[Rod11]

Hi,

I'm employed in a foreign flag yacht in Ft. Lauderdale, my I-94 is expiring at the end of september and my B1B2 visa is expiring next january.

What would be the best move to do now?

Is it possible to get a new B1B2 visa in Bahamas even if you are a foreigner or do I have to go back to my country?

Thanks.

[K1W1]

Hi,

It all depends upon how long you are planning on staying in the US I guess.

In my experience the success of foreigners getting visas in the Bahamas has gone down to almost zero in the last 20 yrs.

You will not necessarily have to return to your country of origin to get a new one.

Wherever you decide to go make sure that you get the captain/management co to write an official letter with all valid contact details and go to take to the Embassy with you.

If you apply and fail you will find that a record of this is kept and you should declare this on your next application or if they discover it and you haven't declared it your chances of getting a new visa are almost nil.

Also remember when applying that the Embassy will hang on to your passport and send it back in the self addressed envelope you have provided with your application so wherever you go plan on spending more than 24 hrs.

[Rod11]

Thanks K1W1,

So according to your experience I should not waste my time and money trying to get a new visa in Bahamas. I will see where to go then.

Thanks.

[Sanych]

Rod11,

1. You may re-enter into the US before your B-visa expiration date. At this point you will be issued a new I-94 (typically valid for the next 3 or 6 months). For example, if your B1/B2 expiration date is 1/23/08, you may enter into the US even on 1/23/08 and stay in the US until 7/3/08 (if I-94 issued for 6 months).
Review official FAQ at http://travel.state.gov/visa/questio...ions_1253.html

2. My niece, (citizen of Ukraine, had C1/D at the moment), personally obtained B1/B2 visa in Nassau on March 2007. At least she did not mention any problem.

Originally Posted by K1W1

Also remember when applying that the Embassy will hang on to your passport and send it back in the self addressed envelope you have provided with your application so wherever you go plan on spending more than 24 hrs.

Not applicable to Nassau!
http://nassau.usembassy.gov/visa_services.html :

Our policy is to return passports with the approved visa between 2:30 and 3:30pm on the day following the interview, or between 1:00 and 2:00pm on Friday for applicants interviewed on Thursdays.

So, you may schedule an apointment and carefully follow the instructions for "Renew a Visa" process. Read http://nassau.usembassy.gov/renew_a_visa.html

They accept US$ but have exact change with you. $131.00 plus visa reciprocity fee ( http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/re...city_3272.html )

Good luck!

[viking 58]

seams like the process should be pretty easy judging by the amount of pre approved Visa's that show up in the mail at my home.

[yotphix]

For what it's worth, my girlfriend, then on a Romanian Passport, received a b1/b2 in Nassau with no trouble in 2006.

[Rod11]

Thanks to everyone who replied, appreciated.

Have a nice day.