I read a lot of posts and did not find a complete answer to my question. My friend is trying to stay in the US to become a student or to work. Simply staying as a tourist is acceptable, however, in all instances she would like to ultimately live here and retain her ability to travel home and back. Her status is:
- Russian Citizen
- Was here for 3 months (through Sept. 18th) on a J1 visa to work.
- Currently within her 30-day grace period
- Does not have a two-year home residency requirement
After a brief 15-minute interview with USCIS in which they examined her Visa we were told she could remain here for 90 days, and that she could change her visa to another type and could also remain in the country while that visa application was pending. Most information seems to indicate this is incorrect. So here are our questions:
1) Is she legally allowed to remain in the country more than 30 days?
2) What is the impact of staying longer than 30 days if she wants to work or live here in the immediate future?
3) What visa or other options are available to let her remain in the US after her grace period now that it has begun?
4) What else besides a valid Visa does she need to work in the US?
Let us know if you need more information and thank you for your efforts here.

