Goldthwaite, TX Immigration Law Firms & Lawyers

Sure, you can apply. The question is whether your application is going to be approved (which I doubt, under the circumstances). Perhaps, you might be able to apply for a change of status through your prospective employer. Alternatively, you should consider filing for a change of status to F-1 student visa, especially if you are already taking classes for your dental exam preparation: taking classes while on a B visa is considered a violation of your non-immigrant status; and USCIS might take a dim view of your stay in the U.S. on a B visa for the purposes of taking a professional exam. Otherwise, consider this: your extension application will take 4.5 months (in Vermont Service Center; 2.5 months - if your previous application was processed in California Service Center; look up the address on the notice granting you the extension). Even if it will be denied, *so long as you do not accrue 180 days* of out-of-status presence in the U.S. after expiration of your first extension, you will not become inadmissible (yes, the U.S. consul is likely to give you hard time when you apply for your next visa; but, if you can show that you filed for an extension and remained in the U.S. only until your exam, your overstay will likely be forgiven).

Your ability to petition the government for immigrant visas for your family depends on your status: to bring in your parents and sister, you have to be a U.S. citizen. If you are a U.S. citizen, you can file immigrant petitions for your parents and sister simultaneously. If your income is below the federal poverty guideline (in your case - $29437 a year), you will have to find a co-sponsor who is a U.S. citizen or has a green card, and has income that exceeds the federal poverty guideline for his family plus 3 (For example, if the co-sponsor has a wife and a child, his income has to be over $39487 a year). You can expect that the process will take 12 to 18 months, depending on the country where your parents live.