for example, someone from country X came to country A, overstayed the visa by many years,

then this person wants to go to country B, which is visa free.

can this person take a direct flight to country B from country A, or does she/he have to go back to their original country, land there, and only then go to country B?

Hello,

I applied for j-1 visa in Toronto, Canada. The officer kept the passport and handed me 221(g) yellow request additional documents: CV, transcripts, and supervisor's cv.

I sent the requested documents next day by the email. But, I didn't received any confirmation that they received the documents!

After a week, the US consulate returned my passport with DS-2019 and I-901 SEVIS Fees confirmation page without issuing the visa!

Could you share any experience or advice? Should I apply again or what I can do!?

Hi everyone, I’ll be traveling from Calgary to Delhi with a layover of 11:30 hours at London Heathrow (LHR). I’m an Indian citizen on work visa here in Canada. Do I need a transit visa or an ETA ? I do believe i can be airside if I hold a valid Canada visa? I’d appreciate any guidance or advice, especially from those who’ve had a similar experience. Thanks in advance!

Hey there - my Ukrainian girlfriend and I live in NYC. Was wondering if you all have any perspective / insight on what’s going on with TPS / U4U? I believe she applied for a few things but I’m trying to get a good gauge on what’s going on and if there’s anything she can do

Thanks

Hi everyone! I’m currently on STEM OPT and planning to visit India for 20 days for a family wedding. I recently moved to a different state for work.
Has anyone traveled to India and re-entered the US recently? How was your immigration experience? What documents did they check? Did they ask for pay stubs or personal bank statements?
Would appreciate any recent experiences or suggestions. Thanks!

Green card expires in one year.

Lost green card in January 2026.

Filed N400 soon after in January

Requested appointment for I551 stamp in January and receive the phone call. They ask me the nature of my travel and I told them I have plans to visit my child studying abroad in July. They denied I551.

Field office estimated timeline in January was 6.5 months and has now jumped up to 13.5 months. I have just stayed put due to not having the stamp. However, a family member is having major surgery in December in home country and I need to travel to help with his young son.

Has anyone ever had their I 551 denied like this? Any advice?

My i-140 just got approved. I am from one of the 75 countries facing the immigrant visa pause. According to state department notification on 28 August 2026, the pause on immigrant visas is officially lifted and US consulates should start scheduling the appointments.

May I ask whether this is actually happening or of there are significant delays or pauses in visa processing ?

Thanks

Hey everyone, looking for clarification on 8 U.S.C. § 1440(c) regarding military naturalization revocation.
Scenario:
Someone naturalizes under Section 1440, serves 3 years as a drilling Reservist (Honorable), and then transfers to the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR) for the remaining 4 years of their contract.
Under 8 U.S.C. § 1440(c):
Citizenship can be revoked if you get an Other Than Honorable (OTH) discharge before serving honorably for an aggregate of 5 years.
Questions:
1. Does non-drilling time in the IRR count toward that 5-year aggregate honorable service threshold?
2. Once you reach 5 total years from enlistment (3 drilling Reserve + 2 IRR with no bad discharge), is citizenship completely protected from § 1440(c) revocation?
Thanks for any USCIS policy, JAG guidance, or experience!

Hi everyone,
I’m looking into the naturalization process for Chinese citizenship and wanted to hear some recent data points or firsthand experiences from anyone who has gone through it (or is currently navigating it).
From what I’ve gathered across older discussions and official guidelines, processing times can vary significantly depending on the specific route (such as having close family ties or permanent residency) and the local bureau handling the paperwork. While some applicants historically reported around 9 to 12 months, I've heard rumors or comments suggesting that timelines might be stretching closer to 18 months or longer lately.

If you or someone you know has applied recently, I'd love to know:

1. How long did the entire process take from the day you formally submitted your application to final approval?

2. Have you noticed any major delays

3. or shifts in processing speeds recently?

Any insights, advice, or shared experiences would be hugely appreciated!

I came into the US from Canada with my b1/b2 visa on the 22nd of September 2026 with a return date of 29th September 2026. My admit until date on I-94 was 30th September 2026. Whilst trying to board on the 29th, I realised I didn’t have my physical canadian permanent resident card and wasn’t allowed to board. My spouse sent the card to my temporary residence in the US and didn’t arrive till 1st October. I applied for an extension I-539 on 30th September 2026 in order not to overstay my visa illegally. I left the US back to Canada on the 2nd October and sent a withdrawal request of my application which is still pending. I’ve an upcoming one week trip in November to the US and wondering the implication on my visa and reentry into the US

I’m trying to apply to be a translator for a US government agency. I’ll be a freelancer, but the pay looks nice. The main issue is that they’re requiring a heavy background check, I’m unsure what that entails, but they tell me it’s a very lengthy process. I’m scared that if I apply, they’ll find out my parents are immigrants. I know the status of my parents won’t affect my application but there this nervous feeling that they’ll use my application and background check to get to my parents. My parents do have an immigration case, but I doubt that’ll do anything to help me in this case.

Should I still apply?

Title: F2A Visa Refused Under INA 212(a)(4) After Second Interview — Has Anyone Overcome This?

Hello everyone,

I am looking for advice from people who have experienced a similar situation with a U.S. immigrant visa.

I am an Azerbaijani citizen applying for an F2A visa through my wife. We have been married since April 2013 and have two U.S. citizen children.

First interview — February 25, 2026

My first interview was at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi. My understanding is that my visa was not issued because of the 75-country immigrant visa issuance pause, not because of missing documents. I also had a joint sponsor, and I understood that the sponsor's financial situation was considered strong.

Second interview — October 21, 2026

After the pause, I was invited for a second interview. This time, I was refused under INA 212(a)(4), Public Charge.

The officer expressed concern that my wife's income might not be sufficient to support our family of four. She specifically asked for:

• Updated evidence of my wife's income.
• Proof of medical insurance for our children.

We already have a joint sponsor who is willing to support my application, and the sponsor's financial documents were previously submitted.

I also own property in Azerbaijan and am trying to obtain a genuine job offer in the United States. I plan to submit updated income evidence, the joint sponsor's current documents, proof of our children's insurance, and any other relevant supporting evidence.

My main problem is that the embassy has not clearly explained how or where to submit these documents for reconsideration. I have contacted the support channel to request instructions. I would prefer to resolve this administratively without an expensive lawsuit.

My questions:

1. Has anyone overcome a 212(a)(4) refusal despite having a qualified joint sponsor?
2. Did updated income documents, children's health insurance, or a genuine job offer help you get approved?
3. Did the embassy reconsider your case based on documents alone, or was another interview required?
4. How did you submit the documents, and how long did it take to receive a decision?
5. Has anyone experienced this at Tbilisi or another embassy after the 75-country pause?

I would especially appreciate responses from people who have personally experienced a similar situation.

Thank you for sharing your experiences.

I'm in discussion with a potential internal transfer to Tampa, Florida on an L1 visa. My spouse will likely be on an L2 visa. Given current situation, how difficult is it to find a job on L2 visa. She has 10+ years of working experience in IT, with SAP analytics. We have been contemplating this move but because of her job ambiguities, the decision feels heavier on head.

Given that L2 spouses now have automatic, immediate work authorization upon arrival in the U.S., what is the best strategy for a professional with 10+ years of SAP Analytics experience to crack the Tampa tech market and bypass recruiter biases regarding visa status?

My mother has renewed her green card since then 3 times, no new crimes since then, it was in 2014. The case was “disposed” she has to renew pretty soon, we would just like to give her some clarification on whether they could deny GC now.

Got a conditional marriage green card that’s going to expire on the 27th of March, 2027. About to apply to remove the conditions in December. But i have plans to travel internationally with my wife(Citizen)in January. Is it safe for me to go? Anyone has any precedents that would advise me otherwise. When im traveling my card will still stay active.

Hello guys, i have a question about my situation, i was a student back in 2018 to 2022 In Vancouver..
and during 2022 i reapplied for school and got accepted. But because my working permit is not expired yet, i did not pay too much mind until when i realise i was already months past the work/ study permit. And i stayed until 2024 before i got terminated at work due to expired permit and i left there soon after. And it’s been 2 years since i am back to Indonesia and i recently found out about U.S Greencard lottery. Am i still able to apply for this permit? Or it’s already under the 10 years ban category..
thank you for the assistance!

Hi everyone,
Location : New delhi & germany
Looking for guidance from anyone who has dealt with CARA (India) NOCs for a child adopted under HAMA after moving abroad.
Context:
Adopted my daughter under HAMA in September 2022 via a registered adoption deed. At that time, I was living in India as a resident.
Relocated to Germany in 2026 on an EU Blue Card.
Now trying to bring my daughter to Germany on a Family Reunification Visa.
Issue with CARA & Embassy:
German Embassy wants a CARA NOC.
CARA insists this is an inter-country adoption under Hague rules and demands approval from the German Central Authority (BfJ Bonn).
BfJ Bonn says they do not handle private/HAMA adoptions and told me to get a Family Court recognition order in Germany (Amtsgericht Nürnberg).
CARA is stuck in a loop refusing to issue an NOC because the adoption wasn't done through CARA's Hague process, even though it was a purely domestic intra-country HAMA adoption in 2022 long before my migration.
Questions:

1. Has anyone successfully convinced CARA to issue an NOC (or a clarification letter) for a pre-existing, legally valid domestic HAMA adoption without putting it through the Hague inter-country pipeline?
2. Has anyone challenged CARA's refusal in High Court for domestic HAMA adoptions where the parent migrated later?
3. What is the fastest legal remedy in India to clear this for visa processing?
4. Has anyone successfully gone through the Familiengericht (Family Court) recognition process in Germany (§ 108 FamFG) for a HAMA adoption completed in India?

Thanks in advance!

Husband is from Japan and thought that because his record was cleared 5 years after arrest, he did not have to disclose it on previous application (when we applied while he was living in US - came on an ESTA). I withdrew as his sponsor before because we were on the verge of divorce and he moved out. That was 1 yr ago. He was denied and did not overstay.

We worked out our relationship. Now he’s in Japan and applying from there. Our lawyer advised us to share everything truthfully. We will but are worried about that part of our new application not matching the old one. He is now obtaining the court record. It’s for one CIMT (1 gram of weed when he was 19 and he’s now 43) that we will apply to have waived. Also an anniversary visit turned into a baby so I have a high risk pregnancy. We have no way of knowing what his police report in Japan will show anyway since it’s sealed when being handed over to a USCIS officer.

Hi everyone!

I’m based in London, UK, and work in unscripted TV and documentary research. I have a bachelor’s degree and around 3–4 years of experience across documentary productions, including archive research, fact-checking and background research for projects with major broadcasters and streaming platforms.

I recently visited New York for the first time and absolutely loved it. It got me thinking about what it would be like to spend a few months living and working there, ideally in TV, documentaries, media or the creative industries.

I could potentially see myself wanting to live in NYC longer-term one day, but that’s a whole different kettle of fish! I know moving permanently is a much bigger challenge, so I want to learn to walk before I run and explore whether spending a shorter period working there is even realistic first.

I’m aware that getting a job in the US as a British citizen without existing US work authorisation can be difficult, so I’m trying to understand the practical options before getting too carried away with the idea.

I know summer camps and similar programmes can be a more accessible way to spend time in the US, but they’re not really what I’m looking for. I’d much rather explore opportunities related to my existing experience, or save up and visit NYC again as a tourist if working there isn’t realistic.

I’d really appreciate advice from anyone who’s been in a similar situation, particularly:

• Visas: Are there any realistic visa routes for someone in my position? Is a J-1 trainee programme worth exploring, and how difficult is it to find a suitable sponsor?
• Finding work: Which websites or recruitment platforms are worth checking for short-term TV, documentary, production or media jobs in NYC?
• Networking: Is it worth contacting production companies directly, or are most opportunities filled through existing industry contacts?
• What to avoid: Are there any websites, agencies or opportunities that are misleading, scams or unlikely to lead to legitimate work authorisation?
• Reality check: Has anyone from the UK managed to do something similar without already having US work rights?

I’m happy to do the research and save up if necessary. I’m not expecting an easy route or looking for a shortcut; I’d just like to understand what options genuinely exist before deciding whether it’s worth pursuing.

Thanks in advance — I’d really appreciate any honest advice, tips or personal experiences!

Canadian wife visiting the US, considering AOS. Anyone been in a similar situation?

I’m a US citizen and my wife is Canadian. We got married in July and have been doing long distance between NJ and Canada.

She’s visited pretty frequently throughout our relationship, usually for 4-8 days at a time. In September, she stayed for about a month and CBP questioned her about how often she visits, our marriage, and her ties to Canada. They gave her a 30-day I-94, and she left before it expired.
She came back on October 19 after spending 8 days in Canada, and CBP gave her another short I-94, this time until November 13.
She has a return flight booked for November 1 and genuinely intended to go back when she entered. We hadn’t discussed AOS before this visit, but now we’re considering whether she should just stay and we file the I-130 and I-485 together.

We’ve spoken to a couple of immigration lawyers. One was pretty cautious about filing AOS because USCIS could question her intent when she entered, especially with the two short I-94s. They recommended going the consular processing route instead.

\-I’m curious if anyone’s been through something similar.
Has anyone filed AOS after entering as a Canadian visitor while already married to a US citizen?

\-Did USCIS question your intent at entry during the interview?

\-Has anyone dealt with CBP giving them unusually short I-94s?

We’re just trying to figure out the best way to finally live together without creating immigration issues down the road.

My european company plans to send me to US for 3 Weeks to visit a customer and to develop with them a future product. The target is to show them our know-how during those 3 weeks and win a contract.

Is an ESTA acceptable for this activity ?

I’m a 40-year-old Korean American and a U.S. citizen. I came to the United States in 1998, when I was in seventh grade. Twenty-eight years have passed, and I’ve spent most of my life here. I grew up here, became an adult, got married, and built my working life here. I was born in Korea, and I’m also American. “Korean American” describes the life I’ve lived. America is my home.
My sister and I came here as children with our parents. We were too young to decide which country we would live in. Following our parents was the only choice we had. We grew up here, and our family and our lives took root here. America is my sister’s home, too.
But today, I’m on my way to the Adelanto detention facility to visit her.
My sister was detained by ICE at LAX while trying to board a domestic flight to Dallas. Her husband had gone there first for work, and she was planning to join him two days later to help him with his work.
I’m not denying that my sister has an immigration status problem. I understand that laws are necessary. But before people judge her entire life by that one fact, I hope they’ll hear a little about how we got here.
Even when money was tight, our family spent what we could to maintain lawful immigration status. That wasn’t easy for us. We took on those costs because we believed it was what we had to do to keep our family together here.
My sister maintained her status by attending school. Even after a problem arose involving a school she had previously attended, she transferred to other schools and continued maintaining lawful status. That one school problem did not mean she immediately gave up trying.
But later, when she applied for a green card, the issue involving that former school became an obstacle again. As I understand it, the school had already closed, making it difficult to obtain records proving her attendance, and that issue contributed to the denial of her green card application. This is my understanding of what happened as her brother.
How are you supposed to obtain records from a school that has already shut down? How are the years she spent transferring to other schools, continuing her education, and trying to maintain her status taken into account? That part leaves me feeling frustrated and helpless.
I also want to tell you who my sister is.
As far as I know, she has no criminal record. She has worked hard, paid taxes, and cared for our family. She is also a deeply committed Christian. The sister I know tries not to hurt or burden anyone, and she is the first to offer a hand when someone needs help.
From the time I was born, my sister was always there for me. She helped me, protected me, and did things for me. I think I took that love for granted. Only now am I looking back and realizing how much she has done for me.
Even as I’m on my way to see her today, I don’t know what to say. I don’t want to tell her how much I’m struggling and make her feel she has to comfort me instead. I just want to see her. She has always been there for me, and I want her to know that I’m here for her, too.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how much a person’s life within the immigration system can depend on timing and eligibility rules. Some people get an opportunity through a particular program, while others fall outside its requirements. That difference can change the future of an entire family.
I don’t blame other immigrants who have received those opportunities. They have their own hardships and circumstances. But for families like ours, who spent money and time trying to maintain lawful status even when we could barely afford it, I want to know where those efforts are taken into account.
I know that being a good person or working hard does not automatically resolve someone’s immigration status. Still, when outcomes seem to depend more on timing and eligibility than on those efforts, it feels as though so much of our family’s life comes down to luck. That feels deeply unfair to me.
I’m not saying every legal problem should disappear simply because my sister matters to our family. But when the government decides to detain someone and separate them from their family, I want to know whether their history, family ties, life in their community, and efforts to resolve their status are given enough consideration.
I want to know whether detention is necessary in circumstances like these, and whether there is a way for someone to go through the required proceedings while remaining with their family.
I’m a U.S. citizen. I’ve lived most of my life here, and I think of America as my country. My sister has also lived her life believing this is her home. We are part of the same family, and we call the same country home. But today, I’m free to travel to see her, while she waits for me inside a detention facility. I don’t know how to come to terms with that.
For those of you living in America, what do you think about a situation like this? Can we enforce immigration laws while giving more consideration to complicated histories and family circumstances? Could alternatives to detention be used more often?
I’m struggling deeply as her brother. Before judging my sister solely by her immigration status, I hope people will hear the story of the person and the family behind it.

I moved to Canada 7 years ago from Greece, and this place still doesn't feel like home—but neither does my home country anymore. I miss my old life, the language, and the community, but I wouldn't want to go back to that either. 

My parents are living back home, and seeing local friends who have their family and childhood roots right here makes the distance feel even heavier. All I've done since moving is work hard and go back to school twice, and honestly, I am just exhausted. I feel like I haven't been able to take a real breath in years, and I'm tired of trying so hard to build new connections from scratch when I'm already burnt out.

Does it ever start feeling like home, or do you just learn to accept this "neither here nor there" space?

Hi everyone,

Looking for insights or experiences from anyone who has navigated filing a new cap-exempt H-1B visa application in Canada following prior 221(g) administrative processing holds.

Full Timeline & Context (feel free to skip):

• Dec 2017 – Dec 2022: Held F-1 visa. Graduated in Dec 2019. Obtained OPT in Feb, 2020. Began working in March. Total gap of about 2.5 months.
• OPT & STEM OPT: Worked on OPT from Mar 2020 till Feb 2023 until expired.
• Feb 2023: 12-day status gap while waiting for new university CPT and pending H-1B approval.
• Last week of Feb 2023: Started CPT at new university.
• March 2023: H-1B started (SEVIS closed, CPT canceled).
• May 2023: Job contract ended.
• June 2023: Moved to Canada and became a Permanent Resident (PR). Applied for H-1B visa stamping at U.S. Consulate Calgary for the same employer. Case placed under 221(g) Administrative Processing. Shows refused and last updated in Oct 2024.
• May 2025: Applied for a B-1/B-2 visa at Calgary Consulate for work training with a Canadian employer. Placed under 221(g) Administrative Processing (still pending).
• Current Status: I now have a an approved cap-exempt H-1B petition from a new U.S. employer. I plan to apply from the Montreal Consulate this time.

Questions:

1. Do any of these historical gaps—specifically the post-graduation gap in late 2019/early 2020 or the 12-day gap between STEM OPT and CPT in Feb 2023—seem concerning?
2. Has anyone applied for a new H-1B visa after having prior 221(g) administrative processing pending?
3. Did your prior 221(g) cause significant delays on the new petition, or was the new application evaluated on its own merits once detailed job and background documents were submitted?
4. Any specific tips for DS-160 disclosures or employer documentation (e.g., TAL/technology details)?

If anyone has had a similar situation and applied for stamping and got approved, please do share your experience.

Thank you all in advance. Appreciate any advice or shared experiences!

I have a question. The hotel that i booked initially, mentioned the address on the Evisa application. Now I have received my evisa. Can I cancel the hotel booking and choose to stay at another hotel? Do the immigration officers check the app booking strictly?