validity of old B1/B2 when having H4


abhi85

Recommended Posts

Hello,

 

             I am presently on H4 visa in US. I already have a B1/B2 with validity till 2022 which I had prior to getting married and taking H4. Now I am being offered an externship position in a local university and they said I cannot do it on H4. They said they are ok with B1/B2 though.

 

So my question is

 

1) The B1/B2 I had prior to getting H4 was not stamped invalid or anything. Does this mean I can go out of the country and re-enter on B1/B2. I know it will only be for 6 months but this position can really help me career wise.

 

2) If yes, what complications can I face at port of entry? Is it ok with them if I tell the truth saying that this extenship requires me to be on B1/B2 and the quickest way was to re enter the country?

 

3) what kind of documentation if any should I be taking from the university?

 

4) I think one way of doing this is to submit a change of status from within the country but that may take too long and my university may not be willing to wait that long. Can someone suggest any other way I am not aware of.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Link to comment

Thank you for your reply. But I had friends who applied for B1/B2 for doing clinical research and externships prior to their medical residency. One of them even did a two consecutive 6 month research under a professor leaving and re entering US for 15 days in between. From what he told me, the officer at the port of entry did question him about his intent to come back within 15 days and he told them his research didn't finish as planned and hence he was entering again. I am sure of this because who would apply for a J1 for a short team research knowing there is a 2 year home country restriction while planning to apply for residency? Or is there any visa/ class of B1/B2 that I can do this on?

Even taking J1 is mandatory, will conversion from H4 to J1 be a problem?

Link to comment

Thank you for your reply. But I had friends who applied for B1/B2 for doing clinical research and externships prior to their medical residency. One of them even did a two consecutive 6 month research under a professor leaving and re entering US for 15 days in between. From what he told me, the officer at the port of entry did question him about his intent to come back within 15 days and he told them his research didn't finish as planned and hence he was entering again. I am sure of this because who would apply for a J1 for a short team research knowing there is a 2 year home country restriction while planning to apply for residency? Or is there any visa/ class of B1/B2 that I can do this on?

Even taking J1 is mandatory, will conversion from H4 to J1 be a problem?

More than asking friends I would suggest you to talk to an attorney as what your friends said they did is against US immigration laws. A B1 is for business meetings, attending job interviews and a B2 is for tourism. And, there are students entering using J1 visa to do short term research. Just that you have not met someone doing so does not mean that no one takes that route.

Link to comment

Thank you for your reply. But I had friends who applied for B1/B2 for doing clinical research and externships prior to their medical residency. One of them even did a two consecutive 6 month research under a professor leaving and re entering US for 15 days in between. From what he told me, the officer at the port of entry did question him about his intent to come back within 15 days and he told them his research didn't finish as planned and hence he was entering again. I am sure of this because who would apply for a J1 for a short team research knowing there is a 2 year home country restriction while planning to apply for residency? Or is there any visa/ class of B1/B2 that I can do this on?

Even taking J1 is mandatory, will conversion from H4 to J1 be a problem?

 

It is NOT allowed to work for a US-based organization on B1/B2. Period.

Link to comment

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.