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I am hoping you could help me make a decision. I need to visit my dad in the US this year as he just got a surgery and wishes to see me. I'm thinking it might be a challenge for me to visit him. Let me explain.
I went to the US in August 2000. Prior to this I had gone to the US 5 times from 1988 til 1999, always returning home to my country after or within one month of stay. This last time however, I used up my 6-month approved stay & applied for an extension and I was given another 6 months of approved stay in the US. With my longer presence there, I got to learn about a training and certification program that lasted only for 2 months. I took the training because I wanted to start a school in my country. After the 2-month training, I was encouraged by the program administrator in Texas to continue the training through an OJT (on-the-job-training) program at a local public school in Texas. A school accepted me as a trainee, but they also needed to hire me, so they sponsored me & filed for an H1B petition.
When they signified their interest to sponsor me, my approved months of stay was expiring, so I filed another (2nd) extension, just so I'll be in good status when the school petitions me. Later the school received an approval for my petition & I received my H1B. However, after a few months, I received from INS that my request for an extension was disapproved. Our lawyer said I couldn't use the H1B if I wasn't in good status with my B2 visa. I decided to go home in August 2002, with my B2 visa still intact.
To recap, I entered the US in AUGUST 2000. I got an approved extension until AUGUST 2001. I went home to my country AUGUST 2002.
I was able to set up my own school in my country, and I am running it together with my friends. Now, I'm wondering if I can still use my B2 visa, which will expire in July 2008. Just to make sure, I am filing an application again for a B2 visa & have scheduled an interview with our local US Embassy on September 14. But I'm thinking, what if I DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE INTERVIEW anymore? What if my visa is still NOT CANCELLED & good to use for re-entry? And if I can indeed still use my visa, what are my chances of being admitted at the port of entry in the US this year when I take a couple of weeks' vacation? I want to be prepared when Immigration Officials question me at the port. These are now my questions which I am hoping you can shed light to. Appreciate your insight. Thank you very much!
I went to the US in August 2000. Prior to this I had gone to the US 5 times from 1988 til 1999, always returning home to my country after or within one month of stay. This last time however, I used up my 6-month approved stay & applied for an extension and I was given another 6 months of approved stay in the US. With my longer presence there, I got to learn about a training and certification program that lasted only for 2 months. I took the training because I wanted to start a school in my country. After the 2-month training, I was encouraged by the program administrator in Texas to continue the training through an OJT (on-the-job-training) program at a local public school in Texas. A school accepted me as a trainee, but they also needed to hire me, so they sponsored me & filed for an H1B petition.
When they signified their interest to sponsor me, my approved months of stay was expiring, so I filed another (2nd) extension, just so I'll be in good status when the school petitions me. Later the school received an approval for my petition & I received my H1B. However, after a few months, I received from INS that my request for an extension was disapproved. Our lawyer said I couldn't use the H1B if I wasn't in good status with my B2 visa. I decided to go home in August 2002, with my B2 visa still intact.
To recap, I entered the US in AUGUST 2000. I got an approved extension until AUGUST 2001. I went home to my country AUGUST 2002.
I was able to set up my own school in my country, and I am running it together with my friends. Now, I'm wondering if I can still use my B2 visa, which will expire in July 2008. Just to make sure, I am filing an application again for a B2 visa & have scheduled an interview with our local US Embassy on September 14. But I'm thinking, what if I DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE INTERVIEW anymore? What if my visa is still NOT CANCELLED & good to use for re-entry? And if I can indeed still use my visa, what are my chances of being admitted at the port of entry in the US this year when I take a couple of weeks' vacation? I want to be prepared when Immigration Officials question me at the port. These are now my questions which I am hoping you can shed light to. Appreciate your insight. Thank you very much!
