Extending a Visa Application to Remain in the U.S.

work permit

Millions of people around the globe dream of coming to the United States and fulfilling their dreams.  Before crossing the border, any foreign national must have a visa in order to enter the country legally. While you are in the country or trying to re-enter the country, there are several legal issues you must avoid to protect your visa status.

Extensions

If you want to extend your stay longer than was stated on your initial visa, this must be done through the proper channels, and done BEFORE your current visa expires. We encourage you to file a request for a lengthened stay at least 45 days before the original visa expires. Visa admissions are typically granted if all the following conditions are met:

  • Applicant legally entered the country with a nonimmigrant visa.
  • Applicant has a valid nonimmigrant status.
  • No crimes have been committed by the applicant.
  • No conditions of admission have been violated by the applicant.
  • Applicant has a passport that will remain valid through the extended stay.

If a foreign national remains in the country for longer than they are authorized without permission through an extended stay, they may be removed and barred from returning.

Visa extensions are typically granted based on why the foreign national wants to remain in the country. Applicants must often prove that although they want to stay in the country, they don’t plan to live there permanently. A foreign national may have an extension denied if they have immigrant intent.

Lawful Entry to the United States

When you need to enter the country, you have the option to do it legally or illegally. Legal entry means applying for a visa before entering the country. Unlawful entry applies when anyone enters the country without obtaining a visa first.

Here at Buhler Thomas Law. P.C., we can answer any questions you have about the immigration process. We know it can be overwhelming and confusing, and we want to help. Contact us today to work with a qualified attorney on your immigration status.

 

Buhler Thomas Law, P.C.
Excellent
Anna H.
I can't find enough words to thank Kim! She is so amazingly knowledgeable and helped me so much that I can't thank her enough. She answered all questions, gave invaluable advice, and I am so lucky that I had chosen her as a lawyer! Thank you again, Kim!
Response from the owner:It was truly a pleasure meeting with you! The U.S. benefits from individuals like you.
Garrett S.
We cannot thank Kim and her team enough for everything she has done for us. From the very beginning, she went above and beyond with her time, guidance, and support. Her professionalism, knowledge, and compassion made all the difference in our journey, and we truly believe that without her help, the whole process would have been a lot harder.

What sets her apart is not only her expertise, but also dedication she shows to her clients. She always took the time to explain each step clearly, answer our questions thoroughly, and ensure we felt confident and supported throughout the process.

We are deeply grateful for her hard work and commitment, and we look forward to working with her again in the future if needed. We would gladly recommend her to anyone seeking legal help - Kim is, without question, the lawyer you want by your side.
Response from the owner:Thank you! Every attorney is thrilled to have clients like you who were on top of responding to emails.
Autumn B.
Buhler Thomas Law assisted our agency with the H1-B visa process. They were knowledgeable, helpful, and easy to work with throughout the process. We appreciated their guidance and support they provided us.
Response from the owner:Autumn, thank you for being fantastic to work with especially when we would reach out on Fridays.
David G.
Kim helped me get the green card when we were newly weds. Had a great experience through it all. Very knowledgeable and professional!
Response from the owner:David, it was my absolute pleasure!
Gary H.
Worked with Kim and Eliza over the last several months. They truly are experts and wonderful to work with. We had a successful outcome as a result of their work!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the positive review! We truly enjoyed working with you. You will always be one of Eliza's favorites! We appreciate how dedicated you are and quick to respond to emails. We look forward to working with you again in the future.
Rebekah H.
Kim was a beacon of clarity during a frustrating and confusing process. I initially tried to file our marriage green card application on my own and only realized later that I had submitted just one of several required forms. I was overwhelmed and worried I’d make serious mistakes. From the moment we started working with Kim, everything changed. She answered all our questions with patience, simplified the entire process, and brought us peace of mind. She even met with us on Christmas Eve to help finalize our packet so we could submit it ASAP. When we got our interview notice, she responded quickly—scheduling a late-night Zoom call to walk us through what to expect and gave us a detailed checklist to stay organized. Thanks to her guidance, we felt confident and prepared—and the interview went smoothly. Kim is not just a knowledgeable attorney, but a kind and supportive person who genuinely cares about her clients. We’re so grateful for her help and can’t recommend her enough!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words. You were truly a pleasure to work with. I don't routinely schedule to meet with clients on Christmas Eve or holidays in general. That said, your efforts were so sincere and I could not help but want to help you. Wishing your family much happiness.
J
Kim, Beca, and the entire team at Buhler Thomas Law were fantastic in our process of securing permanent residency, to say the least. From beginning to end, we received detailed, thorough, timely, and helpful communication about every step of the process. They were always quick to answer questions as well, but above all, we could tell that this team genuinely cared about us. The excitement we felt together as we reached each milestone of the process was tangible and means a lot. I cannot recommend this team enough for any immigration legal needs one might have.
Response from the owner:We have many wonderful clients that we enjoy working with. You two are among our favorites. We appreciate how responsive you bother were to our emails and calls. More importantly though we appreciate how helpful and kind you both were in how you both were in how you communicated. It truly was our pleasure to work with you.
Vale D.
Very impressed with the work that was completed. I've worked with many law firms & attorneys from many different industries. Kim & he team are by far the most impressive in this field than anybody else. I plan to work with them in a few years again. Thanks Kim & team!
Response from the owner:Thank you, thank you, thank you! Your review is so appreciated during this chaotic time in our nation. Our sincerest gratitude for taking this time to write this review.
Yolanda O.
Kim and Eliza are amazing to work with! They have helped us through 2 H1B processes. Their attention to detail, thorough communication and encouragement made a complicated process easy and smooth on our end. I highly recommend them for your immigration needs.
Response from the owner:I wish all our clients were as responsive as you were. It was our pleasure to work with you.