mads85

Hello everyone

I have just compeleted a J1 internship working for Walt Disney World in Florida, my Visa expired on April 4th and I am currently travelling around for the 30 days grace period I have. However I have been chatting with other travellers I have met and have heard mixed views on the subject of our visa rules. I was told that if I were to contact immigration I would be able to change my J1 visa to a tourist visa (visa-waiver) and would therefore be able to travel around for a further 90 days until my tourist visa was up... Is this true? And if yes how do I go about changing my status? I looked on the internet for this information but found nothing.
Thanks very much

ian-mstm

You can *not* get a visa while you are inside the US. While it is often possible to change your status while inside the US, to become a tourist on the VWP you need to exit and then attempt to re-enter the US. Note that having a valid visa (or visa waiver) does not guarantee entry to the US.

Ian

mauwth

Just take a day trip to Canada or Mexico and then re-enter on a visa waiver.

scrubbedexpat099

and keep your fingers crossed, have a back up plan if you are not let in.

ian-mstm

While things may have changed, I wasn't aware that either Canada or Mexico participated in the VWP.

Ian

fatbrit

Not much of a plan. It's possible but unlikely. As Boiler says, plan B has to more than a vague idea if you want to try this method.