Have you ever heard again after extending your B2 customer visa because of the Coronavirus pandemic?
USCIS has issued an alert relating to intensive delays in processing receipt notices for I-539 customer visa extension purposes. Those that had filed for a visa extension citing Covid-19 journey restrictions beginning February 1, 2020 may file for an extension with out accruing illegal presence.
Now USCIS is severely backlogged!
B2 Customer Visa Processing Instances
Whereas normal case processing delays have gone up by 100%, extension of keep and alter of standing requests now take wherever from 4 months to 22 months to course of.
Final 12 months, borders have been closed, journey restricted and general folks have been hesitant to journey internationally as soon as Covid-19 was declared a pandemic. This meant that many worldwide guests to the U.S. have been caught within the U.S. past their customer visa expiration.
You Can Nonetheless File For Customer Visa Extension
Right here’s a Step-by-Step Course of To File a B2 Visa Extension
Customer Visa Extension Course of
Consequently, near a 100, 000 customer visa extension and adjustment of standing purposes have been filed in 2020 leading to huge backlogs. USCIS is now coping with processing delays on account of this surge in petition filings at lockbox services.
Associated Article: USCIS Makes Important Adjustments to Type I-539: US Customer Visa Extensions Might Take Longer
Might 2020 noticed a 500% YoY enhance in requests for extensions of B2 customer visa keep leading to 67,000 Type I-539 requests. There was additionally a 100% enhance in change of standing requests from 2019, totaling to eight,000 in Might alone.
Flexibility In Submitting B2 Customer Visa Extension
Given the circumstances, USCIS supplied the pliability to use for an extension or change of standing by way of Type I-539 software. This got here with the disclaimer that those that utilized for an extension previous to their customer visa’s expiration date won’t accrue illegal presence. This utilized to anybody who needed to unexpectedly stay within the U.S. because of the pandemic lockdowns, have been caught on account of flight cancellations or border closings each within the U.S. in addition to their residence nation.
If the U.S. customer is unable to file an extension in a well timed method on account of causes lockdowns, sickness, and different circumstances associated to distant work, USCIS may excuse delays which are on account of extraordinary circumstances past the applicant’s management. This shall be evaluated on a case-by-case foundation.
Issues to Bear in mind When Submitting A Customer Visa Extension
- So far as doable, file your extension software 45 days earlier than your keep talked about within the I-94 expires.
- You’ll be able to keep within the US for 240 days after the expiry date in your I-94 in case you have proof of an I-539 software.
- The 13-digit case quantity and receipt discover by USCIS acts as proof of an present I-539 doc in course of.
- Partner and single youngsters underneath 21 years could be included on one Type I-539
- As a way to qualify, you shouldn’t have violated your visa statusin any method and never be a possible public cost.
Are you making use of for a US Customer Visa extension?
Right here’s the eligibility standards and full doc record
B2 Visa Extension Required Paperwork
Whereas the above step-by-step course of will provide help to file your visa extension with ease, don’t hesitate to contact a authorized immigration knowledgeable for those who want help.
The state of affairs in delays and prolonged processing occasions proceed into 2021. President Biden shouldn’t be planning on lifting the Covid-19 induced journey restrictions significantly for guests from Britain, Brazil and virtually 12 nations from Europe. Many overseas nationals proceed to be caught within the U.S. and unable to go away the nation on the finish of the date stipulated on their I-94s.
USCIS is contemplating the premium processing choice for customer visa extensions however this has not been offered for vote and approval but.
Associated Article: Premium Processing Charges Hiked
Journey restrictions proceed in nations like India, a number of worldwide flights are shunned working overseas and a rise in Covid instances throughout have rendered folks stranded within the U.S. The full Covid-19 loss of life toll is 2 million with over 96 million affected instances.
