When filing an I-539 application to extend or change your status in the U.S. based on your current visa, the legal implications can be complex if the request is denied. For instance, if you entered the U.S. on a tourist visa (B1/B2) and filed for an extension (Form I-539) while still in valid status (before your I-94 expires), your status remains pending during the processing of your application. However, if your status expires while the request is under review and the application is eventually denied, it’s important to understand the following consequences:

1. Visa cancellation under section 222(g) – If your application is denied, you are considered to be in unlawful status under Section 222(g) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This means that your visa is automatically canceled, and you will need to apply for a new visa from your country of nationality or permanent residence.
2. Immediate departure after denial – In theory, if you leave the U.S. immediately upon receiving the denial decision, you might avoid the consequences of Section 222(g). The law operates on a calendar day basis, meaning that if you depart on the same day your application is denied, you may avoid triggering the visa cancellation under this section. However, this scenario is rare, as the timing of departure and the decision are unlikely to coincide perfectly.
3. Notice of intent to deny (NOID) – If you receive a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID), you can depart the U.S. before the deadline to respond to the notice. By doing so, you will be considered as having left the U.S. while your application was still under review, which may protect you from the effects of Section 222(g) as long as your application was filed in good faith and was not frivolous.

What should I do if I haven’t received a decision on my I-539 extension application, and I need to leave the U.S. after my I-94 has expired?

In this case, no further action is required before leaving the U.S. Your I-539 extension application will be considered abandoned once you depart the country. The primary advantage here is that you do not accrue “unlawful presence” while the application was pending, even if your I-94 expired some time ago.

Key Points to Remember:

1. Timely filing – As long as you filed the extension request before your I-94 expired, and the application was submitted in good faith and not frivolous, you are protected from accruing unlawful presence, even if the process continues after your I-94 has expired.
2. No unlawful presence penalties – Departing the U.S. while your application is still under review ensures that you will not accrue unlawful presence, as long as you did not engage in unauthorized work during your stay.
3. Waiting period – According to USCIS guidelines, if the I-539 request was timely filed, you will not accrue unlawful presence during the period the application is pending. USCIS’s policy manual (Chapter 40.9.2(b)(3)(C)) clarifies that an individual who leaves the U.S. while their application is pending does not accrue unlawful presence:

As discussed in chapters 40.9.2(b)(2) and 40.9.2(b)(3) of the AFM, there are situations in which an alien who is present in an unlawful status nevertheless does not accrue unlawful presence. As a matter of prosecutorial discretion, DHS may permit an alien who is present in the United States unlawfully, but who has pending an application that stops the accrual of unlawful presence, to remain in the United States while that application is pending. In this sense, the alien’s remaining can be said to be ‘authorized.’ However, the fact that the alien does not accrue unlawful presence does not mean that the alien’s presence in the United States is actually lawful.”

Few more important points:

1. Departure documentation – If your I-539 application is still pending when you leave the U.S., it is important to retain all relevant documentation, including flight tickets, I-539 receipt notice, and your electronic I-94 record, to prove that you maintained lawful status and left the U.S. at the appropriate time.
2. Maintain flight records – Keep accurate documentation of any attempts to arrange flights, especially if there were delays due to circumstances beyond your control, such as travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Notify USCIS – It is advisable to send a letter to USCIS with documentation of your departure from the U.S.
4. Keep all records safe – Store all related documents in a secure place in case you need to present them for future visa applications or when re-entering the U.S.

Conclusion

If you filed your I-539 extension request on time and left the U.S. while the application was pending, you will not accrue unlawful presence, and your visa should remain valid. However, if the application is denied while you are still in the U.S., your visa could be canceled under Section 222(g), and you would need to apply for a new one. It is crucial to retain all documentation and be prepared to provide it in future immigration processes.

This article outlines the general procedures and policies related to extending nonimmigrant status in the U.S., but each case is unique. Therefore, it is always recommended to consult with an immigration attorney for personalized advice.

(Note: This article is written in masculine form for convenience but applies equally to all genders.)

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Entering the United States with a visitor visa with the intention to adjust status may raise questions about your intentions and may lead to additional scrutiny by USCIS officials. If the USCIS determines that you misrepresented your intention to enter the United States as a nonimmigrant when you applied for your visitor visa, your adjustment of status application may be denied. Having said that, applying for an adjustment of status (Form I-485) by itself does not prohibit the USCIS 90-day rule. It is important to note that the USCIS 90-day rule is based on the activities that you engage in within the first 90 days of your entry into the United States. It is not based on when you file an adjustment of status application. If an applicant can convince the USCIS officer that they came to the United States without misrepresenting their plans, and that their intentions genuinely changed during the 90 days after they arrived in the United States, they may still be approved for a green card. The final decision is left to the judgment of the USCIS officers. That means it’s hard to know for sure how any given case will be decided. Applicants should keep careful records so that they can document both their original plans and their changed circumstances. It’s important to be completely honest, though: any sign of deception or misrepresentation could raise challenges, now and in the future.

Engaging in certain prohibited activities during this time may be seen as a misrepresentation of your intent to enter the United States as a nonimmigrant and can result in your application being denied. These prohibited activities include marrying a U.S. citizen or engaging in unauthorized employment, within the first 90 days of your entry. However, whether or not your application will be denied depends on the specific circumstances of your case. If the USCIS determines that you did not have the intent to engage in prohibited activities at the time of entry to the United States and that there were good reasons for you to change your plans while in the US or your circumstances changed, your application for an adjustment of status may still be approved. It is important to note that even if your application to adjust status is not denied, the USCIS may request additional evidence or information – using the Request for Evidence procedure – to support your case. In some cases, the USCIS may also schedule an interview to further evaluate your eligibility for adjustment of status.

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If you have been absent from the U.S. for one year or longer, you might be considered to have abandoned your status as a legal permanent resident (LPR) and your green card might no longer be valid. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the border of the U.S. may not allow you to enter the U.S., or alternatively the CBP officer could allow you to enter, but also refer your case to the immigration court to start legal proceedings to remove your legal permanent status. To avoid this, a returning Resident Visa may be available to some permanent residents that found themselves in extraordinary situations.

There is a variety of scenarios that could leave you stranded abroad and justify your long absence from the US. Here are some potential solutions to your situation.

Temporary Absence of Less Than One Year (Lost Green Card)

Legal permanent residents who lose their green card while outside the United States can return to the US. The legal permanent resident first must file an applicant for a travel document (Form I-131A) at the closest U.S. embassy or consulate. The application for a travel document can only be filed if you are returning from overseas travel of:

• Less than one year, and your green card has been lost, stolen or destroyed; or
• Less than two years, and your Re-entry permit has been lost, stolen or destroyed.

Temporary Absence of More Than One Year

An absence of more than one year can make things more complex for a legal permanent resident. Even if the LPR has a green card, the CBP officers will likely ask a series of questions to determine if the absence was temporary in nature. A legal permanent resident who has been living outside the United States will likely be referred to an immigration court for immigration proceedings. This is a serious matter. An immigration judge will decide if you have abandoned your legal permanent resident status.

This problem can be avoided by obtaining a Re-entry permit before departing the United States. A re-entry Permit is valid for entry to the United States for a period of up to two years. However, if you didn’t have a re-entry permit in hand and you still want to live in the US, you should seriously consider applying for a Returning Resident Visa.

Returning Resident Visa – Temporary Absence of More Than One Year

As explained above, a legal permanent resident who remained outside the United States for longer than one year, or beyond the validity period of a re-entry permit, will require a new immigrant visa to enter the United States and resume permanent residence. A provision exists under the U.S. law for the issuance of a returning resident visa to an LPR (Legal Permanent Resident) who remained outside the United States due to circumstances beyond his/her control.

If an LPR was unable to return to the United States within the maximum travel validity period of a green card (less than 1 year) or the maximum validity of the Re-entry Permit (up to 2 years), he can apply at the nearest U.S. Embassy for a Returning Resident (SB-1) immigrant visa.

If the application for returning resident status is approved, it eliminates the requirement that an immigrant visa petition be filed on your behalf with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

An applicant for Returning Resident Visa is required to establish eligibility for an immigrant visa

Qualifying for Returning Resident Status

To qualify for returning resident status, you will need to prove to the Consular Officer that you:

• Had the status of a legal permanent resident at the time of departure from the United States.
• Departed from the United States with the intention of returning and have not abandoned this intention.
• Is returning to the United States from a temporary visit abroad and, if the stay abroad was protracted, this was caused by reasons beyond your control and for which you were not responsible.

Applying for a Returning Resident Visa

An applicant should contact the nearest U.S. Embassy in advance of his intended travel (at least 6-12 months in advance, if possible) to permit sufficient time for visa processing. As part of the visa application process, an interview at the U.S. Embassy is required.

Required Documentation

When applying for a Returning Resident immigrant visa, an applicant should submit the following forms and documents to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate:

• A completed application to determine Returning Resident status (Form DS-117)
• His/her Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551
• His/her Re-entry Permit, if available

In addition, the applicant must also submit supporting documents that show the following:

• Dates of travel outside of the United States (Examples: airline tickets, passport stamps, etc.)
• Proof of his ties to the United States and his intention to return (Examples: tax returns, and evidence of economic, family and social ties to the United States)
• Proof that his protracted stay outside of the United States was for reasons beyond his/her control (Examples: medical incapacitation, employment with a U.S. company, etc.)

After submitting the application, a consular officer will review the application and supporting documents to determine whether the applicant meets the criteria for a Returning Resident status. The applicant must be eligible for the immigrant visa in all other respects before he/she is issued a Returning Resident immigrant visa.

All said and explained in this article does not constitute a legal opinion and does not replace legal advice. Responsibility for using the wordings and opinions conveyed in this article relies solely and entirely on the reader.

This article was written by Dotan Cohen Law Offices, working in the field of immigration law in Israel, the United States and Canada.

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כלל 90 יום

בעת הגשת בקשה לוויזה לארה”ב ללא מטרות הגירה (לדוגמא וויזת תייר), על המבקש להצהיר ולהוכיח לקונסול בשגרירות שאין לו כוונות להגר לארה”ב. במילים אחרות, הוא צריך להראות שהוא מתכנן לחזור למדינת המוצא שלו ו/או כל מדינה אחרת לאחר תום ביקורו בארה”ב.

למעשה, קיימת הנחה בדיני ההגירה של ארה”ב כי לכל אדם יש כוונה להגר לארה”ב. לפיכך, נטל ההוכחה מוטל על מבקש האשרה להוכיח שיש להם קשרים מספקים למדינת מוצאו או כל מדינה אחרת ושהוא יעזור את ארה”ב לאחר שהותו הזמנית.

לפעמים אדם נכנס לארה”ב, פוגש את החצי השני שלו/ה, שהוא/היא אמריקאי/ת, ורוצה להתחתן איתו/ב. תרחיש נוסף יהיה כאשר זוג נכנס לארה”ב, האחד אזרח/תושב ארה”ב והשני נכנס בוויזה ללא מטרות הגירה, ובארה”ב הם מחליטים להתחתן. לאחר הנישואין, בן הזוג שאינו מהגר עשוי לרצות להישאר בארה”ב ולהגיש בקשה לקבלת גרין קארד. תהליך זה נקרא הסדרת מעמד, והוא קורה כאשר אדם שנכנס לארה”ב בוויזה ללא מטרות הגירה והוא רוצה להפוך לתושב ארה”ב (תהליך הגירה).

כלל 90 הימים קובע חזקת הונאה על אדם שנכנס לארה”ב  ללא מטרות הגירה ומפר את מעמדו או מבצע פעולה שאינה עולה בקנה אחד עם מעמדו או סוג האשרה בה הוא מחזיק תוך 90 מיום מכניסתו לארה”ב. במילים אחרות, אם לא אדם עם וויזה זמנית (ללא מטרות הגירה) מנסה להסדיר את מעמדו במהלך תקופה זו של 90 יום מיום כניסתו לישראל, על המבקש לצפות לבדיקה מוגברת של הבקשה.

על מי משפיע כלל 90 הימים?

הפעולות הבאות מספיקות כדי להפעיל את יישום כלל 90 הימים:

• עבודה בארה”ב
• רישום לבית הספר ללא אישור ו/או שינוי סטטוס מתאים.
• נישואים לאזרח אמריקאי או תושב קבע והשתקעות בארצות הברית.
• ביצוע כל פעילות אחרת שבגינה נדרשת הסדרת מעמד.

חוק 90 הימים של מבקשי הסדרת מעמד עבור בני זוג

לאחר 90 יום הכניסה לארה”ב, אין הנחה של מצג שווא או הונאה, ומי שנכנס לארה”ב עם וויזה ללא מטות הגירה רשאי לפנות ל- USCIS ולבקש להסדיר את מעמדו למעמד של מהגר/תושב. עם זאת, אם ישנה סבירות שהאדם עם הוויזה ללא מטרות הגירה הציג מצג שווא בנוגע למטרת נסיעתו בזמן הגשת הבקשה לוויזה, קצין הגירה יכול להשתמש בכך נגדו.

האמור במאמר זה אינו מהווה חוות דעת משפטית ואינו מהווה תחליף לקבלת ייעוץ משפטי פרטני. האחריות בשימוש על הנאמר במאמר הינה על הקורא בלבד.

מאמר זה נכתב ע”י משרד עו”ד דותן כהן, העוסק בתחום דיני ההגירה לישראל, ארה”ב, וקנדה.

 

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90-Day rule

When applying for most nonimmigrant (temporary) U.S. visas, the applicant must declare and prove a “Nonimmigrant Intent” to the consular officer. In other words, he needs to show that he plans to return home when he completes the stated purpose of the trip

In fact, there is a presumption of immigrant intent in U.S. immigration law. Therefore, the burden of proof falls on nonimmigrant visa applicants to prove they have sufficient ties to their home country that will compel them to leave the U.S. after their temporary stay.

Sometimes a person enters the US, meets his other half, who is an American, and wants to marry him/her. Another scenario would be when a non-immigrants couple enters the US, one is a US citizen and the other is on a non-immigrant visa, and after sometime in the US they decide to marry. After the marriage, the non-immigrant spouse may like to stay in the US and apply for a green card. This process is called Adjustment of Status, and it happens when a non-immigrant wants to become an immigrant.

The 90-day rule applies a presumption of fraud if the nonimmigrant violates his status or engages in conduct inconsistent with his nonimmigrant status within 90 days of entry to the US. In other words, if a nonimmigrant attempts to Adjust Status during this 90-day period, the applicant should expect increased scrutiny of the application.

Who the 90-Day Rule Affect?

The following actions are sufficient to trigger the application of the 90-day rule:

• Engaging in unauthorized employment.

• Enrolling in school without authorization and/or the appropriate change of status.

• Marrying a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and taking up residence in the United States.

• Undertaking any other activity for which a change of status or an adjustment of status would be required, without changing or adjusting status.

90-Day Rule of I-485 Applicants (Adjustment of Status Application):

After 90-day period, there is no presumption of misrepresentation, and a nonimmigrant may approach the USCIS and ask to adjust his status to an immigrant status. However, if there’s a reasonable belief that the nonimmigrant misrepresented the purpose of his travel at the time of the visa application or application for admission, an immigration officer could use this against him.

This is still risky territory. If you entered the United States with a nonimmigrant visa and want to adjust status as an immediate relative of a US citizen, you should better wait at least 90 days before you initiate the process of adjusting your status to an immigrant status.

All said and explained in this article does not constitute a legal opinion and does not replace legal advice. Responsibility for using the wordings and opinions conveyed in this article relies solely and entirely on the reader.

This article was written by Dotan Cohen Law Offices, working in the field of immigration law in Israel, the United States and Canada.

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הגרלת הגרין קארד מתבצעת כל שנה בארה”ב כדי לאפשר הגירה לארה”ב ממדינות עם שיעור ההגירה נמוך לארה”ב.

בכל שנה ארה”ב מנפיקים 50,000 וויזות באמצעות תוכנית זו.

זכאות ותקופת הרשמה:

בכל שנה, במהשך כחודש (לרוב אוקטובר) מועדים הזכאים להשתתף יכולים להגיש טופס אחד להגרלת הגרין קארד.

יש לעמוד בשני קיטריונים כדי להיות זכאי להשתתף:

1. להיות אזרח של מדינה המזכה השתתפות בהגרלה.
2. להיות בעל (לפחות) תעודת סיום תיכון או שנתיים של ניסיון בתעסוקה מזכה בחמש שנים האחרונות.

השלמת טפסי הבקשה:

צריך למלא פרטים אישיים עבורך, בן/בת הזוג וכל ילד מתחת לגיל 21 ולצרף תמונת דרכון עבור כל אחד מבני המשפחה.

כל המידע חייב להיות מדוייק, שכן כל טעות קטנה בטופס ההרשמה יכולה לגרוע מהזכרות לקבלת הוויזה.

לאחר הגשת טופס הבקשה יתקבל מספר אישור.

בחירת הזוכים:

משרד החוץ האמריקאי יבחר באופן, אקראי, זוכים אשר עונים על תנאי הזכאות, התוצאות יוצגו בחודש מאי בשנה העוקבת. ניתן לבדוק אם זכית באמצעות מספר האישור שהתקבל לאחר הגשת הבקשה.

אם נבחרת, תצטרך למלא את יתר הטפסים של התבליך כדי לקבל את הגרין קארד.

זכיה בהגרלה:

זכיה בהגרלה אינה מבטיחה קבלת גרין קארד, אך היא מאפשרת הגשת בקשה לקבלת גרין קארד עבור הזוכה, בן/בת הזוג וכל בן משפחה מתחת לגיל 21 מבלי להיזקק לספונסור.

האמור במאמר זה אינו מהווה חוות דעת משפטית ואינו מהווה תחליף לקבלת ייעוץ משפטי פרטני. האחריות בשימוש על הנאמר במאמר הינה על הקורא בלבד.

מאמר זה נכתב ע”י משרד עו”ד דותן כהן, העוסק בתחום דיני ההגירה לישראל, ארה”ב, וקנדה.

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The Diversity Visa Program is run each year in the US to allow immigration to the US from countries with a historically low rate of immigration to the US.

Each year the US issues 50,000 visas for this program.

Eligibility and Entry Period

Every year, for about 1 month a year (usually October) eligible applicants can submit ONE entry into the Diversity Visa lottery.

There are only two criteria for eligibility:

1. To be a native from an eligible country
2. To have at least a high school diploma OR two years of qualifying work experience within the last 5 years

Completing your form:

You will need to fill out details about yourself, your spouse and all of your children under the age of 21, and include a passport picture for each family member.

Everything must be filled out accurately, as any mistake in your entry form can make you ineligible for the visa.

After you submit your entry, you will receive a confirmation number.

Selection of Winners:

The Department of State will randomly select individuals from among the qualified entries, the results will be available usually in May of the following year. You can use check if your entry won, by using the confirmation number on your entry form.

If you have been selected, you will need to fill out the forms and complete the process in order to receive a green card.

Winning the Lottery:

Winning does not guarantee that you will get a green card, but it enables you to apply for a green card for yourself, your spouse, and children under 21 without a sponsor.

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Step 1 – Work Permit Unite:

• Collection of documents and submission of application to the Work Permit Unit.
• The work permit unit will process the application in 4-6 weeks and if approved, will issue a work permit

Step 2 – Invitation to Enter Israel:

• Submit application to invite the employee to Israel at the Ministry of Interior (MOI)
• MOI will issue an invitation for the employee and send it to the Israeli consulate in the employee’s country.

Step 3 – Interview at the Consulate:

• The employee will need to attend an interview at the Israeli embassy in his country.
• The employee will receive the visa in his passport at the interview.
• Sometimes the visa is only for 30 days and a single entry. the visa will need to be extended when entering Israel
• The employee must enter Israel within 30 days
• The employee is still not allowed to work in Israel at this point

Step 4 – Employee Enters Israel:

• After the employee enters Israel his visa will need to be extended at the MOI (in some cases) and will need to request a Multi-Entry Visa.
• The employee is not allowed to work legally in Israel

All said and explained in this article does not constitute a legal opinion and does not replace legal advice. Responsibility for using the wordings and opinions conveyed in this article relies solely and entirely on the reader.

 This article was written by Dotan Cohen Law Offices, working in the field of immigration law in Israel, the United States and Canada.

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