Honestly, I’ve been in this boat before. My visa was about to expire, and I hadn’t even started the renewal process. The first thing I did was talk to my employer and explain the urgency—they were able to expedite the paperwork on their end. At the same time, I contacted an immigration attorney to figure out a Plan B in case things didn’t work out. It’s stressful, but acting quickly is key

Don’t panic—just start by checking if you’re eligible to file for an extension. If you are, submit the application as soon as possible. Even if your current visa expires while the application is being processed, you’re generally allowed to stay under something called a ‘bridge status.’ It buys you time

One thing people sometimes overlook is changing their visa type. For example, if a work visa renewal isn’t possible right now, you could explore switching to a student visa or even a tourist visa, depending on your circumstances. It’s not ideal, but it can keep you in the U.S. legally while you figure things out