Student Visa (F1, F2, M1, M2)

I have H4 visa. And I recently got my F1 Visa stamped, and at the port of entry, I was denied entry on F1 Visa, and the officer asked me to enter on H4 visa. So now my I-94 shows the entry on H4 visa. Because of this, I won't be able to apply for CPT/OPT. Are there any legal options through which I can get entry on F1 Visa?
Please suggest to me, if can I apply for a change of Status or travel to Canada/Mexico and come back on F1 or travel to India and come back on F1? Which one will be a good and easy option to change my I-94 entry to F1.

I came to the USA on Aug 2022 and had a DUI arrest in Nov which got dismissed in Dec leaving me with an Exhibition of Speed VC 23109(c)
Now I have two more semesters to complete. As per my findings, I cannot get OPT on a revoked F1 visa.

a) What are my options? can I get reinstatement, or go back and get a new F1 visa?

I put all my savings on education hoping to get an OPT and regain them, not everything is at stake.
I understand DUI is a bad thing and am so low, I'm losing my mind on this.
I can stay here and complete my education but that would mean ill drain all my money and be left with a job.

If I go back to India, I need to get a new F1 which means I need to make study for 1 year after the visa issue if I get one.
One wrong decision made everything worse for me. Please let me know if I can have any options.

Any help is deeply appreciated.

Hello friends!!

I am f2 dependent my husband is pursuing masters in US.

Applied visa on f2 when he is in his 3 semester, everything went well when she consulate (women) asked me about sponsor I said its my father, who works for PSU. She replied your husband is supposed to be Ur sponsor sorry I cant approve .

Again I applied after a month changing sponsor, it was direct being a student how he is going to sponsor you, replied we have savings of sum xxx, my father and in-law both work for PSU. So we can deal our expenses. Consulate was listening and writing something in his computer, handed 214b slip and said sorry.

Now my husband is graduating on may 2023, so planning to apply for visa again abit confused about the sponsor again as he is not in his opt yet. Will cherish if anyone would help me out of these.

Thanks in advance

Hi all,

I'm a continuing PhD student. I did my interview on Nov 17th and had the visa approved. I waited for 10 days before having to take my passport for urgent travel. The embassy then emailed me to return the passport via mail. Passport was delivered to them on Dec 22nd. There were no further communication from the embassy until Jan 18th. On that day, they emailed me to bring my passport as soon as possible because my school deadline is Jan 25th. This was disturbing because they are supposed to have the passport with them for the past month. I went to the embassy and they said the passport wasn't delivered and I should check with the mailing company. I went to the mailing company and they said the passport has beeb delivered on Dec 22nd. They also gave me documents showing the embassy has received it (embassy staff signature was there). On my way back to the embassy, they called insisting that the passport wasn't delivered. I told them I have documents from the mailing company showing your signature upon receiving the package. They said we will check and call you again. After 30 mins, they called and said we found your passport, and you should bring a new I-20. I told them I'm a continuing student and don't need to submit a new I-20. They said okay, we will call you back and you don't need a new I-20. They never called, and the only update I got from them was an email saying: we received your passport and it is continuing under administrative processing.

Because of this mishandling, I had to withdraw from the spring semester and take a leave of absence to avoid being discontinued from the program.

I hope administrative processing doesn't take forever 😔 since I need to be back and continue working on my research as soon as possible ( which is now April 15th).

This is in US embassy in Riyadh.

My son has L2 visa until September 2024. Currently, he is 18 years old. He will be starting his college from Fall 2023.
What is the best way to have hassle free studies.
1.Can he apply for F1 directly and get this stamping at our home country? or
2. should we apply for change of status from L2 to F1 staying in the US. Can the status change happen in US or should he travel back to home country?
3. What is the lead time for Change of status process?
4. Will the college initiate this process or it has to be done through attorney?
I would appreciate if you can clarify
Thanks

Can someone please guide me what is better thing to do for F1 Visa approval in this complicated situation ---Approved!!! and then refused!!! in my 1st attempt:
Its a bit confusing story happened with my visa interview :
I got i-20 from University-X in 2021 and I got slot for visa interview for 2022 June with this university details in CGI portal.
But i-20 from University-X got expired. So I got another i-20 for university-Y and updated DS-160 with university-Y but by mistake sevis-ID is still University-X. (Sevis transfer done to X to Y)
Visa got Approved!!! But the stamping has University-X college name and sevis-ID of University-X. Problem: University-X i-20 expired!!!
Applied for correction with new i-20 of University-X. I got email asking to appear for interview for this correction! (Sevis transfer done to Y to X)

Visa officer asked question:
Q: Why are you changing university from Y to X?
A: University-Y last date is over for paying deposit fee.

Q: Same question repeated 2 more times.
A: For last time I said university X is better than Y. (reality is Y better than X)
 
Q: Went inside took 10 mins and came back to say “You already had admission to university X earlier?”
A: Yes, but deferred it as I didn’t get slot that time.
Q: Handed me 214g
 
BIG QUESTION NOW!!!
I have a slot again for 2nd attempt in 10 days

The only valid i-20 I have is for University-X now

Q: What can I answer if VO ask “What did change from last interview”?

Q: If I answer I am applying for a better one University-X. Is that considered change as I already asked for this change last time ?
 
Q: What kind of crisp answer I can give if asked about why was it refused last time? It may not be good thing to explain this long story again to VO.

First time F1 visa interview experience in Chennai Consulate with work experience.

University: North Carolina state university
Course : MS Computer Engineering
VAV date : 17th June, 2022
VI date and time : 21st June, 8 am
Status: Approved
-------------------------------------------------

Me: Good morning. (I was speaking into the speaker (left side)🤦🏽‍♂️)

VO: Good morning. Please pass your I20 and passport. The mic is on your right side. Please speak into it.
Me: Oh! I'm so sorry for that.

VO: NC State. How did you select this university?
Me: I wish to specialise in ____ so when I searched for universities with a good curriculum along those lines I found NCSU.

VO: Why do you want to specialise in ___?
Me: Told about current trends in India so I want to be prepared for future.

VO: Are you currently working?
Me: Yes, I work as a Senior Software Engineer at Bosch.

VO: Are they a good employer?
Me: Yes of course. It is ____ (I wasn't sure if she heard it right cause her tone was like she didn't recognise the company)

VO: Even some well known companies aren't good employers.
Me: That's right. But I love it here. Work life balance is excellent.

VO: Is your masters in the same field as your work?
Me: I program embedded systems and IoT systems at work. They are subsets of my master's specialization.

VO: Tell me about your funding.
Me: education loan from ___ bank for Rs___lakhs + parents' savings Rs___lakhs

VO: What do your parents do?
Me: Told

VO: Please place your hand on the scanner. I'm approving your visa.
Me : Thank you very much!

More love to the immihelp community. All the best.

OFC: Jan 28th, 2022; New Delhi
Consular appointment: Feb 1st, 2022; New Delhi.

Background:
1. F-1 visa holder is on his post completion OPT after MS degree.
2. Initial OPT expires August 2022.
3. Spouse is a dentist in India
4. F-1 visa holder is primary sponsor for F-2

Questions asked
1. Can you pass me your passport and both the I-20s?
2. When did you get married?
3. Where is your husband living in US currently?
4. Where is he working and what is his role?
5. Pass me his EAD card
6. Pass me any one document you might have which proves his employment. (Showed offer letter)

I don't think posting answers for these questions are necessary as those are quite straightforward and hence not posting.
I would really encourage people to post there F-2 visa experience as there are not many. It would help future applicants.

Thanks!

First time getting an F1 visa:
Year: 2018. Consulate: Mumbai

Gloomy day. Guy before me is being grilled for what seemed like 15 mins. I go next.
VO: What college are you going to?
Me: *Tells the name of my university*
VO: Why this course?
Me: *Gives a befitting answer in one line*
VO: How much is your scholarship?
Me: *Gives the amount*
VO: What do your parents do?
ME: *States occupation in one firm sentence.

VO looks at me suspiciously. Approves visa.

Reasons I believe got me accepted: Conciseness of the answers.

Second F1 attempt:
I had flown back to India during the pandemic (big mistake).
Year: 2021. Consulate: Mumbai

VO has already rejected 2 applicants before me. I am nervous by this point.

VO: (Very sternly) Hello, ma'am. Can I have your passport and I20 please?
Me: Good morning. Sure! (Not sure he greeted me back)
VO: *Same generic questions he asked the previous 2 guys* - Where did you hear of your college?
Me: I did my research.
VO: Why an MBA?
Me: *I try my best to give him a convincing link between my old degree and the MBA, although i fumble. (I did not rehearse answers too well because I did not want to come across as bookish*
VO: Hmm.
VO: You did a *insert name of previous degree* before?
Me: Yes.
VO: Who is sponsoring you? Your mother? What does she do?
Me: *States her occupation exactly as had stated in old interview.*
VO: *Types in intensively*
By this time I am praying to God he receives His grace.
VO: *Asks me to provide fingerprints and returns my passport back to me saying 'Sorry, you do not qualify for a visa today'.*
Me: Oh. Thank you. (Dejected)

Reasons I believe I got denied:
- Applied to college, not a university (often a huge red flag)
- Fumbled through my answers.
- Second degree seen as an immigrant intent.
- Didn't believe sponsor could actually sponsor me (VOs don't like to look at docs as they can be easily ***d. I had proper proof of funds)
- Lack of employment in India as stated in DS 160.

I started studying on H4 and I have completed 4 semesters and currently doing the 5th one. I wanted get my stamping done. I applied for Canada visitor visa. Since I cannot go to India in the middle of my academic year, I opted for Vancouver, Canada for my visa interview. Thanks to the experiences posted here, I was well prepared for the standard H4 to F1 visa status questions.

Day 1: Interview

Documents:
Passport
Appointment confirmation email
I20 (old and new)
Most recent photograph
DS160 confirmation page
SEVIS payment receipt
Masters official transcripts from college
Bachelors original transcripts
College admission letter
Bank statements showing the funds

Additional Documents:
Payslips
Tax return statements
Husbands Employment letter
His passport copy
Resume

Counter 1:
Verified passport, photograph, I20 and DS 160 confirmation

Counter 2:
Took finger prints

Then was sent upstairs for the visa interview

VO: Good Morning, How are you
Me: I am good, Thanks you. How are you?
VO: Good Thank you!!

VO: Pass me your documents
Me: Gave Passport, I20, DS160

Verified all the documents and asked for the photograph. Asked if the photograph was most recent one or not (This question was asked at every counter).

VO: Where is you college located?
Me: Answered the question

VO: Is this your first F1 visa interview?
Me: Yes

VO: Have you started your Masters already?
Me: Yes

VO: Who is sponsoring for your education?
Me: My husband is sponsoring for my education

VO: Do you have any supporting documents like a letter or anything?
Me: Gave his bank statement showing more than enough funds

VO: Have applied for US before?
Me: yes I am on H4 visa

VO: Can you show me the visa?
Me: Its in my passport

Verified and saw my H4 was expired so stamped on it.

VO: Thanks for getting all these documents for me. I am keeping your passport and approving your visa. You will receive your passport within 7 days. All the best for your rest of your course. You have a very good day.

Me: Thank you so much. Happy Holidays!
VO: Happy Holidays!!

Passport status went to administration processing immediately post interview.

Day 2: Received email that passport has been released to the courier service and picked up.

Status changed to 'Issued'.

Overall it was a very smooth experience.