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Hello reader,
My son is currently a high school student under a J-1 VISA (but he isn't subject to section 212(e)).
His stay began during last summer and should last until 2017/06/30.
But because we plan to visit him, make some tourism and then bring back home at the end of the school year, we need to extend his VISA until at least 2017/07/15 that is 15 days more than is J-1 VISA.
Until today we see 2 options:
1/ ask for a change from J-1 to the B-2 nonimmigrant status (Tourist) thru a I-539 form.
This is a very high cost ($370) for just 2 weeks (2017/7/1 to 2017/7/15).
2/ ask for an ESTA, bring my son for a short journey outside the US (Canada or Mexico) and re-enter under the ESTA waiver?
This should be done before the end of his current J-1 VISA, which is feasible but not very practicable since we plan to visit the east coast of the US.
Which of those proposals is the easiest,
or do you see any other possibility?
Thanks a lot for your answers.
My son is currently a high school student under a J-1 VISA (but he isn't subject to section 212(e)).
His stay began during last summer and should last until 2017/06/30.
But because we plan to visit him, make some tourism and then bring back home at the end of the school year, we need to extend his VISA until at least 2017/07/15 that is 15 days more than is J-1 VISA.
Until today we see 2 options:
1/ ask for a change from J-1 to the B-2 nonimmigrant status (Tourist) thru a I-539 form.
This is a very high cost ($370) for just 2 weeks (2017/7/1 to 2017/7/15).
2/ ask for an ESTA, bring my son for a short journey outside the US (Canada or Mexico) and re-enter under the ESTA waiver?
This should be done before the end of his current J-1 VISA, which is feasible but not very practicable since we plan to visit the east coast of the US.
Which of those proposals is the easiest,
or do you see any other possibility?
Thanks a lot for your answers.
