US Student Visa Application (F1 Visa)

[shix0026]

share ko lang. kasi mas madali makapasok sa Oz. my friends are there na. i am going there next.

[senyaless]

^ Your explanation is very thorough. I just used the term "over-qualified" in the hopes na baka mas madaling maintindihan ng iba.

Let me reiterate this again. Kung matigas ang ulo, go ahead. Pero ako, RN na ako dito sa US and I tell you lahat ng naisip niyo, lahat ng nararamdaman ninyo, lahat na pinangarap niyo, nadaanan ko na. Ang laki na ng nagastos ko dito. Every time, I consulted with Atty. Gurfinkel, that's $300 cash on the spot and it's merely a phone conversation. I consulted with another immigration lawyer and a third one who specializes in F1 visas alone. So, you can only imagine magkano na nagastos ko sa lawyer's consultation fees.

Sa mga RN na gusto talagang pumunta dito sa America, mag F1 visa kayo, study OT or PT here in the US. University of Southern California has a 2 year, full-time OT program. UNLV has a 2 year PT program, full-time. UNLV requires its applicants to study and pass the GMAT though.

Other than that, my advice is go to New Zealand, UK or Australia, get your citizenship in that country and then move to the US.

Mas in-demand ang OT and PT ngayon and if you graduate in the US with their Master's degree, you get your green card in less than a year.

Sa mga OT/PT sa Pinas, my advice is apply to a university that has PT/OT like USC and UNLV, have your BS degree evaluated along with its transcripts and take your Master's degree in OT/PT dito sa US. Siguro less than 2 yrs tapos na kayo niyan.

Eto pa additional tip: a lot of Filipinos apply in Touro University in California and/or Nevada campus kasi in the West Coast, it's easier to get in daw.

A word of advice ----- Touro does not accept F1 students. I know this for a fact kasi nag-apply ako based on a friend's advice. The dean and the department advisor personally emailed me that information. If matigas talaga ulo niyo, I can forward that email to you.

Pasensya na kung may nasaktan sa tono ko at kung natatarayan kayo sa akin. Kasi nadaanan ko na ang hapdi at dismya sa pagpunta dito sa America at ayoko ko lang naman maranasan niyo yan.

All 3 of my lawyers told me to find a white pogi para mawala na daw problema ko.

Pero kung matigas talaga ang ulo ninyo, go head. God Bless na lang.

hi. I am planning to apply for f1 visa. I am a bsn graduate and a registered nurse here in the PH. but due to low employment rates and oversupply of nurses here, i am opting to study even just an associate degree in the u.s. Im planning to take up something related to business. Do you think the consul will accept my reason why i will study in the states?

[senyaless]

Salamat! I can never be happier! To God be the Glory! Prayers work miracles talaga!

I got admitted for Fall Semester so I'll be coming back to Minnesota na din in 10 days to attend all orientations, welcomes, etc.

Hayy, problem now is I NEED A CHEAP FLIGHT! Any suggestions? Hmm

Good luck to all other F1 applicants! You can do it! Just RELAX DURING THE INTERVIEW and BE TRUE TO YOURSELF AND YOUR ANSWERS.

hi kim. did you apply for the visa by yourself or did you seek agency help? im planning to study this fall 2011.

[orangepink]

hi. I am planning to apply for f1 visa. I am a bsn graduate and a registered nurse here in the PH. but due to low employment rates and oversupply of nurses here, i am opting to study even just an associate degree in the u.s. Im planning to take up something related to business. Do you think the consul will accept my reason why i will study in the states?

Are you getting that F1 visa in the hopes that while you are in school here in the US, you will have that transferred to an H1B? If yes, I will tell you that a couple of people have successfully done that. So nasa iyo na iyan.

But the bottomlime is what good would an H1B do for you? The H1B is only good for 6 years. Anong gagawin mo during that time? Pray that the visa will open? Your best bet is while you are on H1B, marry a US citizen. That's it. Because the US government especially under Obama's administration will never tackle immigration reform within the next 3-5 years. He is running for reelection in 2012, people. He'll make all the promises because given his trackrecord, he hasn't made much progress in his 1st term. Keyword is promises. His healthcare reform got rejected and that took more than 2 yrs to be passed. If it takes that long for healthcare reform to be passed, what more with immigration reform which is a very hot issue in the US?!?! Do you see where I am getting at?

Pero prankahan lang, if you are under the illusion that having a foreign BSN combined with an American Associate's degree gives you an competitive edge, then you are sorely mistaken. It doesn't mean anything to them. I have a BS in IT and they don't really care.

Naintindihan ko naman yung desire to live in the US eh. It is still the land of freedom (ewan ko lang if land of opportunity pa rin ito ) but my advice is this (and this is for all readers):

- get your citizenship elsewhere like NZ or UK. I've even heard of Filipino nurses in Switzerland (provided that you are willing to learn German and/or French). Once you are a citizen in the country, you can apply for your EB3 visa in the US kasi those countries are not backlogged. Now, do you see what I mean?

- Here's a good (and real) example. She's a Filipina nurse in Australia, when she got her Australian citizenship, she moved to Vegas. Her experience in Australia was recognized. Always remember that experience gives you the edge. Here, it doesn't matter if you are a MD in the Phils. They really don't give a rat's a$s. Meron ngang anesthesiologist dito sa Vegas from Pinas who had a hard time getting a nursing job kasi no work experience as a nurse.

[k08011]

I've been lurking around the Pex's fourm and I was able to read your lengthy posts about having an F1 visa. To make the story short, I actually have the same question with senyalless. I have an uncle in Florida who is a US citizen, he no longer have any dependents because his only child/son is already working. Now, I am planning to study in USA just for the sake of getting there and perhaps given the chance marry a US citizen (opportunist? maybe, but only at this point lol) and become a green card holder. I am a graduate of AB Economics and doing a Master's Degree in Development Communication (online at UP). What I am planning to pursue is either to get a Master's degree (Human Resource management) which is way expensive from one of these: Florida Atlantic University, Florida State University,University of, Central Florida, University of South Florida OR an associate degree of IT at Brevard Community College or Broward College (these are the cheapest institutions I believe) kasi mas economical yun sa Master's. By the way I am from Saudi Arabia working as an Exec Sec. pwede na ba ako dito mag process ng papers?

thank you!!!

[k08011]

up ko lang po...

[theultimate]

Hi! I am planning to apply for F-1 Visa soon! Can anyone tell me, step-by-step, the application process? Sorry, I'm too tamad to back-read. Or can anyone give me a good link about all I need to know about F-1 visa application?

Thanks!

[shoelace]

Hi! I am planning to apply for F-1 Visa soon! Can anyone tell me, step-by-step, the application process? Sorry, I'm too tamad to back-read. Or can anyone give me a good link about all I need to know about F-1 visa application?

Thanks!

The international student office of the school you're going to should be able to help you out on this one.

[swissarmy]

hi!

i would like to know, if ever it goes smoothly and gets approved, how long it takes from the time you had your interview to the time you get your passport with an issued student visa.

any recent experiences? i'm sort of fixing the schedule, because i also have another visa-required trip that i will also be applying to.

thanks!

[tuvwxyz]

hi!

i would like to know, if ever it goes smoothly and gets approved, how long it takes from the time you had your interview to the time you get your passport with an issued student visa.

any recent experiences? i'm sort of fixing the schedule, because i also have another visa-required trip that i will also be applying to.

thanks!

Depende sa field of study mo. Puwedeng abutin ng ilang linggo or buwan kung nasa technology alert list.

[senyaless]

Good day! i am aiming for US f1 visa. already submitted my requirements to a us college of choice and is just waiting for my I-20. what really bothers me is if i will be granted a visa. I am 22 years old, BSN graduate and RN already but had not practiced my profession since graduating and passing the board exam here. I will be taking up A business transfer degree in a community college with the hopes of finishing another bachelor's degree in a university after. My education will be sponsored by my aunt who is a nurse and grandmother who has a business in the states. May i know what are the chances of getting the visa and denial rates recently?)

[swissarmy]

hello.

i'm filling out the ds-160 form, and i'd like to ask for your help on the matter of the given name.

i have a long name (appearing also in my birth certificate):
first name -- AAA BBB CCC
middle name -- DDD
surname -- EEE

i have just renewed my passport, and in the inside cover page (with the photo), my given name is AAA BBB, middle name DDD, surname EEE. then there's a print of my full name on page 3 (EEE, DDD, AAA BBB, CCC).

so what should i put on the given name field on the ds-160 form? only AAA BBB DDD? should i fill out the other name field to state my complete name (with CCC)?

any response is appreciated. thanks!

[SuPeR_MaN]

I've been lurking around the Pex's fourm and I was able to read your lengthy posts about having an F1 visa. To make the story short, I actually have the same question with senyalless. I have an uncle in Florida who is a US citizen, he no longer have any dependents because his only child/son is already working. Now, I am planning to study in USA just for the sake of getting there and perhaps given the chance marry a US citizen (opportunist? maybe, but only at this point lol) and become a green card holder. I am a graduate of AB Economics and doing a Master's Degree in Development Communication (online at UP). What I am planning to pursue is either to get a Master's degree (Human Resource management) which is way expensive from one of these: Florida Atlantic University, Florida State University,University of, Central Florida, University of South Florida OR an associate degree of IT at Brevard Community College or Broward College (these are the cheapest institutions I believe) kasi mas economical yun sa Master's. By the way I am from Saudi Arabia working as an Exec Sec. pwede na ba ako dito mag process ng papers?

thank you!!!

yes ma'am, pwede mo ayusin ang F1 visa mo diyan sa Saudi Arabia. btw, diba pag nagwo-work sa middle east, kinukuha ng employer ang passport in exchange for iqama(?). paano ka mag-aapply sa US embassy?

[swissarmy]

I have a question regarding the passport.

It says in the basic requirements for NIV that "Signed passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of intended departure from the United States."

My intended length of stay (my I-20's, and the program of study) is 5 years, which exceeds the expiration date of my passport.

Will there be an issue if I put in 5 years in my DS-160 form as my intended length of stay in the US?

Please advise. Thanks!

[senyaless]

hi swissarmy. Anong course kukunin mo? have u applied na ba to a college or university? are u a second bachelor too?

[SuPeR_MaN]

swissarmy,

I believe there won't be any issues on your passport even if your intended stay is way beyond your passport's validity. You can renew it at Philippine consulates in the US if it's about to expire and you don't have to go for another interview as long as the issuing country of the previous and present passport are the same. Sometimes, the US consular posts approves a 10year B1/B2 visa on a 5year Philippine passport.

[mickoy1234]

- get your citizenship elsewhere like NZ or UK. I've even heard of Filipino nurses in Switzerland (provided that you are willing to learn German and/or French). Once you are a citizen in the country, you can apply for your EB3 visa in the US kasi those countries are not backlogged. Now, do you see what I mean?

I think Green Card Application is based on the country of birth

[masy89]

Good day! i am aiming for US f1 visa. already submitted my requirements to a us college of choice and is just waiting for my I-20. what really bothers me is if i will be granted a visa. I am 22 years old, BSN graduate and RN already but had not practiced my profession since graduating and passing the board exam here. I will be taking up A business transfer degree in a community college with the hopes of finishing another bachelor's degree in a university after. My education will be sponsored by my aunt who is a nurse and grandmother who has a business in the states. May i know what are the chances of getting the visa and denial rates recently?)

^This. I'm a somewhat recent BSN graduate, a Registered Nurse, currently unemployed with no work experience. I'm also contemplating on taking a transfer degree in Business/Biology at a community college before continuing to another Bachelor's Degree at a university. I have an aunt who's willing to help me and my parents, so financing isn't a problem. I even have a list of colleges and all I need to do is send in my applications and documents...but I'm a tad hesitant. I've read on other forums that there are instances that students with I-20s weren't granted the F1 visa.

Any thoughts on the chances of getting the visa? Especially about studying another course that isn't quite related to Nursing? And about taking it right after graduating from the previous academic institution?

@senyaless I know I'm basically rehashing every thing you typed, but man, our situations are so alike! I'm wondering how your applications are going though...you probably have your I-20 now right?

***I'm new to the forum so yeah, Hi everyone!

[senyaless]

hi @masy89. wow! pareho pala tayo ng situation. yes, i already have my i-20 but hindi pa ako nakaka schedule for interview. and my class will start na on aug.20. apply ka muna sa college or university. i think they just need your transcripts, Ielts/ toefl, affidavit of support, bank statements of your sponsor.

[masy89]

@senyaless That's awesome! How long did it take to receive the I-20 though?

I'm thinking of entering the Winter semester. The application start date is still on August 1...so yeah, I still got some time XD

Anyway, I hope your interview goes well...it'll be great to see how it goes. That's really a concern of mine. I've read that some people got denied (F1 visa) despite having the I-20...