在美国签证过期可以出境吗?
关于这个问题,我只能说见仁见智吧… 美国留学签,在签证有效期内出入美国的政策一直都是这样写的: The validity period of this visa is six months from the date it was issued. You may stay in the U.S. for no more than one year, beginning on the date you first enter the United States as a visitor or student (even if that entry occurred before your visa’s expiration date) and regardless of how many times you have left and returned to the United States during that time, unless otherwise authorized by an Immigration Officer at a U.S. port of entry or an officer with authority to grant parole. 在美停留时间超过签证有效期(VISA VALIDITY)的规定,请向海关/移民官说明情况。
翻译过来大概是这么个意思——你的签证有效期六个月内有效,在你入境美国的那一天算起,你在美最长逗留不超过一年,不论你出入境多少次;除非被移民或海关官员特批过否则不准逾期滞留。 然而,题主的Diversity Lottery是移民签证的一种,其性质与常规的学生工作旅游签证大相径庭。
移民局对这种身份的美国公民优先抽签招募到的人,是默认授予永久居留权的。所以它的官方解释也完全不同。 移民局官网是这样说的: For Diversity Visa Program participants, you are authorized to remain permanently while waiting for your immigrant visa to become available. However, you cannot apply for employment authorization until you receive an I-797C Approval Notice from USCIS indicating that they have approved your Form I-485 application. 翻译得有点绕,但大意是这样的——“参加移民抽奖者”在等绿卡期间是“被授权永居”状态(authorized residence status),但是不能申请工作许可直到收到I-485批准通知,而申请I-485又必须建立在I-821P临时安全居留资格获批的基础上。 所以题主的情况比较复杂,要具体情况具体分析: 如果题主现在人在美国境内,并且已经递交了I-821P的申请(当然还要收到批准信),那么理论上讲题主是可以合法留在美国直至拿到绿卡的。 但前提是,你要保证不会在等待期间离境或者非法就业哦~
反之,如果你人不在美国境内,那就不可能通过申请I-821P的方式获得永居权啦! 你只能在签证失效前返回中国,然后重新递交移民签证申请(immigrant visa petition)+移民面试邀请信(visa interview invitation letter)。 这个过程大概需要1年时间左右,之后才能前往美国使馆面谈拿绿卡~