CASE: Change of Status / I-539
NATIONALITY: Filipina
LOCATION: Christiansted, VI
Our client is from the Philippines who came to the U.S. on a J-1 exchange visitor visa to work in the United States. She consulted with our firm a few weeks before the expiration of her J-1 status. She wanted to continue to stay in the United States for six more months to spend more time here for her medical treatment. We explained her that CIS has been more stringent on Visitor status change. Upon retention, we asked her to prepare a statement on her plans if her change of status request is granted. We asked her to provide as much detail as possible as we reviewed her drafts several times. We made sure all addresses, contact information, and dates on her statements were complete and accurate. We made sure all her plans were supported by corroborating evidence as exhibits to the application to avoid a possible Request for Evidence by the CIS. Our office submitted financial documents and medical documents as well. We filed the I-539 Change of Status Application on September 7, 2019. Eventually, without any Request for Evidence (RFE), his change of status request (from J-1 to B-2) was granted by the USCIS on April 20, 2020.