Gaylord_Focker

A few years ago I lived and workd in the US for about 2 1/2 years. The firm I worked for were sponsoring me for a H1 visa and hired immigration lawyers on my behalf. Upon the advice of those lawyers I overstayed my three month tourist visa and remained in the U.S whilst my application continued to be processed by the INS. The firm I was I was working for experienced financial trouble and I quit the job and left the U.S without incident. Now heres my problem. I want to return to the US to work and live. Even if I don't do that I want to be able to travel freely to and from the US but Im concerned that I might run into problems at immigation and be refused entry. Heres my dilema, I have a file containing every bit of correspnodance I had with my lawyers, the employment dept, my social security card passport stamps....everything! Should I just go to the US Embassy in London (IM a British Citizen) and produce all this stuff in the hope that I might be able to head off some future problems I might experience if I do nothing?
Im very concerned about this, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Manc

bad advice

tony126

You have given yourself one answer. Why not write to them.

AdobePinon

Yeah, one thing you need to know about the US Embassy in London - nobody goes there. They don't want to see anyone, even if a US passport holder is involved. They get very irate if you call them too. This is why, of the seven non-immigrant visas I have held, four were issued outside the UK where I could actually walk in and talk to embassy people.

BTW, the advise to remain in-country during the H1 process was not necessarily bad advice (although the tourist visa thing is a little shaky). But leaving before a decision was made might have been. I think that with the documentation, and a state dept employee who's willing to listen, you would be OK.

NC Penguin

All I can say as a UKC who was had the "pleasure" of dealing with US immigration services as an applicant is to:

tell the truth at all times
and to give concise responses to any questions

That way you will not have any lingering problems with lies or omissions that might come back and "bite you on the ass" at any point in the future that might affect you.



NC Penguin