Unfortunate Overstay on Tourist Visa Due to Covid19

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

58 minutes ago, Timona said:

Sorry @SusieQQQ I still don't understand this. I know it's off topic,  but would appreciate if you explain how buying ticket on CC may sometimes give you insurance. 

 

I've read your follow up posts but still drawing blank😳

Credit cards often have benefits included for the cardholder, and one of them may be travel insurance.  There are other types of insurance benefits too, example my card also provides full insurance for car rentals if purchased on the card so I don’t have to purchase separately from the car rental company. Some will reimburse you for goods stolen within a month of buying them, etc etc. And some provide automatic travel insurance when you buy air tickets. I think many people just don’t realize how many benefits they get automatically. 

see examples of travel insurance in article here https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/travel/credit-cards-that-provide-travel-insurance/

 

[SalishSea 17,829]

6 hours ago, bradoony said:

Well, If I am wrong reading information from USCIS website : https://www.uscis.gov/news/public-charge-fact-sheet

 

 

Benefits Not Considered  

DHS will not consider:  

• Emergency medical assistance;  

• Disaster relief;  

• National school lunch programs;  

• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children ;  

• The Children’s Health Insurance Program;  

• Subsidies for foster care and adoption;  

• Government-subsidized student and mortgage loans; 

• Energy assistance;  

• Food pantries and homeless shelters; and 

• Head Start.    

 

That does not imply that treatment such as the OP's friend received in the US need not be paid back, or that it would not be considered for future immigrant visas.

[Boiler 45,516]

Insurance with a Credit Card may be common in the US but so much elsewhere, certainly my UK cards do not provide such a benefit.

 

Inability to fund your trip is certainly a factor for B issuance

 

 

[SalishSea 17,829]

Good lesson to all on the need to purchase travel insurance.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

17 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Insurance with a Credit Card may be common in the US but so much elsewhere, certainly my UK cards do not provide such a benefit.

 

Inability to fund your trip is certainly a factor for B issuance

 

 

My South African ones did....that was the one I claimed on.  I (clearly mistakenly) assumed if we did it back in the third world that it would be widespread.  🤷‍♀️ 

[African Zealot 1,455]

10 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

My South African ones did....that was the one I claimed on.  I (clearly mistakenly) assumed if we did it back in the third world that it would be widespread.  🤷‍♀️ 

Third world? People still use such designations in these times?

[Henry357 70]

11 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

My South African ones did....that was the one I claimed on.  I (clearly mistakenly) assumed if we did it back in the third world that it would be widespread.  🤷‍♀️ 

Swipe fees are higher in South Africa.  The EU put a cap on swipe fees for visa and MC so they can’t afford these benefits, you only get them from Amex in UK. 

[Henry357 70]

1 hour ago, Ray.Bonaquist said:

Third world? People still use such designations in these times?

Developing nations... 

[Boiler 45,516]

The US Banking system felt positively antiquated when I came here.

 

Ditto Insurance.

 

 

 

 

[Henry357 70]

3 minutes ago, Boiler said:

The US Banking system felt positively antiquated when I came here.

 

Ditto Insurance.

 

 

 

 

I thought so too.  But they seem to have jumped ahead with all the new tech they introduced

[Boiler 45,516]

I have not noticed that, still seem to be playing catch up.

 

 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

1 hour ago, Henry357 said:

Developing nations... 

I suspect that was a dig at me because I usually call others out on it, I was using to make a point in this case  

 

Swipe fees makes sense as the explanation- thanks for pointing that out - it worked well for me in terms of having the insurance (requirement for schengen visas) and actually using it (medical in US was a biggie, lost bags/baggage delay a couple of times in Europe) - but yeah I guess not so good in the big picture. 

[SalishSea 17,829]

3 hours ago, Boiler said:

The US Banking system felt positively antiquated when I came here.

 

Ditto Insurance.

 

 

 

 

My husband was a banker in NZ for 30 years.  He can't believe paper checks are still widely used here.

[Mimicherie 142]

Update:

 

Good news: He shared he does have a B Visa where he is allowed to stay up to 6 months, but usually stays about 2-3 months so CBP don’t ever question his trips/feel the need to revoke his visa. 

 

Bad News: He has about 8 more days left of physical therapy (his illness had him paralyzed on the right side of his body, through vigorous therapy, he’s been able to gain some movement back) but I believe the 6 month mark just ended sometime this week or will end sometime next week. 

 

We understand the whole “hurry up and try to get his butt home” but he physically cannot travel by himself. His “family” that he has up here consists of 2 people who cannot travel at this time with him. 

It’s almost as if the overstay is inevitable. 

My questions: 

-If he has days/weeks left on his B-Visa can he apply for the extension?

-Is there a fee for that?

-Also, if he applies, does that aid the reason of his overstay even though a decision hasn’t been made yet? For example: Just like AOS aids the fact that you have no status just yet because you sent all your items in.
-If he we’re to be able to leave before they make a decision on his emergency medical assistance, does that automatically voids his app since he’s currently not in the state he applied in due to having to travel back home? 
 

Useful information for those who attempt at answering my questions:

- Haiti 🇭🇹 just opened its land and Boarders for travelers TODAY.  
-He still has to figure out his travel plans since he doesn’t remember details of it. Family is currently looking into that.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

8 minutes ago, gsdc23 said:

Update:

 

Good news: He shared he does have a B Visa where he is allowed to stay up to 6 months, but usually stays about 2-3 months so CBP don’t ever question his trips/feel the need to revoke his visa. 

 

Bad News: He has about 8 more days left of physical therapy (his illness had him paralyzed on the right side of his body, through vigorous therapy, he’s been able to gain some movement back) but I believe the 6 month mark just ended sometime this week or will end sometime next week. 

 

We understand the whole “hurry up and try to get his butt home” but he physically cannot travel by himself. His “family” that he has up here consists of 2 people who cannot travel at this time with him. 

It’s almost as if the overstay is inevitable. 

My questions: 

-If he has days/weeks left on his B-Visa can he apply for the extension?

-Is there a fee for that?

-Also, if he applies, does that aid the reason of his overstay even though a decision hasn’t been made yet? For example: Just like AOS aids the fact that you have no status just yet because you sent all your items in.
-If he we’re to be able to leave before they make a decision on his emergency medical assistance, does that automatically voids his app since he’s currently not in the state he applied in due to having to travel back home? 
 

Useful information for those who attempt at answering my questions:

- Haiti 🇭🇹 just opened its land and Boarders for travelers TODAY.  
-He still has to figure out his travel plans since he doesn’t remember details of it. Family is currently looking into that.

Yes, he can (and imo should) apply for an extension if he is about to overstay. Form i539. $370 plus $85 biometric fee. He should keep all records of his unexpected medical issues. And in simple terms, yes to both the following two questions. See https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/C1en.pdf , particularly page 3. 
 

He should also keep records of his i539 application for his next visa interview- even if it’s years down the line. 

Edited July 1, 2020 by SusieQQQ