Temporary Stay (Non-Immigrant Visas)

Temporary U.S. Visas, Extensions and Change of Status: An Overview

A non-immigrant visa allows you to come to the United States for a specific purpose and a limited time, whether that purpose is visiting family, studying, working for a U.S. employer, or running a business. Attorney Kasim Hussain helps visitors, students, workers and employers understand their options for temporary visas, change of status and extensions.

Each category has its own rules, and a mistake in one application can follow you into future applications. As a result, it often helps to look at the whole picture before anything is filed.

Our office is in Riverdale, MD, near Washington, DC. However, because immigration law is federal, we work with clients nationwide and with clients abroad on U.S. visa and consular processing cases. Attorney Kasim Hussain is licensed in Maryland and admitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Federal court cases outside Maryland may involve local counsel.

Who Is a Temporary Visa Generally For?

Temporary visas generally serve:

• Visitors coming for tourism, family visits, medical treatment, or short business trips
• Students and exchange visitors attending a school or sponsored program
• Professionals and skilled workers hired by U.S. employers, including employees transferring within a multinational company
• Individuals with outstanding achievement in their field
• Investors, traders, and religious workers

Many people qualify for more than one category. The right choice often depends on your goals and whether you may want a green card later. If permanent residence is part of your plan, you may also want to read about employment-based immigration and family-based immigration.

How Does the Non-Immigrant Visa Process Generally Work?

1. Strategy. We can review the goals and history you share with us and help identify the category that may fit.
2. Preparation. Depending on the category, the case may begin with your employer or sponsor, with an application at a U.S. consulate abroad, or with a request to change or extend your status inside the United States.
3. Interview or decision. Many applicants attend an interview, and we are available to help you prepare for what to expect.
4. Staying in status. Once approved, you are expected to follow the rules of your category, and we can help you plan for extensions, travel, and next steps.

The rules for temporary visas have changed recently and continue to change. For that reason, it is important to check the rules that apply to your situation at the time of filing.

Why Work With a Temporary Visa Attorney?

Denials can result from gaps in the record, inconsistent answers, or a category that does not fit the facts. Details that may seem minor, such as a prior visa refusal, a past overstay, an arrest, work outside your authorized status, or travel while a request is pending, can lead to a denial or, in some cases, a bar on returning to the United States for years. Additionally, a misstep today may affect a green card application later.

If you retain us, our work may include building a strategy, preparing the forms and evidence, helping you prepare for your interview, responding to government requests, and helping you keep track of key dates, within the scope of our engagement. For employers, we are also available to help you plan around your employee's status.

Change of Status and Visa Extensions

If you are already in the United States, you may be able to extend your stay or change to a different category without leaving. However, eligibility depends on your current status, your history, and your plans when you entered. In a consultation, we can discuss those facts with you and the options that may be available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work on a visitor visa?

Generally, no. A visitor visa generally permits tourism and certain limited business activities, such as attending meetings, but generally does not permit employment in the United States. Narrow exceptions exist, so get advice before accepting any work.

Can I switch to a different visa without leaving the United States?

Sometimes. Whether a change of status is possible depends on your current status, your history, and your plans when you entered, and we can discuss that in a consultation.

My visa was refused before. Can I apply again?

In many cases, yes, depending on the reason for the refusal. However, reapplying without understanding the reason for the refusal can lead to the same result.

My work visa registration was not selected. What now?

There may be other options depending on your employer, your background, and your current status. We can discuss the history you share in a consultation and what may be available.

Do you only help clients in Maryland?

No. Our office is in Riverdale, MD, near Washington, DC, but immigration law is federal, so we can assist clients nationwide, as well as clients abroad on U.S. visa and consular processing cases.

Questions About a Temporary Visa?

Whether you are a student, a professional, an investor, or an employer, we are available to listen to your goals, explain how our services work, and offer fixed fees for most matters. Government filing fees and court costs are separate. Contact KHImmigration Law LLC at 301-830-4000 or book your free 15-minute introductory call online. You can also learn about our case reviews and consultations.

This page provides general information and is not legal advice. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Reading this page, contacting us, or booking a free call does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send confidential information until we have spoken. We represent clients only after a signed engagement agreement.