Change of Status

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Certain nonimmigrants present in the U.S. may seek to change their status to another nonimmigrant classification if certain requirements are met.

Eligibility

To qualify for a Change of Status in the U.S. you must have been lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a nonimmigrant; have not committed any act that would make you ineligible to receive an immigration benefit; there is no other factor that requires you to depart the U.S. prior to making a reentry based on a different classification, and you must submit an application for a change of status by mail before the expiration date shown on the admission stamp in your travel document on your I-94, Arrival-Departure Record. Your passport must be valid for the entire requested period of stay in the U.S.

Ineligibility

​Certain nonimmigrant categories cannot obtain a Change of Status in the U.S.; therefore, you must depart on or before your I-94 expires. These categories include: C, D, K-1 or K-2, S, TWOV, and WT or WB. There are certain restrictions for particular nonimmigrant categories concerning the ability to request a Change of Status, these categories include: J-1 and M-1.

Application Process

​The application process for a Change of Status depends on the nonimmigrant status to which you want to change. If you want to change your status to be within an employment-based nonimmigrant category, your prospective employer should file a Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, before your I-94 expires. If you want to change your status to be within a non-employment-based category, you should file Form I-539.

Public Benefits Condition

To ensure that nonimmigrants remain self-sufficient while present in the U.S., applicants seeking a Change of Status are subject to the public benefits condition, unless the status to which you seek to change is statutorily exempt from the public charge ground of inadmissibility. The public benefits condition requires an applicant seeking a Change of Status on or after February 24, 2020 to demonstrate that you have not received, since obtaining the nonimmigrant status you are seeking to change, one or more public benefit, for more than 12 months in the aggregate within any 26-month period.

The public benefit condition does not apply if the nonimmigrant classification you seek to change to is exempt from the public charge inadmissibility ground by law or regulation, the public charge ground of inadmissibility has been waived for purposes of the nonimmigrant status from which youseek to change, or you filed the request before February 24, 2020

If you are interested in changing your status in the U.S. or have any questions about the process, please give us a call.

Cambio De Estatus

Ciertos no inmigrantes presentes en los Estados Unidos pueden intentar cambiar su estatus a otra clasificación de no inmigrante si cumple ciertos requisitos.

Elegibilidad

Para calificar para un cambio de estatus en los Estados Unidos, usted debe haber sido admitido legalmente en los Estados Unidos como no inmigrante; no ha cometido ningún acto que lo haga inelegible para recibir un beneficio de inmigración; no hay otro factor que requiera que usted salga de los Estados Unidos antes de volver a ingresar basado en una clasificación diferente y debe enviar su solicitud de cambio de estatus por correo antes de la fecha de vencimiento que esta en el sello de admisión en su documento de viaje I-94, Registro de Entrada/Salida. Su pasaporte debe ser valido durante todo el periodo de estadía solicitado en los Estados Unidos.

Inelegibilidad

Ciertas categorías de no inmigrantes no pueden obtener un Cambio de Estatus en los Estados Unidos; por lo tanto, deben partir antes de que expire su I-94. Estas categorías incluyen: C, D, K-1 o K-2, TWOV y WT O WB. Existen ciertas restricciones para categorías particulares de no inmigrantes con respecto a la capacidad de solicitar un Cambio de Estatus, estas categorías incluyen: J-1 y M-1.

Proceso de Solicitud

El proceso de solicitud para un Cambio de Estatus depende del estado de no inmigrante al que desea cambiar. Si desea cambiar su estatus para estar dentro de una categoría de no inmigrante basada en el empleo, su futuro empleador debe presentar el Formulario I-129, Petición para Trabajador No Inmigrante, antes que se expire su I-94. Si desea cambiar su estado para estar dentro de una categoría no basada en el empleo, debe presentar el Formulario I-539.

Condición de Beneficios Públicos

Para garantizar que no inmigrantes sigan siendo autosuficientes mientras estén presentes en los Estados Unidos los solicitantes que busquen un Cambio de Estatus están sujetos a la condición de beneficios públicos, al menos de que el estatus que busca cambiar este legalmente exento de la carga publica de inadmisibilidad. La condición de beneficios públicos requiere que un solicitante buscando un Cambio de Estatus el 24 de febrero del 2020 o mas tarde demuestre que no ha recibido uno o mas beneficios públicos desde que obtuvo el estatus de no inmigrante que busca cambiar por mas de 12 meses en el agregado dentro de cualquier periodo de 26 meses.

La condición de beneficio publico no se aplica si la clasificación de no inmigrante que busca cambiar esta exenta de la inadmisibilidad de la carga publica por ley o reglamento, la razón de inadmisibilidad se ha renunciado con respecto al estatus no inmigrante que busca cambiar o presento la solicitud antes del 24 de febrero.

Si usted esta interesado/a en cambiar su estatus en los Estados Unidos o tiene alguna pregunta sobre el proceso, llámenos

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