Stalking, mental abuse, and parental alienation are forms of violence. They are real, destructive, and legally recognized harms that no woman or man—especially a non-citizen whose immigration status depends on a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse—should ever feel obligated to tolerate. Domestic violence does not have to involve bruises, broken bones, or police reports to be real. For immigrant women, abuse is often quieter, more insidious, and deeply tied to immigration status. It can occur behind closed doors, through constant surveillance, psychological domination, and the systematic destruction of a woman’s relationship with her children. U.S. immigration law recognizes these realities and provides protections for survivors—but only if women understand that what they are experiencing counts as abuse and that documentation matters.

When the ground shifts beneath your feet in the United States immigration system—whether through TPS termination, H-1B cancellation, unexpected layoffs, G-4 status ending, or visa status changes—the B-1 business visitor visa can serve as a critical bridge to maintain your lawful status. With 28 years of immigration law experience and over 25 years specializing in G-4 visa matters, our U.S. Immigration lawyers have successfully helped countless professionals, students, researchers, au pairs, international organization employees, and specialized workers navigate these uncertain transitions using strategic B-1 applications and visa stacking techniques.

Understanding the B-1 visa's flexibility and strategic applications requires specialized knowledge and experience. Here are six essential tips many people don't know about maintaining status when facing visa uncertainty

Understanding the Travel Ban and TPS Changes 

Our U.S. immigration lawyers are actively assisting clients affected by recent travel restrictions and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) terminations. If you are a national of Burma (Myanmar), Venezuela, Haiti, or other designated countries, understanding these policy changes is critical to maintaining your legal status in the United States. 

What Is at Stake: The Unlawful Presence Penalty 

If your immigration status depends on TPS, a pending asylum case, OPT, or another temporary visa, failing to maintain lawful status can trigger severe penalties: 

• 3-year bar: For 180+ days of unlawful presence 

• 10-year bar: For 365+ days of unlawful presence 

These bars are codified under INA § 212(a)(9)(B) and prevent you from reentering the United States for the specified period.