her home country. They're pretty strict about that, I have a friend who came back on VWP (tourist with visa waiver) for graduation after her J1 had expired, and almost didn't make it.

[Keith Staffaroni 0]

Just now, DrEllaNJ said:

yes but she needs to show proof of strong ties to her home country. They're pretty strict about that, I have a friend who came back on VWP (tourist with visa waiver) for graduation after her J1 had expired, and almost didn't make it.

How does one show proof of strong ties to your country and why is that important?

[Boiler 46,086]

She got a J1 which is also a non immigrant visa, I have no idea of her situation, no real info except she is from Columbia, which most people would consider a negative for a Tourist Visa, but that is just one factor.

 

When applying for a tourist visa they want to be reasonably confident you will go home, many forget to do so.

Edited July 7, 2017 by Boiler

[Keith Staffaroni 0]

Just now, Boiler said:

SHe got a J1 which is also a non immigrant visa, I have no idea of her situation, no rela info except she is from Columbia, which most people would consider a negative for a Tourist Visa, but that is just one factor.

What other information is important to know/would help?  I can ask her and give that information to you and anyone else who can help on this post.

[caliliving 606]

3 minutes ago, Keith Staffaroni said:

What other information is important to know/would help?  I can ask her and give that information to you and anyone else who can help on this post.

Her chances are slim. It probably isn't going to happen...read about others from columbia...she has been here 6 months plus 30 days that is enough time to tour. Unless she has property, or a really good job it's slim. I'm telling u 99% chance she will NOT get one. Maybe wait a year but even then she needs a solid paying job and strong ties she will return...

 

They American gov doesn't care about her reasons for coming to the USA only for returning. If you read previous posts you will see she has so many negatives that her chance of getting approved based on the fact she won't return to Columbia are slim. I wouldn't even bother applying for at least a year or until she is in a solid job and has other things for example a house. 

[Coco8 1,042]

26 minutes ago, Keith Staffaroni said:

What other information is important to know/would help?  I can ask her and give that information to you and anyone else who can help on this post.

 

Possible ties include:

1. A job and showing she is going to go back. So only using her holidays.
2. Enrolling in college and showing she is doing well and is a full-time student traveling during holidays
3. Property
4. Lease of rent

 

[DrEllaNJ 288]

34 minutes ago, Keith Staffaroni said:

What other information is important to know/would help?  I can ask her and give that information to you and anyone else who can help on this post.

you're not trying to convince us, but she has to convince the consular officer that she will go back to her country after her tourist visa is up.