Blog Feeds
04-26 11:30 AM
As many of our readers know, overstaying a visa can have a serious implications on ones ability to return to the US. The USCIS can record timely departure of a visitor by collecting the I-94 card upon exit.
An I-94 is a form denoting the Arrival-Departure Record of particular foreigners used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uses Form I-94 also. Form I-94 must be completed at the time of entry to the United States by foreign citizens that are being admitted into the United States in a non-immigrant visa status.
But what if you did not turn in I-94 when you left the U.S., what should you do? US Customs provided some useful tips:
If you returned home with your Form I-94 (white) or Form I-94W (green) Departure Record in your passport, it is possible that your departure was not recorded properly.
If you departed by a commercial air or sea carrier (airlines or cruise ships), your departure from the U.S. can be independently verified, and it is not necessary to take any further action, although holding on to your outbound (from the U.S.) boarding pass - if you still have it - can help expedite your reentry next time you come back to the United States.
If you departed by land, private vessel or private plane, you will need to take steps to correct the record. If you do not validate your timely departure from the United States, or, if you cannot reasonably prove you departed within the time frame given to you when you entered, the next time you apply for admission to the U.S., Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may conclude you remained in the U.S. beyond your authorized stay. If this happens, your visa may be subject to cancellation or you may be returned immediately to your foreign point of origin.
Under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), visitors who remain beyond their permitted stay in the United States cannot reenter the U.S. in the future without obtaining a visa from a U.S. Consulate. So if you are a Visa Waiver Program visitor who traveled by land to either Canada or Mexico for an onward flight, it is particularly important for you to register your timely departure if your green I-94W was not taken when you exited the U.S. If you fail to do so and you arrive at a U.S. port of entry seeking admission under the Visa Waiver Program without a visa, CBP Officers may order your immediate return to a foreign point of origin. If you are a VWP visitor and you left the U.S. by an air or sea carrier, you don't need to worry.
If you failed to turn in your I-94 Departure Record, please send it, along with any documentation that proves you left the United States to:
DHS - CBP SBU
1084 South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744
Do not mail your Form I-94 Departure Record or supporting information to any U.S. Consulate or Embassy, to any other CBP Office in the United States, or to any address other than the one above. Only at this location are we able to make the necessary corrections to CBP records to prevent inconvenience to you in the future. The London, Kentucky office does not answer correspondence, so please do not ask for confirmation that your record has been updated.
To validate departure, CBP will consider a variety of information, including but not limited to:
* Original boarding passes you used to depart another country, such as Canada, if you flew home from there;
* Photocopies of entry or departure stamps in your passport indicating entry to another country after you departed the United States (you should copy all passport pages that are not completely blank, and include the biographical page containing your photograph); and
* Photocopies of other supporting evidence, such as:
* Dated pay slips or vouchers from your employer to indicate you worked in another country after you departed the United States,
* Dated bank records showing transactions to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States,
* School records showing attendance at a school outside the United States to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States, and
* Dated credit card receipts, showing your name, but, the credit card number deleted, for purchases made after you left the United States to indicate you were in another country after leaving the United States.
To assist us in understanding the situation and correct your records quickly, please include an explanation letter in English. Your statement will not be acceptable without supporting evidence such as noted above. You must mail legible copies or original materials where possible. If you send original materials, you should retain a copy. CBP cannot return original materials after processing.
We strongly urge you to keep a copy of what you send to DHS-CBP and carry it with you the next time you come to the United States in case the CBP Officer has any questions about your eligibility to enter. Carrying those materials with you will also allow your record to be corrected at the time of entry if, for some reason, the London, Kentucky office has not yet done so.
If taking short trips (30 days or less) to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands during the course of your visit to the U.S., hold onto your I-94 or I-94 (W); it should only be turned in when you leave the U.S. to return home.
Delays beyond the traveler's control, such as cancelled or delayed flights, medical emergencies requiring a doctor's care, etc. are not considered unauthorized overstays, however, you will need to bring proof of the cause of your overstay next time you travel to the U.S. in order for it to be forgiven. For airline delays, ask the airline for a letter affirming the delay or a copy of your cancelled boarding pass.
So make sure to remember to turn in your I-94's, that will eliminate any problems the next time you return to the US.
More... (http://www.visalawyerblog.com/2010/04/how_to_record_and_report_depar.html)
An I-94 is a form denoting the Arrival-Departure Record of particular foreigners used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uses Form I-94 also. Form I-94 must be completed at the time of entry to the United States by foreign citizens that are being admitted into the United States in a non-immigrant visa status.
But what if you did not turn in I-94 when you left the U.S., what should you do? US Customs provided some useful tips:
If you returned home with your Form I-94 (white) or Form I-94W (green) Departure Record in your passport, it is possible that your departure was not recorded properly.
If you departed by a commercial air or sea carrier (airlines or cruise ships), your departure from the U.S. can be independently verified, and it is not necessary to take any further action, although holding on to your outbound (from the U.S.) boarding pass - if you still have it - can help expedite your reentry next time you come back to the United States.
If you departed by land, private vessel or private plane, you will need to take steps to correct the record. If you do not validate your timely departure from the United States, or, if you cannot reasonably prove you departed within the time frame given to you when you entered, the next time you apply for admission to the U.S., Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may conclude you remained in the U.S. beyond your authorized stay. If this happens, your visa may be subject to cancellation or you may be returned immediately to your foreign point of origin.
Under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), visitors who remain beyond their permitted stay in the United States cannot reenter the U.S. in the future without obtaining a visa from a U.S. Consulate. So if you are a Visa Waiver Program visitor who traveled by land to either Canada or Mexico for an onward flight, it is particularly important for you to register your timely departure if your green I-94W was not taken when you exited the U.S. If you fail to do so and you arrive at a U.S. port of entry seeking admission under the Visa Waiver Program without a visa, CBP Officers may order your immediate return to a foreign point of origin. If you are a VWP visitor and you left the U.S. by an air or sea carrier, you don't need to worry.
If you failed to turn in your I-94 Departure Record, please send it, along with any documentation that proves you left the United States to:
DHS - CBP SBU
1084 South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744
Do not mail your Form I-94 Departure Record or supporting information to any U.S. Consulate or Embassy, to any other CBP Office in the United States, or to any address other than the one above. Only at this location are we able to make the necessary corrections to CBP records to prevent inconvenience to you in the future. The London, Kentucky office does not answer correspondence, so please do not ask for confirmation that your record has been updated.
To validate departure, CBP will consider a variety of information, including but not limited to:
* Original boarding passes you used to depart another country, such as Canada, if you flew home from there;
* Photocopies of entry or departure stamps in your passport indicating entry to another country after you departed the United States (you should copy all passport pages that are not completely blank, and include the biographical page containing your photograph); and
* Photocopies of other supporting evidence, such as:
* Dated pay slips or vouchers from your employer to indicate you worked in another country after you departed the United States,
* Dated bank records showing transactions to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States,
* School records showing attendance at a school outside the United States to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States, and
* Dated credit card receipts, showing your name, but, the credit card number deleted, for purchases made after you left the United States to indicate you were in another country after leaving the United States.
To assist us in understanding the situation and correct your records quickly, please include an explanation letter in English. Your statement will not be acceptable without supporting evidence such as noted above. You must mail legible copies or original materials where possible. If you send original materials, you should retain a copy. CBP cannot return original materials after processing.
We strongly urge you to keep a copy of what you send to DHS-CBP and carry it with you the next time you come to the United States in case the CBP Officer has any questions about your eligibility to enter. Carrying those materials with you will also allow your record to be corrected at the time of entry if, for some reason, the London, Kentucky office has not yet done so.
If taking short trips (30 days or less) to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands during the course of your visit to the U.S., hold onto your I-94 or I-94 (W); it should only be turned in when you leave the U.S. to return home.
Delays beyond the traveler's control, such as cancelled or delayed flights, medical emergencies requiring a doctor's care, etc. are not considered unauthorized overstays, however, you will need to bring proof of the cause of your overstay next time you travel to the U.S. in order for it to be forgiven. For airline delays, ask the airline for a letter affirming the delay or a copy of your cancelled boarding pass.
So make sure to remember to turn in your I-94's, that will eliminate any problems the next time you return to the US.
More... (http://www.visalawyerblog.com/2010/04/how_to_record_and_report_depar.html)
cooldudesfo
09-11 04:19 PM
http://www.murthy.com/news/n_begbis.html
ss_col
08-21 12:15 AM
You are very eager to get an answer to make your case. Have you contributed?
vine93
03-04 11:01 AM
These type of memorandum every officer will know immidiately. Remember earlier many people posted in this forum when they called for Infopass appointment officer wasn't aware of any such ruling that he needs to approve I-485 if FBI Namecheck pending more than 180 days.
more...
god_bless_you
03-15 11:20 AM
http://www.immigrationportal.com/showthread.php?t=207073
maximus777
12-09 03:09 PM
in this environment where jobless rate is pushing 10%, i.e., one in ten Americans is without a job! Not trying to be negative here, just reconciling with the present reality and trying to re-adjust my expectations. Just have to hope that the economy picks up steam next year and optimism returns.
more...
scorpioca
05-17 04:38 PM
Hi,
I mom is from Nepal and Dad from India. Marriages between India and nepal is very common in my place, as we are border state. even my brother is married to nepali citizen and we have all my maternal family in Nepal.
I was born in Nepal, but my parents never thought that getting nepali passport would matter, as we were in India. On passport and other documents my I put India as my birth place and no one ever asked for proof of birth place in India back then.
Now for GC, i would need proof of birth( which i have, but from nepal) and that doesnt match my passport.
Would it be advisable to correct my place of birth in Indian passport and all the records now? Can I have "nepal" as my place of birth in indian passport? Will be be still considered Indian citizen?
How does all this affect my GC process? Any unseen dangers/after affects/side effects. please give your suggestions.
I mom is from Nepal and Dad from India. Marriages between India and nepal is very common in my place, as we are border state. even my brother is married to nepali citizen and we have all my maternal family in Nepal.
I was born in Nepal, but my parents never thought that getting nepali passport would matter, as we were in India. On passport and other documents my I put India as my birth place and no one ever asked for proof of birth place in India back then.
Now for GC, i would need proof of birth( which i have, but from nepal) and that doesnt match my passport.
Would it be advisable to correct my place of birth in Indian passport and all the records now? Can I have "nepal" as my place of birth in indian passport? Will be be still considered Indian citizen?
How does all this affect my GC process? Any unseen dangers/after affects/side effects. please give your suggestions.
dush0805
11-25 01:32 PM
I am in the same position guys, I have a approved H1b visa (started oct 2010), I am flying to mumbai through Munic, so I probably wont need a transit visa....
But let me ask you a dumb question, what does AP stand for?
But let me ask you a dumb question, what does AP stand for?
more...
chanduv23
02-19 03:55 PM
when i saw the news last night..... it was pretty evident that this terrorist in austin, tx is anti taxes & anti government anti irs..... i thought tea party movement has found a hero..... the next thing news said - this terrorist was a software professional...... immediately i thought ..... he is going to be hero of anti immigrants like itgrunt.... who will attempt to associate h1b visa to the domestic terrorist....
guess what! surprise surprise..... today we can see itgrunt glorifying domestic terrorism.......
Life of an I.T. Grunt | Notes From The Trenches of Software Development. (http://www.)
when is fbi planning to arrest & question itgrunt......
This website seems to have some viruses or spywre be cautious when you open
guess what! surprise surprise..... today we can see itgrunt glorifying domestic terrorism.......
Life of an I.T. Grunt | Notes From The Trenches of Software Development. (http://www.)
when is fbi planning to arrest & question itgrunt......
This website seems to have some viruses or spywre be cautious when you open
waitingnwaiting
05-20 10:30 AM
i think she fell asleep on keyboard, before she could finish the question :D
Its part of a puzzle game.
She is posting one fraction of the question one site, other fractions on other site.
Now you have to assemble all pieces together and respond to her.
If you win, you get to date her. She is only looking for smart guys and this explains the plot :D
Its part of a puzzle game.
She is posting one fraction of the question one site, other fractions on other site.
Now you have to assemble all pieces together and respond to her.
If you win, you get to date her. She is only looking for smart guys and this explains the plot :D
more...
raysaikat
07-10 08:50 PM
Hello,
I currently hold H1b visa (cap quota), i have an offer from a non profit organization and they are willing to sponsor for my H1b (non cap as this is from a non profit org). I'd like to know will there be any problem if in future i plan to move to a company that will sponsor h1b (cap). How difficult is to transfer from non cap h1 to cap h1?
There is nothing called "transfer". Every time the employer makes a new H1-B petition on behalf of the employee. There is no extra difficulty when you plan to move from your current job to another position that is subject to cap. The new employer will simply file a new H1-B petition.
I read online that if i plan to move from a non-cap h1 to cap h1 in future i have to apply in April under the general quota and wait until Oct to start work again.
This is not true in all cases (including your case). The rule is that if you have once counted in the last 6 years, then you are not subject to cap again. This however also means that you will only be able to get the remaining years from the 6 years limit. For instance, suppose you were counted the first time 5 years before. Then when you again another H1-B, although you will not be subject to cap, you will be able to remain in H1-B only for 1 year. If you do something to reset your H1-B clock (by staying outside US for 1 year, for example), then you will again be subject to cap.
Here is the actual language of the law:
(7) 2/ Any alien who has already been counted within the 6 years prior to the approval of a petition described in subsection (c), toward the numerical limitations of paragraph (1)(A)shall not again be counted toward those limitations unless the alien would be eligible for a full 6 years of authorized admission at the time the petition is filed. Where multiple petitions are approved for 1 alien, that alien shall be counted only once.
I highly recommend that you read the 8 CFR from uscis.gov.
What you "heard" is true for a person who never was on H1-B, and starts his/her career in a cap-exempt position. That person, when s/he wants to move to a non-cap-exempt position, will be subject to cap.
though i can work until the petition is pending.
I'd really appreciate any advise...
Thanks
Raj
I currently hold H1b visa (cap quota), i have an offer from a non profit organization and they are willing to sponsor for my H1b (non cap as this is from a non profit org). I'd like to know will there be any problem if in future i plan to move to a company that will sponsor h1b (cap). How difficult is to transfer from non cap h1 to cap h1?
There is nothing called "transfer". Every time the employer makes a new H1-B petition on behalf of the employee. There is no extra difficulty when you plan to move from your current job to another position that is subject to cap. The new employer will simply file a new H1-B petition.
I read online that if i plan to move from a non-cap h1 to cap h1 in future i have to apply in April under the general quota and wait until Oct to start work again.
This is not true in all cases (including your case). The rule is that if you have once counted in the last 6 years, then you are not subject to cap again. This however also means that you will only be able to get the remaining years from the 6 years limit. For instance, suppose you were counted the first time 5 years before. Then when you again another H1-B, although you will not be subject to cap, you will be able to remain in H1-B only for 1 year. If you do something to reset your H1-B clock (by staying outside US for 1 year, for example), then you will again be subject to cap.
Here is the actual language of the law:
(7) 2/ Any alien who has already been counted within the 6 years prior to the approval of a petition described in subsection (c), toward the numerical limitations of paragraph (1)(A)shall not again be counted toward those limitations unless the alien would be eligible for a full 6 years of authorized admission at the time the petition is filed. Where multiple petitions are approved for 1 alien, that alien shall be counted only once.
I highly recommend that you read the 8 CFR from uscis.gov.
What you "heard" is true for a person who never was on H1-B, and starts his/her career in a cap-exempt position. That person, when s/he wants to move to a non-cap-exempt position, will be subject to cap.
though i can work until the petition is pending.
I'd really appreciate any advise...
Thanks
Raj
shruthi07
01-14 07:20 PM
Your wife has valid legal status till July 2008. The Officer at the POE should give the I-94 date as July 2008 as visa is used only for entering the country before June 2007. If the Officer gives June 2007 date, your wife should show the latest I-797 and get the date corrected. My friend has been in the same situation and was given the later date at POE.
more...
2003doc
08-18 10:14 AM
this should include total applications as derivative also has to file separate I-485. you multiply with 1.7 when you are estimating from approved I-140 to speculate number of people who are waiting online to apply for green cards. bottomline is its no where close to 500,000 to 750,000 as expected by oh-law and other websites
that was expected. 300K * 1.7(average family size according to USCIS) = Approx. 500K
that was expected. 300K * 1.7(average family size according to USCIS) = Approx. 500K
WAIT_FOR_EVER_GC
09-05 09:12 PM
Hello,
Last November I quit my job in the US and left the country as well. Two days ago, I received an email saying my 485 is approved, and card production was ordered. The card will go to an address in the US where someone can forward me the mail.
What should I do? Try to enter the U.S. with the card? What to say to POE officials? WIll I be questioned?
Thanks.
Here is the scenario
When you left the country you must have handed your I-94 to the staff. This information
will be in the system, when you arrive here on GC they may let you in without any problem or can question you how you are approved while being out of country.
AOS(adjustment of status) means that you are adjusting from H1-B or whichever visa you have to permanent residency. For this adjustment you have to be in the country.
If you had opted for conseller processing than things would have been different.
You applied to Adjust within the US. here is where the issue is....
Consult a good attorney before taking a step, because in the long run when you apply for your citizenship they may refuse it and send you back.
Last November I quit my job in the US and left the country as well. Two days ago, I received an email saying my 485 is approved, and card production was ordered. The card will go to an address in the US where someone can forward me the mail.
What should I do? Try to enter the U.S. with the card? What to say to POE officials? WIll I be questioned?
Thanks.
Here is the scenario
When you left the country you must have handed your I-94 to the staff. This information
will be in the system, when you arrive here on GC they may let you in without any problem or can question you how you are approved while being out of country.
AOS(adjustment of status) means that you are adjusting from H1-B or whichever visa you have to permanent residency. For this adjustment you have to be in the country.
If you had opted for conseller processing than things would have been different.
You applied to Adjust within the US. here is where the issue is....
Consult a good attorney before taking a step, because in the long run when you apply for your citizenship they may refuse it and send you back.
more...
sammyb
10-12 04:58 PM
^^^^^^^^^^^^
guess we are the only two on this thread .. isn't there anyone else in LI ... :confused:
guess we are the only two on this thread .. isn't there anyone else in LI ... :confused:
Alabaman
04-30 06:23 PM
all talk... talk talk talk...no action
more...
raysaikat
07-13 01:27 AM
Hi
My wife is on H4 and is planning to convert to F1 before joining graduate school to get scholarship. At same time my PERM is filed and once approved i was planning to use cross chargebility to file under my wife country of birth quota (UAE). i wanted to know following
a) if she applied for conversion for F1 today, can she get scholarship before she gets ssn or she has to wait till she gets ssn
The school cannot pay her stipend unless she has SSN. They might still be able to waive tuition, though.
B) If during her F1 processing time or grauate studies on F1, if my PERM gets approved, can i file for I-140 and I485 using cross chargebility with her being on F1 or i would have to wait for her to conert to H4? If there any risk to our green card processing
You can file I-140/I-485 while your wife is in F1. There is no risk to the green card processing. However, applying I-485 for her might end her F1 and put her into AOS (you need to ask lawyers for this; it is a bit unclear and I have seen contradictory responses).
C)If she continues on H4 visa, can she still get scholarship?
If the scholarship requires her to "work" (for example, being a teaching assistant or research assistant), then most probably no since persons with H4 are not allowed to "work". However, if the scholarship requires no "work", then she may be able to do so while being on H4.
I think the test is if she has to pay taxes for the scholarship money. If yes, then she cannot do so on H4, otherwise she may be able to do it.
if not once she graduates would she be in special US master degree quota for H1B?
Any help on these would be great
Thanks
Once she gets a master's from a US university, regardless of her status while she was in the university, after graduation she will be eligible for special H1-B quota (if it still existed that time).
My wife is on H4 and is planning to convert to F1 before joining graduate school to get scholarship. At same time my PERM is filed and once approved i was planning to use cross chargebility to file under my wife country of birth quota (UAE). i wanted to know following
a) if she applied for conversion for F1 today, can she get scholarship before she gets ssn or she has to wait till she gets ssn
The school cannot pay her stipend unless she has SSN. They might still be able to waive tuition, though.
B) If during her F1 processing time or grauate studies on F1, if my PERM gets approved, can i file for I-140 and I485 using cross chargebility with her being on F1 or i would have to wait for her to conert to H4? If there any risk to our green card processing
You can file I-140/I-485 while your wife is in F1. There is no risk to the green card processing. However, applying I-485 for her might end her F1 and put her into AOS (you need to ask lawyers for this; it is a bit unclear and I have seen contradictory responses).
C)If she continues on H4 visa, can she still get scholarship?
If the scholarship requires her to "work" (for example, being a teaching assistant or research assistant), then most probably no since persons with H4 are not allowed to "work". However, if the scholarship requires no "work", then she may be able to do so while being on H4.
I think the test is if she has to pay taxes for the scholarship money. If yes, then she cannot do so on H4, otherwise she may be able to do it.
if not once she graduates would she be in special US master degree quota for H1B?
Any help on these would be great
Thanks
Once she gets a master's from a US university, regardless of her status while she was in the university, after graduation she will be eligible for special H1-B quota (if it still existed that time).
Green.Tech
03-12 05:56 PM
If you are looking for career change PT MBA is not a good option,you can do PT MBA if you are typically further along in career, often on track for advancement to senior management and you need to balance heavy course load in addition to work and family. I'll be graduating this May from Wharton (Executive MBA) I'm already started getting lucrative offers from consulting firms but unfortuately my I-140 is still pending
So, will the new jobs "change" your job description to render AC-21 ineffective (similar or same category job etc.)?
So, will the new jobs "change" your job description to render AC-21 ineffective (similar or same category job etc.)?
number30
03-23 07:51 PM
Hello,
My first H1-B visa expires in September 2009. I was going to have my company file for extension exactly 6 months before the expiry date until I found out I cannot travel out of the U.S. while my extension application is pending. I have a trip planned in July.
My company attorney recommended that I put off submitting the extension, go on my trip and apply as soon as I get back.
Is there any risk associated with doing this? Or is it better to apply as soon as I can at the 6 month mark?
Thank you,
Team
No Risk involved. You can do a premium processing if required.
My first H1-B visa expires in September 2009. I was going to have my company file for extension exactly 6 months before the expiry date until I found out I cannot travel out of the U.S. while my extension application is pending. I have a trip planned in July.
My company attorney recommended that I put off submitting the extension, go on my trip and apply as soon as I get back.
Is there any risk associated with doing this? Or is it better to apply as soon as I can at the 6 month mark?
Thank you,
Team
No Risk involved. You can do a premium processing if required.
sriharirag
07-16 09:57 AM
In the article. It also says that
"
It isn't clear, however, whether the immigration agency will now accept all applications and process them later, accept only those that have arrived, or come up with some other approach."
So, we don't know...
"
It isn't clear, however, whether the immigration agency will now accept all applications and process them later, accept only those that have arrived, or come up with some other approach."
So, we don't know...
mikrupee
05-02 11:58 AM
I am in similar situation.
I checked with the lawyer. They confirmed that it should notbe a problem. if you change employer you will have to have H1B tranfered to new Company.
I am thinking to change cannot continue hoping for GC and EAD
Take advice from Laywer
I checked with the lawyer. They confirmed that it should notbe a problem. if you change employer you will have to have H1B tranfered to new Company.
I am thinking to change cannot continue hoping for GC and EAD
Take advice from Laywer
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий