Do you know much about US visas?

Visitors from Britain can enter without a visa at all for up to 90 days, but without a visa they cannot prolong their stay beyond that. If she does go through the process of getting a visa, however, it’s possible to apply for an extension once she’s here, as long as that’s done before the original length of stay is expired. (info on the extension process here)

Ok well first off let me begin by saying that if I had to consider..I mean what I am saying is..well…NO

Not much. I prefer using my Discover card.
(I get 1% cash back!)

@Harp So what needs to happen is she needs to apply for a visa during the 90 days she’s allowed to be here?

She needs a B1 visa type for the time she is going to stay, or a J1 visa if the organization wants to sponsor her.

@theluckiest No, she would have to get the visa in the UK, then apply for the extension once in the States.

@Harp
Nope, you cannot apply for a extension in the States, you have to return to your home country and apply in the local Embassy, this guarantees that if you are denied such extension, you won’t stay in the U.S. as an illegal alien.

@flameboi From here:

“Only persons who are already in the United States on a B-1 Business Visa or B-2 Tourist Visa may file an application for extension of stay.”

checking the FAM, be back in a sec

But can you apply for a B-1 or B-2 visa while in the usa?

@theluckiest
Nope, you have to apply in your country
about the visa extension: (From FAM)

Extension of Stay:

Permission to enter and/or remain in the U.S. and extensions of stay in this country are granted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If you came to the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa, and you want to extend your stay in the U.S., then you must ask for permission from DHS’s United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before your authorized stay expires. If you have a date on your Form I-94, you should apply for your extension of stay with USCIS well in advance of its expiration.

Well in advance means an eternity, that’s why, it is recomended to leave and return rather than apply for an extension…

You guys are all being super helpful I’m really grateful.. last question related, (I think)

Do you know how long you have to be out of the country before you re-enter? I imagine we can’t just pop into canada or mexico for a weekend…

@theluckiest
Yep, that works, not the weekend, but try at least a few days (you better go to Canada, the U.S. – Mexico border is super dangerous lately because of the drug related violence)

@flameboi Awesome dude that is incredibly helpful. Yeah I’m driving up from LA, getting her in Oregon, and coming back to LA so either border is available logistically, but safety wise canada is definitely preferable. If we were in Canada for 3 weekdays you think that’s enough?

yep that’s enough, and, you are welcome :)

@flameboi You handsome bastard if this ends up working out I’ll name the first born for you.

When I applied for a Visa back in the days (1997) I think there was a Visa for volunteer work. As long as you got no pay you could stay for longer than three months I think. Is that option gone now? I might be remembering things wrong but I think that was an option. I couldn’t find anything similar at the link given above though.

@theluckiest if you and your guest end up taking a road trip to Canada and pass through Washington state, you must let Amoebic and I know. I will shower you and your guest with love and cupcakes if only for the day/afternoon/etc in which you pass through our region.

Enter via Mexico,it’s just so easy and cuts out all the time consuming Redtape.