Student Visa (F1, F2, M1, M2)

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.

I am wondering who is in the same situation as me. I am in Canada applying for a F-1 renewal visa. I was required for a follow-up interview after sending documents, but there are no available interview in the system. It simply reads, "there are no available appointment at this time. Please try again later." I tried 5 times a day for a month, but nothing happened.

 I have emailed visa services, they just said they had no control over how the appointments become available, so I contacted consulate and embassy. No one replied me. How can you ask for interview but don't let people make an appointment? That is so frustrating. I am just wondering who have this same situation with me?

Hi
I am Italian
I applied for an F1 visa in London
I want to share this because I have been reading this forum frantically in the last couple days
I was not asked to have an interview, only to send in documents
Documents sent: 6 december 2021
CEAC Status updated to received: 7 December 2021
CEAC Status updated to administrative processing: 8 December 2021 (in the morning)
Note that I did not receive any other notice (such as 221g) and/or request for additional documents via standard mail or email or phone call
CEAC status updated to issued: 9 December 2021

I might provide an update once I receive the passport, but I wanted to post this to help those that may get a bit stressed when reading about "administrative processing"

I have 10 years B1/B2 visa and went to the US as an aupair under the J1 visa since the last time I entered in the US.
Both of these 2 visa I got it easily.

VO asked me when did I back to China I said 7/11/2021, but she said my last day was 9/24/2020, and I answer yes, because the pandemic I Couldn’t back to China, and my ds2019 date is until 11/26/2020.
she asked me to show her DS2019 to prove it.
Unfortunately I didn’t bring it. And she asked me 3rd times during the interview, I was pissed off told her nobody tell me need to bring it here, and asked her to find my records in her computer.
And I told her I have no idea i need to bring it here, then she started to ask questions about school stuff, At the end, she asked again, did I ever receive those form, and where is it now.
I said yes, it’s at my home.
Then she said she can’t give me visa today…….

My situation: my DS 2019 expired on 11/26/2020, I filed I539 on 12/22/2020 to change my status into B2 since no flight for me back to China, and left the US when the case still pending.

Do you guys think if I bring my ds2019 and I539 and related emails and documents then I’ll be fine?
Or I have more need to explain here?

Any ideas?

Hello,

My friend has currently been accepted in a program that allows her to come to United States on J1 visa from Jan 2022 to May 2022. The program is neither funded by any government department nor the program is related to any medical training. She is planning to apply for L1 visa in September 2022.

Before accepting the offer for the J1 program, she wants to make sure if Two-year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement applies in this case and if accepting the offer for this J1 visa program affects her chances to apply for L1 visa.

Hello,

I am moving to US on L1 visa in Jan 2022. My son is planning to accompany me on L2 in April. He will be 21 years old in 3 months after he reaches US on L2. He plans to apply for COS to F1 visa as soon as he reaches there. Would it be a good decision Or it is better to get F1 visa from India and then travel instead of L2. How much time it takes for I539 approval. If it gets approved, can he stays and study while F1 processing is going on?

Hi! I am Korean and I applied to F2 and interviewed on 22nd. I live in the States currently and went to Toronto just for the interview thinking that I will certianly be approved and will be able to return home in few days. However, the officer said Im approved but needs further exploration that i may need to waith 10-12 days, without further explanation why.
It became Issued on 29th, and still no emails. I am continually extending my stay at Toronto by booking new hotels and airbnb few days at a time. It is quite frustrating and worrying.

Can anyone share their wild guess of when I should expect to have my passport back?
Fyi, Due to lack of stable address, I requested to pickup at Toronto.

Hello Everyone. I'm having a very hard time right now and wanted to hear any advice/solutions regarding my weird case.

I came to United states with my parents on April 2018 on an L-2 Dependent visa (Dependent of my Dad's L1 visa). I am enrolled in CSUEB and will graduate in December 2021. On May 2020, I applied for a Change of status I-539 from L-2 to F1 since after turning 21 you cannot be on a dependent L2 visa as a child. My parents at that time also applied for their own Green Cards but our lawyer said that they cannot apply for me since by the time it will come I will already be 21. I turned 21 in October 2020 and my parents got their GC in September 2021. Since May 2020 my USCIS application has been delayed and delayed and it's September 2021 and I still don't have the F1 visa. Now the issue is that if my F1 doesn't come by December 11, 2021, My university will cancel the I-20 and I will have to withdraw I-539 from USCIS. Since I won't have any status in United states I will have to return to India.

Now I want to know if there is any way I can live here with my family and not go back. I also wanted to know how many days will I have in United states before I absolutely have to go back. Can I still apply for GC even though I'm 21 because my parents have GC. Is there any way the I-539 can be expedited since it's been more than a year pending at USCIS?

hello friends,

I am looking for help.
I have done 3 years graduation in computer science from Mumbai university in 2014. now I am planning for masters studies in USA, but my percentage is below 50. is it possible to get admission & f1 visa approval with low percent (GPA).
if there is any possibilities plz guide me on this.

Hello All,

I was going through all the experiences posted on this forum and I really thank everyone who is taking time and sharing their experiences. It really help many people to prepare in advance and achieve the success. It is my turn to share my experience and hope it helps someone who is in similar boat. I will be as detailed as possible to help.

My current situation: I am currently on H4 visa and I have already started my master's program and completed 4 semesters (28 out of 31 credit hours). I was really nervous to attend this visa interview as I was not sure what will the visa officer say if he finds out I have already completed all the courses, and they may just reject my visa and ask me to continue my masters in H4. I thought of taking the chance and in worst case I was thinking to just come back on H4 visa (but my current H4 visa is expired and I have to attend dropbox).

Visa Interview booking: I could not find any visa dates at Hyderabad consulate and I came to know that visa dates are available in Chennai, and I immediately booked my Visa slot for Aug 12. I later found out that my Passport is expiring in Feb of 2022 and I do not meet the requirement of min 6 months of passport validity, I have applied for passport renewal in USA and I was able to get my renewed passport in hand in 7 business days (under tatkal). I have to re-schedule my appointment to 18 Aug at same Chennai consulate as I did not consider the passport renewal scenario.

Updating my passport number on appointment: Since I booked my first appointment with old passport number I was not able to change my passport number, I contacted USTravelDocs via email and they replied back in a day saying that they cannot update it and I just have to get this update done at OFC location.

OFC Appointment: My OFC appointment was on 17 Aug, this process is very straightforward as everyone is aware of. There were very less number of people at my appointment time and they have allowed me 45 mins in advance, I explained the new passport scenario and they just updated my passport number and attached a sticker on back of my new passport referring to old passport. The whole OFC process just took 10 mins.

Visa Appointment: My visa interview was at 8:30 AM on AUG 18 2021. I was just staying near by hotel (5 mins away) and I reached the Embassy by 7:30 AM, I stood in the line and there were around 50 people in front of me and with in no time there were more than 100 people standing behind me. Around 7:45 AM they called in students for 8:30 AM time slot. The visa officer is a young guy in 30's I think, I was noticing the interviews while I was standing in the queue and he was patiently letting the students answer the questions and approving the visa's. I was nervous but gained some confidence after seeing the approvals. My turn came:

Greeted the Visa Officer and he greeted back.

VO: Pass me your I20 and Passport
Myself: I have passed on the I20 along with SEVIS fee receipt and both the passports.

VO: I see you are going to XX university
Myself: Yes officer, I got an admission in Masters in Information Technology at this university.

VO: Tell me why this university?
Myself: I explained him that I have done lot of research before I choose this university. This university is offering excellent course curriculum with combination of mandatory and elective courses. I explained him that the mandatory programs really meet my area of interest and with elective courses I can choose the course which I am very interested and learning in depth.

VO: Who is sponsoring for your education?
Myself: My Spouse is sponsoring for my education.

VO: What does he do and his Name?
Myself: His Name is xxx and he is working as XX in the united states with XX Client.

He entered this information into his computer and was checking something.

VO: What is his annual income?
Myself: My husbands annual income is XX.

VO: Have you already started your masters program on H4?
Myself: Yes officer I am in between of the masters program.

VO: How many courses have you completed?
Myself: I have completed 4 semesters, 28 Credit hours.

VO: Why do you want to switch to F1 if you only have few credit hours left?
Myself: My Spouse is planning to return back to India, I would not be able to complete the Masters program and achieve my dream if he returns back in between of the Masters program. Independent visa would allow me to focus on my studies and complete my masters.

VO: Where would you stay in united states?
Myself: I am currently staying with my Spouse as I took a semester break for last semester. As soon as I land in USA I will be going to college location and stay in university dorms.

VO: Everything looks good, I am approving your Visa. He handed over me the green slip.
Myself: I was very happy, thanked the officer.

My suggestions to everyone:
- Complete the DS 160 without errors
- Dress well and comfortable
- Drink ample water so that you can answer well, prepare for standing in line for min 1 hr before the interview
- Do not panic during the interview process and answer to the point, do not disclose unnecessary information unless being asked
- Carry all the documents with you, the more is always better. The visa officer did not ask me any documents but I was literally carrying everything I could.
- While I was standing in line I noticed many pink slips in student hands, I was not sure what those are. Later I came to know that they are 221g's, so please do not take visa interview for granted and be well prepared for any questions they may ask.
- I have literally went through 50-60 pages on this forum and number of youtube videos to understand what kind of questions I may expect. So please do your research based on your visa situation and write down good answers from successful visa interview.
- Some people do not post the answers which they have given at the visa interview, they simply state <Answered>. This does not help anyone, it would be nice whoever reading this to take time and post your detailed experiences so that other people in similar boat get benefited.

All the best to everyone, please reach out to me in case of any questions and I will definitely try to help.