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VISA issues

Started by cyMD
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cyMD

Full Member
10+ Year Member
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Hi everyone,

I'm sitting in the airport waiting to go back to the US for my rotation.

Usually I get questioned when trying to extend my B1 visa. They give me a bit of a hard time but I don't mind. I give them the letter from the hospital and they question me and eventually give me a B1 visa until the end of my rotation.

This time I ran into the rudest, meanest customs agent. She was so rude to all the passengers, I was shocked. She wouldn't extend my B1 visa because I didn't have a letter from Ross. Just the letter from the coordinator from the hospital. I've done this 4 times now every time I go through the border and they always ask me for the hospital letter. They never even want to see the other papers I have (which I always carry - like my schedule, acceptance letter, school IDs, the ACGME accreditation of the rotation, etc.) and I have always gotten the B1 visa I needed.

So now I have to come back to renew my VISA in a couple months and I'm in surgery rotation. Is there a way I can do it at the consulate in Florida? Is there somewhere I can call to ask who might be able to extend it without me having to find time to fly back home just to get this done.

Also, another topic, I'm going to start residency in July and I want to make sure nothing goes wrong in getting my J1 visa. Is it common to employ an immigration lawyer to handle my case in case anything goes wrong? For example, give him all my paperwork and familiarize him with my case - so if anything happens I can call him.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
Review the info on the ECFMG website. They are the ones who handle J1 visas for Non-American citizens.