Visitors visa to USA for Australian citizen

[hala108]

I am from India but I have Australian passport now. I want to visit USA for 1 year. A temple in USA is giving me sponsor letter. what else do I need?

[peace999]

I am from India but I have Australian passport now. I want to visit USA for 1 year. A temple in USA is giving me sponsor letter. what else do I need?

As you probably already know that you are eligible to enter US for 90 days or less on the visa waiver program ( without a US visa).

As you wish to stay for more than 90 days, you will have to apply for a visitor visa
but , one year stay is not a visit. They will deny your application if you tell them one year.
You can say 4-5 months but you will have to show them a very good reason for you to stay more than 90 days.
Plus strong ties to australia.( A good Job, income, family ).

And MOST IMPORTANTLY if a visitor visa is denied , you will also have difficulty entering on the visa waiver program.

So think carefully before you apply. I suggest just go on your visa waiver program for less than 90 days and return. You can go again after a reasonable gap.

[immihelp]

Are you coming to work for temple? Or do some religious activities for them? As a Yoga teacher?

Please explain why temple wants to invite you for one year.

[hala108]

Hi,

Thank you very much for your precious answers. Fact is I am a monk. I live in the temple and do service. I been to USA 2 times last year on visa vaiwer program. Temple is inviting me so I can do service for the temple. being a monk I dont have job or family or/ property in Australia. but I have property in India.

what would you suggest me? should I try for 6 months visitors visa?

[peace999]

Hi,

Thank you very much for your precious answers. Fact is I am a monk. I live in the temple and do service. I been to USA 2 times last year on visa vaiwer program. Temple is inviting me so I can do service for the temple. being a monk I dont have job or family or/ property in Australia. but I have property in India.

what would you suggest me? should I try for 6 months visitors visa?

In your case, getting a visitor visa will be more difficult as you do not have any ties to australia and there will be an assumption that you may not return from USA.

You could look up religious worker visa ( R visa) but for that you have to meet some criteria and the temple will have to file a petition for you in US.
You could read more about religious visa on US state dept website ( travel.state.gov)

Or just stick with the visa waiver program.

[hala108]

Thanks again for your reply. I really appreciate your help. Obviously I cant stay in USA legally for more then 6 months or a year even if I get B2 visa. Question comes in my mind is, why do they want to find out about my ties in Australia only when I apply for B2 visa? If I want to stay in US illegally then I could do that when I visit there on visa viewer program anyway.

[peace999]

Thanks again for your reply. I really appreciate your help. Obviously I cant stay in USA legally for more then 6 months or a year even if I get B2 visa. Question comes in my mind is, why do they want to find out about my ties in Australia only when I apply for B2 visa? If I want to stay in US illegally then I could do that when I visit there on visa viewer program anyway.

Yes, you can extend your B2 status by another 6 months. That gives you full one year to find a work visa sponsor . Then you can change to work visa status( say H-1) on which you can stay for 6-7 years and then find a green card sponsor in the meantime. A lot of people entering on B1/B2 visa climb the ladder to a green card this way.

With a visa waiver , you are legally not allowed to either extend or change status .
And the officer granting you a B1/B2 visa, is required by law to determine that you have enough ties to return to home country.