Can a B1/B2 visa be renewed within the United States?

Can a B1/B2 visa be renewed within the United States? - Abraham Lincoln Statue

My family goes to the United States every year for Christmas. This year the visa B1/B2 expires. Is it possible to renew our visas when we are within the United States, instead of renewing it in the country we applied from?

Note: I am not asking for visa extension.



Best Answer

No. You cannot receive a US visa from inside the United States (there are some exceptions for diplomats and foreign government officials, but those are special cases).

You don't have to apply for a visa in your country of origin (you'd generally apply wherever you are resident), but there may be a higher risk of refusal if you apply away from your home in some cases.

US visas only need to be valid on the date of entry, so you could still use yours for this trip even if the visas will expire during the time you are in the US.




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Can I renew my B2 visa while in the US?

You cannot apply for renewal if you are still in the US. Your visa expired between less than 48 months ago. Sometimes visas that expired more than 48 months ago are also eligible.

Can I renew my US B1 B2 visa before it expires?

You do not have to wait until your current visa expires. You can apply for a new visa even if your current visa is valid.

Can I renew my visitor visa inside USA?

To renew your visa, you must contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country to make arrangements for your visa renewal appointment. You must apply for a visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate while abroad. You are not able to obtain a new visa from within the U.S.

Can you extend B1 visa while in US?

If you want to extend your stay in the United States, you must file a request with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on the Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status before your authorized stay expires.



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More answers regarding can a B1/B2 visa be renewed within the United States?

Answer 2

Visas aren't issued inside the US, but on the other hand, the visa expiry date does nothing to your status in the US. Rather, it is by the date stated on the entry stamp in your passport that you must leave.

In fact, you can undertake trips of max 30 days to Canada or Mexico and then re-enter the US, in case you're within the period of stay granted on entry but having an expired visa.

However, for your 2019 visit you'll need to obtain a new visa, which can only be done at a US embassy/consulate.

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