Lee P Reilly

Hi,

I wonder if someone can answer a few questions for me regarding the extension of a
J-1 visa? First, the facts:

- I'm from the UK.
- Original visa was valid for 1 year.
- Visa will expire in September 2002.
- Visa sponsored by Council [http://www.councilexchanges.org]
- My contract is being extended by 6 months
=> Hoping to get my visa extended by 6 months.

The questions:

1) Do I need to return to my home country (UK) to get my passport/ visa/ IAP-66
stamped/modified/renewed after the expiration of my current visa?

2) If I return home (or leave the country) after September 24th, and return to the
USA will there be any problems?

3) I understand that my visa cannot be extended for any longer that 18 months (using
my current visa sponsor at least). I also understand that you are allowed 4 weeks
travel at the end of your visa expiration to travel. Is it possible to take 2-4
weeks off after the end of my current visa, and then get the visa renewed at the
end of this period, and work for an additional 6 months?

Thank you very much in advance for any information.

- Best regards,

Lee Reilly

Sylvia Ottemoel

Lee P Reilly wrote:

    > I wonder if someone can answer a few questions for me regarding the extension of a
    > J-1 visa? First, the facts:
    >
    > - I'm from the UK.
    > - Original visa was valid for 1 year.

Do you mean visa (stamp in passport), or J-1 period authorized on IAP-66?

    > - Visa will expire in September 2002.

Do you mean visa (stamp in passport), or J-1 period authorized on IAP-66?

    > - Visa sponsored by Council [http://www.councilexchanges.org]
    > - My contract is being extended by 6 months
    > => Hoping to get my visa extended by 6 months.
    >
    > The questions:
    >
    > 1) Do I need to return to my home country (UK) to get my passport/ visa/ IAP-66
    > stamped/modified/renewed after the expiration of my current visa?

If Council is willing to extend your J-1 status, then no. Your status can be
extended through an action of Council, while you remain in the U.S. You will get
another IAP-66.

    > 2) If I return home (or leave the country) after September 24th, and return to the
    > USA will there be any problems?

If you have a valid J-1 visa stamp in your passport, as well as an "extension"
IAP-66, there is no particular reason for a problem at entry.

    > 3) I understand that my visa cannot be extended for any longer that 18 months
    > (using my current visa sponsor at least).

Your **status** can't be extended, that is. The maximum duration for a J-1 program in
the J-1 trainee category is 18 months. The visa is a different matter altogether.

I also understand that
    > you are allowed 4 weeks travel at the end of your visa expiration to travel. Is it
    > possible to take 2-4 weeks off after the end of my current visa, and then get the
    > visa renewed at the end of this period, and work for an additional 6 months?

No. The 30 day grace period can only be taken at the end of a J-1 program, not in the
middle. If you take the grace period, you cannot get an extension of the program. You
would have to leave the U.S. and enter again in a new J-1 program. And there could be
questions at the port of entry about starting a new program immediately after the end
of a program.