[thegreenswede]

Hello! My girlfriend is currently an au paire on J-1 Visa but wants to leave her current host family due to bad work conditions. She will attempt a rematch to find a new family and continue working under the program.

However, she knows some au paires in similar situations who filed for Tourist Visa whole working and still in the US, and then stopped working while waiting and being 'out of status' but remaining in the US due to the current conditions.

Would she be able quit her family, apply for tourist visa now, and stay with me during the lockdown while awaiting the decision (not working of course)?

[proberts]

Yes, she could file a change of status to B-2 visitor status and while her application is pending, she could remain in the US. But this application should be filed before she quits her J-1 employment and note that there is no guarantee that her application will be approved.

[thegreenswede]

Thank you thank you thank you!! Omg what a relief for her. Her current host family is acting hostile to her, making her work 80+ hours a week during this lockdown bc of course the kids have no school and telling her that they will keep her locked in until a vaccine is ready, even if the gov eases lockdown rules.

She was getting desperate and her mental health was deteriorating due to the uncertainty of her options.

This made my day. Thank you so so much!!