B1- need an advice

[Zafar]

Hi guys.
I hope you are all well and doing great.
Quite recently, my spouse and I received B1 type visa for 4 years.
Now we are planing to go there and to find our way.
Since most of you in the US and have seen/heard/known situation/problems I may face, I decided to ask your kind advices on this issue. Any information, in particular up to date information, will be truly appreciated.
Here are my questions:

1. We are planing to change our status from B1 to F1 when we are in the US. We learnt it is possible, is it right? So we will try not to violate any immigration rules of the US. What should we do Not to violate those rules?
I heard when I am entering to the US territory, they may allow me to stay up to 1 or 3 months there. Can it be extended?

2. Fortunately or unfortunately, we are not rich people, so, we want to work to make money. I assume we hide it from authorities in order not to jeopardize our status. Is it possible? What kind of work we can find? We both speak good english and friendly characters.
How much can we earn in a month?

Ask me, if i made my questions not clear or to general.

I thank you in advance!!!

Hammalariyizni ishlaryizga OMAD!

[Googler]

Hi guys.
I hope you are all well and doing great.
Quite recently, my spouse and I received B1 type visa for 4 years.
Now we are planing to go there and to find our way.
Since most of you in the US and have seen/heard/known situation/problems I may face, I decided to ask your kind advices on this issue. Any information, in particular up to date information, will be truly appreciated.
Here are my questions:

1. We are planing to change our status from B1 to F1 when we are in the US. We learnt it is possible, is it right? So we will try not to violate any immigration rules of the US. What should we do Not to violate those rules?
I heard when I am entering to the US territory, they may allow me to stay up to 1 or 3 months there. Can it be extended?

2. Fortunately or unfortunately, we are not rich people, so, we want to work to make money. I assume we hide it from authorities in order not to jeopardize our status. Is it possible? What kind of work we can find? We both speak good english and friendly characters.
How much can we earn in a month?

Ask me, if i made my questions not clear or to general.

I thank you in advance!!!

Hammalariyizni ishlaryizga OMAD!

First my congratulations! :)

Business visa is known as B-1 visitor visa.
The definition of "business" under immigration law is limited to :
The term "business" is limited to the negotiation of business contracts.
Consultation with business associates, litigation.
Participation in scientific, educational, professional or business meetings, conventions, conferences or seminars and other legitimate activities of a commercial or professional nature. The length of business visa can be few days to 10yrs multiple entry. The actual stay of each visit is given at the port of entry while you enter into USA. Generally each visit can not be more then 6 months.



As you have some wrong information please read carefully the following:
What you ought to know about B-1 visa:

Business visa (B-1) is meant for business purpose only. Legally, you are not allowed to work in the USA as a B-1 visa holder.
You are allowed to rent an apartment on B-1 visa. You might be required to show a recommendation letter from your company, and proof of your identity (i.e. your passport).
You may open a bank account by showing proof of your identity (passport).
You can get the ATM or debit card, from the bank in which you have opened your account, but not a credit card. Though most places ATM card can be used.
You can rent a car, only if you have a valid driving license from your country (IDP or State Driving License). However, some US states insist on having a IDP (International Driving Permit).
Initially you can drive in any US state on your IDP or State driving license, for a limited period of time. Rules vary from state to state. Confirm this from your local DMV office (http://www.path2usa.com/lifestyle/auto/driving_license.htm).
You can't join any educational institute on B-1 visa.
You can get a telephone/ cable connection installed in your apartment.
You cannot convert B-1 to H-1 status, while you are in USA.
B-1 visa can be extended for the maximum of total 1 year stay in USA.
You are not liable to pay any taxes on your allowances, since it is not a salary.

[Googler]

I would recommend you to apply to the consulate while you've not entered USA to get B2 to your B1.
If you have B2 as well and enter US, 60 days later you can apply to any educational institution and if you're enrolled you will be able to adjust your status into F1.

[Zafar]

Thanks for information. I understand these are rules but reality could be quite different, right?
Do you guys have any other advice?

thnx in advance!

[Prince]

1) With your b1/b2 visa you can stay up to 6 month , but while you entering USA Immigration offier will ask your some questions at the Airport and he might let you stay less then 6 month< ( MAX IS 6 month) You can extand but u need lawyer! ( it costs money)
2) You are not legally allowed to work in USA while you are on B1/b2 visa!
However, you can find jobs for cash ( 7-10$/hour) if you work 40 hours a week , you'll make 7-10X40 = 280-400$ bucks a week per person! But you gonna pay RENT/FOOD and insurance as well,
WELCOME TO AMERICA!
P.S oka xar narsaga tayor bolib keluring, osonmas amerikadayam!

[I_Rock]

Guys, thanks for very helpful advice!

Googler's replies are always perfect and Prince is very practical in his suggestions! :cool:

Actually, I have the same situation. I see the thread was from June 2007 and no more replies since that time. Zafar, I guess, might be in the US already.
If yes, could you, please, advise me on that, Zafar!
Howa was with change of your stay there and etc.?

Thanks in advance!

Best!

[hojiaka]

1) With your b1/b2 visa you can stay up to 6 month , but while you entering USA Immigration offier will ask your some questions at the Airport and he might let you stay less then 6 month< ( MAX IS 6 month) You can extand but u need lawyer! ( it costs money)
2) You are not legally allowed to work in USA while you are on B1/b2 visa!
However, you can find jobs for cash ( 7-10$/hour) if you work 40 hours a week , you'll make 7-10X40 = 280-400$ bucks a week per person! But you gonna pay RENT/FOOD and insurance as well,
WELCOME TO AMERICA!
P.S oka xar narsaga tayor bolib keluring, osonmas amerikadayam!

Prince is right abuot practical side of the question. there are lot of jobs in hospitality industry in america or if you have extra skills you might get better jobs too but again you will have to make up paperwork. Most places might pay you cash undertable or write a paycheck for fake SSN or some states have contractors who can sety you up with jobs but will take 1 Dollar off your every hour.
For extention... you do not need a lawyer you can fill up an application I-539
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-539.pdf
and do money order for 200 dollars and submit it with suppporting documents. You will recive (mostly) positive answer within 1 month after submitting it. (usualy)
Changing the satus... with B1/B2 it is always hard to change your status unless you enroll as full time school with degree you will face troubles to change it. (I mean if you wanna change it and do ESL just to keep your status legal it wont last long) and you will end up paying lot of money for nothing.

Welcome to america!!! Prince etganidey tayyor bob keling hamma narsaga amerikadayam osonmas....

[I_Rock]

Hojiaka, rahmat reply uchun.
Qanaqa kamroq harajatli yoki boshqacha yo'llari bormi "legal'no" ishlashni. B1/B2 bilan noqonuniy yurishga ishtiyoq ham yo'q. Hmmamiz insonmiz, sog'liq, oila deganday, kelajakniyam o'ylab qo'yish kerak demoqchiman.

Rahmat!

[hojiaka]

Hojiaka, rahmat reply uchun.
Qanaqa kamroq harajatli yoki boshqacha yo'llari bormi "legal'no" ishlashni. B1/B2 bilan noqonuniy yurishga ishtiyoq ham yo'q. Hmmamiz insonmiz, sog'liq, oila deganday, kelajakniyam o'ylab qo'yish kerak demoqchiman.

Rahmat!

B1/B2 bilan "legan'no" ishlashni HECH qanday yoli yoq. tanish bilish orqali u bu maishiy hizmat korsatish joylaridan ish topasiz va nima bolsa boldi endi deb ishlab yuraverasiz. Kelajakni oylash kere bolsa ili faqat oqing ili faqat ishlang yoki bitta gayrat qilib ikkalasini ham bajaring. bir narsaga erishish uchun bir narsadan voz kechish kerak. aniq savollar bolsa Pm qilign qoldan kelgancha deganlarideee...

[Googler]

Actually, I have the same situation.
Howa was with change of your stay there and etc.?
Best!

Are you in the USA currently?
If yes:
Do you have B1 or B2 or B1/B2?
When did you enter the USA, month and date?
When is expired ur I-94?
What's the length of ur visa - 1 year or more?

[I_Rock]

Are you in the USA currently?
If yes:
Do you have B1 or B2 or B1/B2?
When did you enter the USA, month and date?
When is expired ur I-94?
What's the length of ur visa - 1 year or more?

Googler, to your questions:

1. Currently I'm not in the US.
2. I have B1/B2.
3-5.I've never used it yet to enter America, it is 3years left until expiration.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon again. :?:

[Googler]

Googler, to your questions:

1. Currently I'm not in the US.
2. I have B1/B2.
3-5.I've never used it yet to enter America, it is 3years left until expiration.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon again. :?:

Is it multi or single one?

What is your real purpose of prospective visit to the US upon this visa?

[I_Rock]

Is it multi or single one?

What is your real purpose of prospective visit to the US upon this visa?

It's of multi entry. I want to study English preparation courses to enter a University there. While my preparation to the University can I do some part time job (it should be legal)?

In a word, I can't visit Language preparation courses with my B visa (right?!), so I want to be legal student.

[Googler]

It's of multi entry. I want to study English preparation courses to enter a University there. While my preparation to the University.

In a word, I can't visit Language preparation courses with my B visa (right?!), so I want to be legal student.

If you are going to the U.S. primarily for tourism, but want to take a short course of study of less than 18 hours per week, you may be able to do so on a visitor visa. You should inquire at the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If your course of study is more than 18 hours a week, you will need a student visa.


As for change of status in the USA while you are on a tourist visa, it might be possible provided you have a reasonable excuse. Here you have to be very careful, I'm afraid.
Cause once you were interviewed at the consulate you assured the CO (consular officer) that your trip to the USA is short term and you would come back on time prior to your I-94 is expired. The CO beleived you and issued you a visitor visa and everything you said during the Interview was databased by him.

Now suppose you entered the USA on a visitor visa and on the Port of Entry you got I-94 for 6 months. During your visits you met ur friends who are studying in the US on F1 or M1 visas. And you liked also that Uni and student life in the US and have decided to apply for being enrolled the Uni.
Now you wanna become a student. You have all appropriate docs and enough funds (you should have a proof) and wanna send application to the Uni.
Here just remember your interview.
Thus you may apply to the University AT LEAST 60 days after your entered the USA. But I would recommend to apply to the Uni for becoming a student at least 90 days or more to avoid any suspects of USCIS that your initial intention of getting a visitor visa was change of status. So if you are enrolled the Uni sends you Confirmation of Admission and other needed docs and info. Read here for more info:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html
After that you have to apply for change of your status to student visas to the Regional USCIS which serves your district of residence and location of Uni. You have to prove the regional USCIS that you had no preconceived intent during the interview to change status.

But to cut a long story short, in order to avoid any problems ahead If anyone intends to change status to F-1, M-1 or J-1, he/she must state his/her intent while applying for the B-2 visa.

[uzbekcfa2]

i have a question to Googler and others. really appreciate your replies.

1. if you are coming as a visitor(invited by a student in us), what kinda visa are you gonna get b1 or b2? also what it depends on for how long your visa will be issued? (I used to hear that b visas were issued for 4 years...how is the situation now? how long is the minimum b visa period?)

2. is it possible to change from b to F. does ESL course work for F-1?

sorry if im repeating the same question, how does this process work? say, a person came for 3 months, when and how that person should apply for change of status.

thank you so much for your detailed answers. Googler pls, stop by all of the parts of my questions.:D Thanks, mate!

[Googler]

1. if you are coming as a visitor(invited by a student in us), what kinda visa are you gonna get b1 or b2? also what it depends on for how long your visa will be issued? (I used to hear that b visas were issued for 4 years...how is the situation now? how long is the minimum b visa period?)

B-1 is a temporary business visa, i.d. eligible for foreign persons visiting the US for business purposes (visiting conferences, fairs, closing contracts, holding business negotiations, etc).
B-2 is a temporary visit visa, i.d. eligible for foreign persons visiting the US for having fun (as a tourist), visiting relatives and friends and getting a medical treatment.
So when you apply for any of the above-said, you have to know exactly which of them you need, otherwise your chance for being issued a visa falls down.
A consular officer can issue you both visas simultaneously - B1/B2.

Duration of B1 and B2 depends on your citizenship. I know the guy from Uzbekistan in this forum who has 5 years B1.

For example, Ukrains are issued B1/B2 up to 10 years , Russians - 1 year (max up to 2).

But you duration of staying in the US is determined by the Immigration officer at the port of entry during your each entry the US. Once you enter the US, you can stay max 6 months on B1/B2.



2. is it possible to change from b to F.


Technically it is possible. You can change your B2 to F1 AT LEAST 61 days past from the date of your enter the US.

If you are going to the U.S. primarily for tourism, but want to take a short course of study of less than 18 hours per week, you may be able to do so on a visitor visa. You should inquire at the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If your course of study is more than 18 hours a week, you will need a student visa.

[uzbekcfa2]

anybody have any idea about the current visa regulations in uzbekistan?
was there any big change in getting b2 visa lately?

My parents had an interview with the counsul on monday and got denial.:(

I was inviting them to my graduation ceremony and the counsul said that they are not issuing visas for this type of reasons. how true is this?

We spent so much time for collecting documents and were over-prepared for the interview. What a pity! Morons do not even let those who will really come back after the visit. Fukcin bastards!:evil:

[rosefire]

anybody have any idea about the current visa regulations in uzbekistan?
was there any big change in getting b2 visa lately?

My parents had an interview with the counsul on monday and got denial.:(
I was inviting them to my graduation ceremony and the counsul said that they are not issuing visas for this type of reasons. how true is this?

We spent so much time for collecting documents and were over-prepared for the interview. What a pity! Morons do not even let those who will really come back after the visit. Fukcin bastards!:evil:
did the counsul take a look at their docs? in our case she didn't even look at them, and gave denial:( it was in september

[uzbekcfa2]

did the counsul take a look at their docs? in our case she didn't even look at them, and gave denial:( it was in september


They told the same. They did not even ask many questions. They basically said: for this reason, we are not issuing a visa anymore. My parents were very upset. They just wanted to visit me and go back. Because all the papers were in place, we already had started real plans on the trip. :(

when my parents asked: imagine you have a son or daughter in a different country who studies there and you havent seen him for a long time. If the graduation cannot be a good reason, what can be a good reason to get a visa? They just couldnt answer.

I understand their policy, cuz almost more than 90% of those who are getting US visa are staying here. But still they should consider every case differently, not just denying all the applicants with the same reasoning. :(

[SmIlIk]

rosfire, sizni tishlavolamande bir kuni :)

In cases like these you have to confront the consul right away. If your reasoning is not a lie you have a full right to ask for explanation. Taktichniy naezd bilan ko'p narsani hal qilsa bo'ladi.

Graduationga qo'yvormagani bullcrap bo'libdi lekin. Nechi kishiga shu osnovaniyada bermagansan? nimaga imenno manga bermayapsan? Mani o'g'lim nechi marta graduate qiladi sanincha? Ishoninshinga yana nima dokument kerak? Ahir bu kulgiliku deb bir o'shqirganlarida, tipirchilab berardi.

Man o'zim shundoq qilib olib chiqqanlarni bir nechtasini bilaman. Applicationni qo'liga olishi bilan, kimga otkaz kimga ruhsat berishini oldindan bilishadi ula. Yuzma yuz uchrashganda ulani fikrini o'zgaritishga eng qulay vaziyat. Shu vaziyatdan chiqib ketolishmas ekan, visa ham ololishmaydi :(

[rosefire]

rosfire, sizni tishlavolamande bir kuni :)

In cases like these you have to confront the consul right away. If your reasoning is not a lie you have a full right to ask for explanation. Taktichniy naezd bilan ko'p narsani hal qilsa bo'ladi.

Graduationga qo'yvormagani bullcrap bo'libdi lekin. Nechi kishiga shu osnovaniyada bermagansan? nimaga imenno manga bermayapsan? Mani o'g'lim nechi marta graduate qiladi sanincha? Ishoninshinga yana nima dokument kerak? Ahir bu kulgiliku deb bir o'shqirganlarida, tipirchilab berardi.

Man o'zim shundoq qilib olib chiqqanlarni bir nechtasini bilaman. Applicationni qo'liga olishi bilan, kimga otkaz kimga ruhsat berishini oldindan bilishadi ula. Yuzma yuz uchrashganda ulani fikrini o'zgaritishga eng qulay vaziyat. Shu vaziyatdan chiqib ketolishmas ekan, visa ham ololishmaydi :(
menda graduationgamasidida;) bilganizde, nasib qoshmagan ekan bunisida, Hudo hohlasa yana bir harakat qib korishadi

counsil explanation letter jonatgandi, sizga jonataman bugun. tishlavomen faqat opajon:lol: yahshiyam uzorodaman-a?:lol:
lekin graduationga bermagani haqiqatda yahshi bomabdi

[SmIlIk]

menda graduationgamasidida;) bilganizde, nasib qoshmagan ekan bunisida, Hudo hohlasa yana bir harakat qib korishadi

counsil explanation letter jonatgandi, sizga scan qilib jonataman bugun. tishlavomen faqat opajon:lol: yahshiyam uzorodaman-a?:lol:
lekin graduationga bermagani haqiqatda yahshi bomabdi

That's what you think, you are much closer to me than you think :D

Mayli, jo'nating ko'raylik.