Do tourists or business visitors have to leave the country and reenter after a nonimmigrant visa petition is approved?
This will depend on a variety of factors. In most cases it will be advisable for the visitor to return home to wait for the visa petition approval, then apply for the visa stamp at a local U.S. Consulate. If the individual entered on the “Visa Waiver Program” (indicated by a green-colored I-94 entry card), he or she MUST leave the U.S. and reenter in the new nonimmigrant work visa category. When foreign nationals visit the U.S. as tourists or on business trips, they have stated to the U.S. government that their intentions are to stay temporarily. Therefore, it is not advisable to request to change status shortly after arrival as it suggests that the statements made at the time of entry were not truthful. Return to top “Visa Waiver” entries: Nationals of certain countries do not need to obtain visas for business visits to the U.S. for 90 days or less for purposes acceptable in the B-1 category. They may enter without a visa pursuant to the Visa Waiver Program. An individual who enters t
Related Questions
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- If I qualify to petition at U.S. Embassy Paris, can I petition for an immediate relative immigrant visa for a third country national (non-French citizen)?
- How long do I have to leave the country after my E visa status expires or my company is no longer in business?
