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Hi,
I am currently in the USA and have been offered a professional job, which I am yet to take.
I came here on a B2 visa and am currently awaiting approval for my petition to extend my B2 status. My original departure date occurs today, however, I was advised by the relevant department that because I submitted my petition to extend my B2 status within an acceptable amount of time before my departure date (well over 8 weeks ago now) that I am permitted to stay up to 240 days or until I am advised of permission or refusual of my extension, that I am lawfully able to stay here while I wait for the answer.
What I would like to know now is:
- Should I submit an application to change my status to a work visa now (either H-1B or E-3), or is it best to wait until the current petition is approved?
- If the B2 extension is denied (very low risk but I understand it is a possibility), does that mean I have overstayed unlawfully and that I will be denied a work visa in future?
- If I submit an application to change status to either H-1B or E-3 (I'm an Australian professional), must I leave the country and come back in regardless of whether it is lodged now while I am out of status or once my status is approved?
- Would submitting the work visa petition result in confusing my current application to extend my B2 status or is it acceptable to lodge a change of status application now?
Re. my situation, I am an Australian citizen with extensive professional experience and a bachelor degree relating specifically to the role I am being offered, so I am confident that my work non-immigrant work visa would be approved.
Please help! I appreciate the advice. Please note I've also posted this in B2 and E forum as I wasn't sure which was more appropriate.
I am currently in the USA and have been offered a professional job, which I am yet to take.
I came here on a B2 visa and am currently awaiting approval for my petition to extend my B2 status. My original departure date occurs today, however, I was advised by the relevant department that because I submitted my petition to extend my B2 status within an acceptable amount of time before my departure date (well over 8 weeks ago now) that I am permitted to stay up to 240 days or until I am advised of permission or refusual of my extension, that I am lawfully able to stay here while I wait for the answer.
What I would like to know now is:
- Should I submit an application to change my status to a work visa now (either H-1B or E-3), or is it best to wait until the current petition is approved?
- If the B2 extension is denied (very low risk but I understand it is a possibility), does that mean I have overstayed unlawfully and that I will be denied a work visa in future?
- If I submit an application to change status to either H-1B or E-3 (I'm an Australian professional), must I leave the country and come back in regardless of whether it is lodged now while I am out of status or once my status is approved?
- Would submitting the work visa petition result in confusing my current application to extend my B2 status or is it acceptable to lodge a change of status application now?
Re. my situation, I am an Australian citizen with extensive professional experience and a bachelor degree relating specifically to the role I am being offered, so I am confident that my work non-immigrant work visa would be approved.
Please help! I appreciate the advice. Please note I've also posted this in B2 and E forum as I wasn't sure which was more appropriate.
