J Visa Opt to J1

[Gersonin]

hi everybody. I have been here in the United States for almost a year on an OPT visa. I want to convert it to a J-1 but I don't have much time before I have to leave and my visa expires. Can I stay past the expiration while the application is pending? Can I even do that and apply quickly for a conversion to the new visa? Do I need a lawyer for all this?

 

[army judge]

hi everybody. I have been here in the United States for almost a year on an OPT visa. I want to convert it to a J-1 but I don't have much time before I have to leave and my visa expires. Can I stay past the expiration while the application is pending? Can I even do that and apply quickly for a conversion to the new visa? Do I need a lawyer for all this?

I would never recommend over staying a visa anywhere, especially in any country that sees terrorists and bad people everywhere.