Visitor visa extension: will it affect future J1 or H1 visa application?

[raymundli88]

Hi. I'm currently in the US on a visitor visa to take the USMLE exams and to participate in the matching process (which includes interviews) and I was given 6 months so I can stay here until November 15 2015. But I just learned that the interview season may last up to December. I wouldn't want to miss interviews in December so I'm considering applying for a 1-2 month extension. And then I plan to leave the US after the interviews in December. If I get accepted into a residency program, the next time I apply for a US visa, it will be for a J1 exchange visa or an H1 working visa for residency around April-May 2016. My question is: Is it possible that I may have problems with my J1 or H1 visa application in the future in my home country because I applied for the extension? Will they question me why I stayed so long even though my stay here in the US was legal because of the extension application? Will it increase the chances of a J1 or H1 denial in the future? Thanks!

[immihelp]

As long your extension is approved, you would be fine.