I-539 Visa Extension Question

I-539 Visa Extension Question - Teacher Asking a Question to the Class

My husband is an American citizen, we filled the I-130 in May 2020. I came to visit him in March using my tourism visa. However, I was supposed to return in April to Colombia (my home country) but I haven't been able to return because the border is closed due to COVID-19. So, in July I filled the I-539 online to extend my tourism visa.

I am really worried because my last day on my I-94 is SEP-16, and the border is still closed. On SEP-19, Colombia might open the border but it is not sure. I had a return flight booked for SEP-6 but it was also canceled. USCIS has not answered my visa extension, they can take up to 5 months. Should I update my I-539 application with a new letter explaining that the flight for SEP-6 was also canceled? Do you think that if I overstay this is going to affect my I-130 application? Is there someone in the same situation as me? Has somebody applied for a visa extension?



Best Answer

I am really worried because my last day on my I-94 is SEP-16, and the border is still closed. On SEP-19, Colombia might open the border but it is not sure. I had a return flight booked for SEP-6 but it was also canceled.

USCIS has not answered my visa extension, they can take up to 5 months.

While they are processing your request you are allowed to stay in the country.

Should I update my I-539 application with a new letter explaining that the flight for SEP-6 was also canceled?

Probably not needed to expand it just about this flight. You will want to keep evidence of the cancellation, though. If you get interviewed or later need to tell them something else, I would mention that.

Do you think that if I overstay this is going to affect my I-130 application? Is there someone in the same situation as me? Has somebody applied for a visa extension?

You do not want to overstay, at all. However, if you are awaiting to receive their processing of your request, you are not overstaying. Copying from https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-response-to-covid-19

Nonimmigrants generally do not accrue unlawful presence while the timely-filed, non-frivolous EOS/COS application is pending. Where applicable, employment authorization with the same employer, subject to the same terms and conditions of the prior approval, is automatically extended for up to 240 days after I-94 expiration when an extension of stay request is filed on time.

OTOH, if after the extension you requested you would still need to leave by SEP-16, then you should request another extension.




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How long can you extend stay with I-539?

What If My Form I-539 is Pending and My I-94 Expired? If you have filed for an extension before your I-94 expired date and your application is still under review, you may stay in the U.S. for 240 days. You need to have followed and continue following the terms of your status.

Can you stay in the US longer with an I-539 application?

If you want to stay in the U.S. beyond the time limit of your current visa, you may be able to file an I-539 application to extend or change your visa status.

How long does it take to approve I-539?

I-539 petitions sent to the California Service Center take 1 \u2013 5 months to process, while petitions sent to the Nebraska Service Center take 6 \u2013 8 months. Petitions handled by the National Benefits Center have the best processing times with a turnaround time of as little as one week.

What happens if I-539 is approved?

Once the Form I-539 is approved, the applicant is in a position to extend stay or transition to the new status (from the start date indicated on the Form I-539). Until receiving the approval, the applicant cannot engage in any activities that require being in the new status.



I-539 - How to Extend Visa (Visitor Visa Extension) Frequently Asked Questions VOL 1




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Answer 2

You do not need to "update" anything about your cancelled flight from Sep 6 because the fact you filed an Extension of Stay already meant that you were seeking to stay beyond your I-94 expiration of Sep 16 in the first place.

You do not accrue "unlawful presence" while your timely-filed, non-frivolous Extension of Stay application is pending. Even if your Extension of Stay application is denied, unlawful presence would only start to accrue starting from the date of the denial. You only trigger the unlawful presence ban if you accrue 180 days of unlawful presence and then leave the US. So it you leave soon after a denial of Extension of Stay, you would not trigger a ban, and you should have no problem getting your immigrant visa.

But, since you are in the US, and you are seeking to immigrate since your spouse filed I-130, why don't you just file I-485 for Adjustment of Status? That way, you can immediately stay in the US instead of having to wait for the I-130's approval and the immigrant visa process in your country. In your category, you can file I-485 even if you are out of status, no matter how long you've been out of status. There shouldn't be concerns that you misrepresented yourself when you entered since you did intend to leave soon, and the change in situation was due to COVID-19 and unexpected. The only downside to doing Adjustment of Status would be that you can't leave the US while it is pending (at least not until you get Advance Parole).

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