Student Visa (F1, F2, M1, M2)

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.

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.