Student Visa (F1, F2, M1, M2)

Hi There,

I have been searching on net from a lon'g time but since I could not get any case which is according to my Situation,thats a reason I am writing my all concerns and Query

Here is a thing,

I came to USA in Jan-2014 on b1/b2 Visa then later in july I applied for my Change of Status as F1 While in USA my Cousin Sponsored me for my F1, I took the Admission for ESL Classes Sponsored by my Cousin,i don"t work here as its a esl program not any CPT or OPT
Now if I want my wife and son to Visit USA, What all the Documents I need for Applying their F2 Visa and also can my Cousin Sponsor them too? , I am getting my wife and son"s I-20 from my language school my cousin is showing the funds for their I-20,I will get that I-20 Issued by my College and then when my wife will go for the F2 Visa Interview in USA Embassy in Delhi, What all the Documents she needs to carry? does she need any Financial Documents from my cousin like his usa bank statement or I-134 Affidavit of Support Document or any Sponsorship letter on the name of USA Embassy Consular,

Hello all,
I have lost my MRV visa fee recipt issued from Axis bank. However my interview is already scheduled.
Is it mandatory to have the recipt with you at the time of interview?
Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks
Rahul

After 7 long moths my J1 Hardship waiver has been approved. I decided to write my experience to help others that are going through the process. I will recommend to hire a lawyer if you are thinking on doing the hardship waiver. It is very important to have someone with experience in the area.
My argument (Affidavit) was based on the following:
1) Employment hardship: we claimed that my husband was not able to leave with me to fulfill the two years because he was going to lose his job. Because of this, he wasn’t going to be able to pay his students loans. At the same time, he was not going to be able to find job in my country because he does not speak the language.
2) Family Ties hardship: My husband never lived outside the USA. Also, one of his family member was sick and we used to help that person with house duties.
3) Educational hardship: His degree required him to go to conference every year.
4) Financial Hardship: As I mentioned before, he needed to stay to keep paying his students loans. We also claimed that if I had to leave the country his debt was going to increase due to the visiting me and others things.
5) Separation Anxiety: We claimed separation anxiety if I had to leave the USA (This was used only the Request for Evidence.)
USCIS Process:
1) May 3: USCIS received my package.
2) May 22: USCIS requested more evidence. They claimed we did not provide enough information about the hardship if I had to go to my country to fulfill the two years without my husband.
3) August 4: USCIS received the request for evidence.
4) October 28: USCIS was seeking for a second opinion from the Department of State to make a decision (After two inquiries!).
5) December 22: USCIS approved my case. USCIS approval was received 2 weeks after the Department of state made a decision.
Department of State Process:
1) June 6: Received my statement of reason, passport data page, fee, and DS-2019.
2) October 29: Received forms I-613 and I-612.
3) December 8: Favorable recommendation was sent.

Hi everyone :-)
I am a bit concerne about my new F1 Visa...
Here is my story.
I was issued a F1 visa two years ago and I have studied twice in the USA with the same visa, both time I completed my courses. After that I wanted to study once again with the same visa but the school director told me that i could not have studied in the USA with my current visa as I have been outside the US for more than 5 months even though my visa was going to expire in the 2018.
So as i was told I applied for a new F1 visa which was aproved two weeks ago and I received my passport by mail few days ago. I now have two visas of the same tipe in my passport... my new visa will expire in the 2019.
My question is:
Why the embassy did not put a CANCELLED WITHOUT PREJUDICE STAMP on my old F1 visa???
I am reading other people experience and I saw that anytime someone gets a new visa the old one gets stamped with the cancelled without prejudice stamp....
Do you think I will have some problems at the border because my old visa was not cancelled???
Can please anyone give me some information? Has anyone ever had this kind of situation??
I also e-mailed the embassy as soon as I received my passport but the take ages to reply and I have to book my flight ticket as my course will start in February...
I am very confused :-(
Thanks in advance.
Wish everyone a good day...

Hi..
I want to share my my F1 visa experience as I recently got my f1 visa from Vancouver, Canada. I am on a dependent ( F2) visa in the USA. I got admission into a state university and wanted to change my status from f2 to f1. But, recently f2 to f1 visa conversion is taking more time and I decided to go ahead for my f1 visa interview in Canada. As this was an easier option for me rather than going all the way to India for my f1 visa interview.

I applied for a Temporary resident Visitor visa to Canada in October , and got my Canadian visitor visa in 2 weeks. Then, once I got my I-20 from the university, I made all the necessary documents ready and booked my slot for f1 visa interview in Vancouver . My interview was on 9th December , early morning at 7.30 .

I reached the U.S. consulate at 7.10 waited in the line. there were around 10 people ahead of me. they checked all the files and documents we were carrying, sent us inside where we had a thorough checking through scanners. I was then sent to a counter where a lady asked me what my status was in Canada and the purpose of my trip. I replied Visitor status and that I had come for f1 visa interview.
She then gave me a token and asked me to sit and wait. After 15 min, I was called to a counter where my finger prints were taken and the
Person asked me to go to the 20th floor for my interview.

There was a lift to go to the 20 th floor, I reached the floor and saw that there were around 6 people ( don't remember clearly) . I took a seat , was tensed and waited there patiently. I noticed that there were 2 more Indians who came for their h1 renewal, and that 2 counters were only active as it was early in the morning. Counter 3 was the nearest one where I heard a Chinese lady attending her Visitor visa interview. she got her visa approved. then another guy who was an Indian was called to the same counter, I could hardly hear what he was saying but after some time, heard him say thank you so, it was understood that he got his visa too.
then my token number 16 was displayed, to counter number 3. I got up tensed took my file and passport, I-20 . I wished the officer Good morning. he smiled and responded to me. Told me give my passport and I-20 . I handed over to him and waited for the next question. He asked if I was there for my F1 renewal. I replied no, and it was for my first time F1 visa application.

The questions the officer asked are below:

1. Which University
2. What course?
3. Who is sponsoring you? Replied my father
4.give me your sevis fee receipt and show me how are you planning to fund your education. Showed him the bank statements of Indian banks and also Affidavit of Support . The officer went through all the documents and looked into my I-20 and I noticed that he saw the fees mentioned on it and if I had enough funds to cover my education.
5. Have you been to Usa before? I said yes and that I am on F2 visa
6 . What is your husband doing?
7. Where did he graduate from?
8. How long is the duration of your course?
I confidently gave all the answers clearly and to the point.

He then started typing something for 5 min, there was silence and I was so tensed on what he would say next. Then, those Golden words came.
your F1 visa is approved and Congratulations:):)
I was so happy , he then gave me a green form and told me that I can collect my passport in 3 to 5 business days, and I will be mailed if it is ready for pick up.
He then asked me when is the start date of my program.. I replied and he stopped me, told me that he has to cancel my existing F2 visa as I can go back to the USA on F1 visa. He then wished me good luck for your studies.
I thanked him and said thank you and have a good day officer. he wished me good day too.

Hello,
 I am F-1 student going to graduate dec 15,2014. My husband visa got approved for F-2 recently. My OPT starts from Jan 15,2015.My doubt is, when can my husband enter US,As i am going to grad next week. Can he enter with the same visa, when i am on OPT, or does he have to go for visa stamping again?Does he have to obtain a new I-20 when i am on my OPT? Please help me out.

Thank you in advance.

I hope I'm posting this in the right thread!
I applied for my J1 visa nearly two months ago and was very optimistic. I paid all the required fees (MRV, Sevis) and had all the required documents (allegedly). I went to my interview in the embassy in Ankara with my wife and son and I was called by the consular officer. He was very nice and welcoming. He only asked me 3 questions: Why are you going to the US? which university? When will you return to your country? can you give me your invitation letter and DS-160 (online visa application confirmation) and DS-2019 and passports? he then excused himself and went somewhere for two minutes then he returned smiling and saying that our visas are approved and that we'll receive them in two days time. We left very happy and after half an hour they called us asking us to return. when we got back to the embassy they said that there was a problem and that they need more background check and that they have to return my documents for now and that I have to send them my CV and research plan. We were very sad and after i sent the required documents via email I checked my visa status on ceac.state.gov it showed administrative processing. The following two months were nerve wrecking. The wait was so hard on us. after two months we were asked to send our passports to get stamped with the visa and now we sent them today! I wish all of you the best of luck with your visas and lives in America.

 i was rejected for an f1 visa in india so i decided to go on an h4 instead of risking a second attempt at f1. i did a change of status to f1 in the US so i could apply for internships.
In my last semester of masters, i visited India and need f1 stamping. For the h4 to f1 stamping , i was nervous as i had applied for my opt and that would be the latest i20 i would have to show,although I had yet to graduate in another month.

my list of documents:
interview letter
ds 160 confirmation
i20(previous and latest)
sevis receipt(i used the one i had paid for in my first attempt,it was valid after 2years BCOZ i did COS within a year)
passports(old and new)
i797(COS receipt)

supporting docs:
university transcripts
university fee receipts
usual f1 supporting documents
usual h4 supporting documents

the interviewer was a very sweet lady:

interviewer: which university
me: university name.
interviewer: what are u studying
me: field.
interviwer: who is sponsering you?
me: my husband.
interviewer: congrats, you will be notified of your passport in 1-2 days.

I am living in USA for 8 years, came here to do Masters and am settled here since then.

- My H1b expires on Dec 5th 2014, would have completed 6 years on his H1b visa on Dec 5th 2014.
- I am currently employed with a consulting company and am working with a financial firm as a consultant. My Perm is in process but it could take a few months for approval.
- In the meanwhile, I have obtained an admit MBA program and have an I-20 and applied for change of status to F1 on 11/25/2014 so I can continue to work on F1 using CPT.

I am hoping to get my F1 done by the time the semester starts i.e 10th Jan to get the CPT, otherwise I would have to wait for one semester for CPT and quit my job. My employer is asking me to quit my job until I get my CPT or perm approval. Is there a way I can continue to work ? Can obtaining F1 be expedited ?

Thank you!

I applied for UCLA Extension to join a Certificate course in Web Analytics and Social Media. I got I20 few weeks back from the university.
I applied for only UCLA Extension.

I did not apply for any other universities for 3 reasons
1. No other university in USA offer this course which I wanted and also the package of subjects I wanted to study.
2. The course I have chosen in UCLA Extension is completely related to my 3 years work experience.
2. When it comes to continuing education programs/certificate programs UCLA Extension is the world best so no thinking twice.

Are the above explanations enough to convince the Visa Officer to get my F1 visa approved?
I finished my post graduation in Business Management with 70% and 3 years work experience in Analytics and Social Media field.
My TOEFL score is 79 and I was about to retake but I contacted the Co-Founder of UCLA Extension through mail he replied me back saying that my score is enough and no need to retake and later he helped me through out the application process.

How to convince Visa Officer about my low TOEFL score and how to give a strong reasonable explanation for applying for only one university. Pls help