"How Long Can You Stay?"

In this hot real estate market, a lot of people are shopping for, and buying homes. Not everyone can do an all cash deal, so they turn to mortgage lenders. One of the most common questions asked is "how long can you stay?" This is important because mortgage lenders want to make sure that the individual can stick around long enough to pay back the mortgage. So what follows is some tips for those of you out there who want to make sure that your loans are repaid! When it comes to real estate and mortgage issues, one common question is how long can an individual stay in the U.S. From the perspective of U.S. immigration law, there are four different categories of individuals: (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents ("LPR") or green card holders, (3) nonimmigrant visa holders who are here temporarily, and (4) undocumented individuals. It is this third group that poses the most questions. Below is a short description of some of the more popular visa categories. This information is for educational purposes only and you should consult an immigration attorney for the specifics of each of your situations. B-1Tourist; No more than 6 months, with possible extensions. J-1Exchange visitors in various programs (trainees, interns, researchers, au pairs, etc.);Generally several months, but the duration may vary depending on the program; must maintain intention to return abroad. O-1Work permit limited to individual's extraordinary ability in a specific field;Initially for 3 years, subsequently for 1 year; no maximum but must maintain intention to return abroad. E-1/E-2Treaty Trader or Investor;Admitted in 2 year intervals, with subsequent extensions.No maximum but must maintain intention to return abroad. TNWork visa for Canadian and Mexican foreign nationals that qualify under the NAFTA Treaty;Up to 3 years, and then can be extended, with no maximum but must maintain intention to return abroad. L-1Work permit limited to a job within a U.S. company that has an associated company abroad;L-1A has a maximum of 7 years or L-1B has a maximum of 5 years. H-1BWork permit limited to specific job and specific employer;Maximum of 6 years, but may be extended if seeking permanent residency. LPRLegal permanent residents who have green cards;Indefinite, so long as the U.S. remains primary residence. I want to thank Clark Lau LLC team member Shannon Lee for her contributions to this post.