Stuck in US due to coronavirus – travel visa will expire before flights are available

4/27/2020 4:58:58 PM

There are still commercial flights to Poland flying every day through July, while your guest may not be able to make it out as originally ticketed, there are plenty of alternatives flying from major US cities to Poland. Have you done a search on Google Flights or some other OTA?

4/27/2020 6:29:35 AM

If you haven’t already done so, contact your embassy for advice on how to return to your home country. Embassies are organizing repatriation flights that are not advertised and only available by contacting the embassy. For example, there was a Poland-to-US repatriation flight on April 24. Although there may not be another repatriation flight available immediately, it is likely that one will be organized in the next 6 weeks between now and June 12. It may also be possible to return to your home country via a third country (eg return from US to Poland via Germany), but this would be safest if done with advice from your embassy.

4/26/2020 8:02:46 PM

Your only real options lie within the guidelines set out by USCIS here. Since your cousin needs a visa, she must apply for an extension. No way around it.

In summary, they state the following:

  • Generally, nonimmigrants must depart the United States before their authorized period of admission expires. However, we recognize that nonimmigrants may unexpectedly remain in the United States beyond their authorized period of stay due to COVID-19. Should this occur, the following options are available for nonimmigrants:

    Apply for an Extension. Most nonimmigrants can mitigate the immigration consequences of COVID-19 by timely filing an application
    for extension of stay (EOS) or change in status (COS). U.S.
    Citizenship and Immigration Services continues to accept and process
    applications and petitions, and many of our forms are available for
    online filing.

Unfortunately that costs money, but it seems it’s the only real mechanism the US has for extensions, even in times of a pandemic. USCIS do offer a fee waiver application here

Credit:stackoverflow.com‘

About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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