At present, affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, the U.S. Immigration Office in Guangzhou has been temporarily closed, and various businesses have not been fully restored. According to the notice issued by the State Council on February 30th, 2020, the visa business of foreign embassies and consulates was resumed on February 30th, 365438.
Although the opening hours of embassies and consulates in China are not specified, it is still good news. At present, the US Immigration Service will continue to reply to e-mail inquiries.
What if the visa expires?
The Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has the right to decide whether a person's documents are sufficient to enter the United States. In view of the COVID-19 epidemic, there is currently no procedure to extend the stay outside the United States.
If your green card or entry permit has expired, but you have been away from the United States for less than one year (there is no return permit), you can apply to the airline for I- 13 1A transport letter, allowing you to fly to the United States. From 20 1 9165438+10/0, the processing of I- 13 1A form by the US Consulate in Guangzhou was handed over to the State Council.
If you leave the United States for more than one year, you will be deemed to have renounced your legal permanent resident status. If you can't go home to the United States for reasons beyond your control, you can apply for a SB- 1 visa, which will probably qualify for a return resident visa and restore your resident status.
If you have been away from the United States for more than one year, but do not meet the requirements of SB- 1 visa, you can re-apply for a new immigrant or non-immigrant visa.
Finally, in order to maintain the validity of the American green card, Xiao Dajun suggested that all American green card holders should apply for the return certificate in time before leaving the United States. Always pay attention to the departure time after leaving the country and try to avoid leaving the country for more than one year. After all, it is not easy to get a green card.
The above-mentioned key contents involve three types of visas, including I- 13 1A, SB- 1 visa and re-entry permit. Take a look at the following, you can "prescribe the right medicine" according to your current situation.
Id number 13 1A
If your green card or entry permit has expired or is lost outside the United States, you can only reissue it at the US Immigration Service, but American embassies and consulates abroad cannot reissue your green card. If you haven't been away from the United States for more than 364 days and don't have a valid return permit, you can apply for a travel document through I- 13 1A to allow you to enter the United States.
Apply for a travel document through I- 13 1A, and authorize the airline to take you to the United States without punishment. The forms of travel documents include transport letter and boarding foil.
It should be emphasized that travel documents do not guarantee entry into the United States, and the Department of Homeland Security has the final decision on entry. It is only used to exempt airlines from legal punishment.
Back to Mei Zheng.
Visa replacement documents used by green card holders who have stayed outside the United States for more than six months can stay outside the United States for no more than two years when they return to the United States.
Note: The applicant must be in the United States when submitting the application.
B- 1 visa
If the legal green card holder has left the United States for more than one year, USCIS considers that you have given up your legal permanent resident status. If you can't return to the United States due to uncontrollable reasons, you can apply for SB- 1 visa.
Note: SB- 1 Visa application has been strictly examined. It is necessary to reasonably prove that the applicant cannot return to the United States due to force majeure, but the final application and approval will be decided by the visa department.