Options after M1 visa expires

[threeoten 0]

Hi all, I'm trying to help my girlfriend figure out what some of her options might be after her M1 student visa expires. She wants to be able to stay in the US and her short term plan is to leave the country (probably to Mexico) and re-enter on a tourist visa. Is this possible and are there other options that we should be looking into? Her passport is from Ireland. 

Thanks for any advice you can give!

Edited May 16, 2018 by threeoten

[Roel 7,192]

Bad idea that will likely end up with her being denied entry. Sorry but border officers aren't stupid and will figure out she wants to use the torusit visa to move in the USA not foe tourist purposes...She knows she can't woke on b2 visa also right? 

 

If you're ready to get married you can do that and file for adjustment of status for her. She will receive a green card eventually and will be able to stay.

 

That is if you're a US citizen. 

Edited May 16, 2018 by Roel

[Coco8 1,042]

Some M1 visas have OPT, optional practical training, which allows them to work for a short time. She should find that out.

 

She cannot go to Mexico and come back on a tourist visa or ESTA because going to Mexico does not restart her status. Basically, it does not work to change one visa to another visa. Also, if she leaves and tries to come back soon in another visa, it will be suspicious, and they will deny entry. 

 

I recommend that she goes to Ireland. You can go with her instead of having her overstaying and getting into trouble. If she overstays she won't be able to get ESTA and getting a visitor visa would be very very hard.

 

Edited May 16, 2018 by Coco8

[threeoten 0]

We are not ready to get married. Is there any other way to look into her being able to stay longer?

[Roel 7,192]

45 minutes ago, threeoten said:

We are not ready to get married. Is there any other way to look into her being able to stay longer?

No. 

Dunno if its possible in her status (or lack of it) to be sponsored for a work visa or if she qualifies at all.

 

 

Edited May 16, 2018 by Roel

[Coco8 1,042]

1 hour ago, threeoten said:

We are not ready to get married. Is there any other way to look into her being able to stay longer?

No. She could leave and come back in several months to visit using ESTA. She would be able to stay only 90 days. It will be easier for you to go visit or even get a job there or go as an exchange student.

 

She could not get a work visa. It is really hard and she would be at least a bachelor degree, someone who would give her a job and sponsor the visa, and then she would have to go through a lottery to see if she gets the visa. Very unlikely. Also, the deadline was April 1 and the upcoming deadline is October. 

 

There are not many visas after that. She could try to come to study again to the US but it is very expensive.

Edited May 16, 2018 by Coco8

[geowrian 22,337]

There's always an investment visa if you have $500k+ burning a hole in your pocket.

[Boiler 45,665]

F1?