F1 - tips and tricks

[Pickle 65]

Hi everyone,

I am in the process of applying at universities and ultimately, the F-1 visa. My questions: will having proof of applying at more than one or two universities up my chance of getting the visa (I read this on some forum which "prepare" you for the visa interview - the more uni's you apply to, the better). I am applying at two universities, both are in the same state. Will that be efficient? Also, my boyfriend lives close to these universities and I am concerned that the VO will assume I'm doing this for the wrong reasons.

Secondly, are GRE test scores essential for the visa interview, even if it was not a requirement for the schools I'm applying at? I've seen different opinions on this all over the net, some people swear by having those scores, otherwise you will be denied. Seems a bit far fetched, so I trust that I will get a concrete answer on VJ. I do have TOEFL scores by the way, that was a requirement.

That is all for now, will definitely be asking some more questions in the future. I hope someone can help, I will appreciate it a lot!

[Gosia & Tito 199]

Hi everyone,

I am in the process of applying at universities and ultimately, the F-1 visa. My questions: will having proof of applying at more than one or two universities up my chance of getting the visa (I read this on some forum which "prepare" you for the visa interview - the more uni's you apply to, the better). I am applying at two universities, both are in the same state. Will that be efficient? Also, my boyfriend lives close to these universities and I am concerned that the VO will assume I'm doing this for the wrong reasons.

Secondly, are GRE test scores essential for the visa interview, even if it was not a requirement for the schools I'm applying at? I've seen different opinions on this all over the net, some people swear by having those scores, otherwise you will be denied. Seems a bit far fetched, so I trust that I will get a concrete answer on VJ. I do have TOEFL scores by the way, that was a requirement.

That is all for now, will definitely be asking some more questions in the future. I hope someone can help, I will appreciate it a lot!

First of all, you would only apply once admitted to a college. I can't think of a good reason to grant a visa (F-1) when no college has yet accepted you. And probably a requisite is to show the letter of admission, which normally is issued (for a prospective foreign student) by the International Student office.

In some colleges, they first send a letter of invitation in which they tell you that your credentials are accepted and that a place has been reserved but they need your confirmation before extending admission. Usually they also give you a deadline to reply. Even if you have decided to go to another college, you would let them know that you have decided for another college, so they can release that palce to someone else.

The visa is more a function of how are you going to sustain being a student given the costs (tuition, room, board, insurance, etc) given that you would not be able to work.

The school that accepts you will send you a form indicating normal expenses (tuition, room, board, insurance) which you need to demonstrate you can cover with funds you already have (bank statements from you or your family for exmaple), or with an offer of financial assistance from the college or another organization.

Maybe I'm confused, but your post seems to indicate that you have not been accepted to a college yet.

[Pickle 65]

First of all, you would only apply once admitted to a college. I can't think of a good reason to grant a visa (F-1) when no college has yet accepted you. And probably a requisite is to show the letter of admission, which normally is issued (for a prospective foreign student) by the International Student office.

In some colleges, they first send a letter of invitation in which they tell you that your credentials are accepted and that a place has been reserved but they need your confirmation before extending admission. Usually they also give you a deadline to reply. Even if you have decided to go to another college, you would let them know that you have decided for another college, so they can release that palce to someone else.

The visa is more a function of how are you going to sustain being a student given the costs (tuition, room, board, insurance, etc) given that you would not be able to work.

The school that accepts you will send you a form indicating normal expenses (tuition, room, board, insurance) which you need to demonstrate you can cover with funds you already have (bank statements from you or your family for exmaple), or with an offer of financial assistance from the college or another organization.

Maybe I'm confused, but your post seems to indicate that you have not been accepted to a college yet.

Sorry, I guess I was a bit vague on that. You are right, I have not been accepted yet, but I have done tons of research, read everything about student visas on VJ and the US Department of State website, so I know how the whole process works, apply to school (which I have done), get accepted, then apply for F-1 visa (in a nutshell) using the I-20 that was issued to you. My question however, is if I will have a greater chance of getting approved for a visa if I can show that I applied and was accepted by more than one university or that I applied to two, but got accepted by one. I'm just asking this because of what I have seen on a website giving so called interview tips, which basically said that the VO would prefer seeing that you applied to more than one or two universities.

I know it is one step at a time, I haven't even gotten accepted and I'm already looking at the interview, but I guess it is better being overly prepared than not having a clue. Thanks for your response though!

[Boiler 45,488]

The main problems I have seen is when there is not a legit Uni involved.

If it is a proper course ant a proper Uni and you have the funds then it would be very unusual to come across a problem.

[Harsh_77 718]

You can receive multiple I-20s as you can apply to multiple school and multiple schools can accept you.

By the interview time you need to make up your mind which school you will be attending too and you will use that schools I-20 for the visa.

Once the visa is issued you cannot change your mind and switch the school, you will need to attend that school for atleast 1 semester after that you can transfer to another school if you want to.

You will need to provide evidence you have enough funds for the tution + books + living etc.

Disclose all the details and be honest, if they find out you have lied something on application you can be barred from entry.

[Pickle 65]

The main problems I have seen is when there is not a legit Uni involved.

If it is a proper course ant a proper Uni and you have the funds then it would be very unusual to come across a problem.

Thanks for your reply. That is what I thought too, which is why I don't understand the reasoning behind having to apply for more than one or two universities. Don't know how that can have anything to do with your eligibility to get the visa. I would think that to more universities a person apply, the more he doesn't really know what he wants and the more it looks like he just wants to get into the US!

[Pickle 65]

You can receive multiple I-20s as you can apply to multiple school and multiple schools can accept you.

By the interview time you need to make up your mind which school you will be attending too and you will use that schools I-20 for the visa.

Once the visa is issued you cannot change your mind and switch the school, you will need to attend that school for atleast 1 semester after that you can transfer to another school if you want to.

You will need to provide evidence you have enough funds for the tution + books + living etc.

Disclose all the details and be honest, if they find out you have lied something on application you can be barred from entry.

Thanks Harsh_77. No, I will definitely not lie on my application/at the interview. I am just wondering if someone actually have experience in not having applied to "enough" universities and was questioned about it. As I said before, that doesn't make sense to me, but that is just something I read on a website giving tips about the interview.

[Harsh_77 718]

Thanks Harsh_77. No, I will definitely not lie on my application/at the interview. I am just wondering if someone actually have experience in not having applied to "enough" universities and was questioned about it. As I said before, that doesn't make sense to me, but that is just something I read on a website giving tips about the interview.

There is no such thing as enough, min-1 and max - unlimited as much money as you want to spend on applications.

If you apply for multiple, you will have to choose one and only one by the time you go for interview and you take your i-20 and rest of the documentation for that school.

[Little_My 464]

I don't think the number of US universities you apply to has any bearing on your chances of getting the visa issued.. I've never heard of such thing myself, and don't really know why it would be relevant to the visa application. If I were you, I wouldn't start applying to a number of universities just because of this claim that it would positively affect your visa decision. If you were planning on applying to several universities in the first place, then naturally go ahead with it. But I personally don't think it would be worth the extra time, energy and money you'd have to spend on those additional applications to just submit them because of the visa issue.

GRE scores have nothing to do with the visa application process. Depending on the university you are applying to, they might or might not require GRE scores from applicants and those scores may be a factor in whether or not you get accepted to the university. However, once you've been accepted to a school and issued the I-20, GREs are not relevant for the visa process anymore.

When I applied to universities, I applied to master's programs in one university in the US, one in the UK and one in Costa Rica. I chose the program in the US. I was never asked about what other programs had I applied to in my visa interview. My university didn't require GRE scores, so I never had to take the test, and was never asked about that either.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

Thanks for your reply. That is what I thought too, which is why I don't understand the reasoning behind having to apply for more than one or two universities. Don't know how that can have anything to do with your eligibility to get the visa. I would think that to more universities a person apply, the more he doesn't really know what he wants and the more it looks like he just wants to get into the US!

One reason could be that universities are not the only ones that can be conduits for a F-1. English academies, flying schools, even some private "universities" (which are sort of shady in some cases and whose main motivation is to extract as much money as possible from the students, via a government loan) can also sponsor for an F-1; and they are all considered colleges.

For a 'real' university, that is, one that has been there for a while and is widely recognized as such, you should have no problems at all.

[Pickle 65]

I don't think the number of US universities you apply to has any bearing on your chances of getting the visa issued.. I've never heard of such thing myself, and don't really know why it would be relevant to the visa application. If I were you, I wouldn't start applying to a number of universities just because of this claim that it would positively affect your visa decision. If you were planning on applying to several universities in the first place, then naturally go ahead with it. But I personally don't think it would be worth the extra time, energy and money you'd have to spend on those additional applications to just submit them because of the visa issue.

GRE scores have nothing to do with the visa application process. Depending on the university you are applying to, they might or might not require GRE scores from applicants and those scores may be a factor in whether or not you get accepted to the university. However, once you've been accepted to a school and issued the I-20, GREs are not relevant for the visa process anymore.

When I applied to universities, I applied to master's programs in one university in the US, one in the UK and one in Costa Rica. I chose the program in the US. I was never asked about what other programs had I applied to in my visa interview. My university didn't require GRE scores, so I never had to take the test, and was never asked about that either.

Thanks Little My, it gives me peace of mind hearing first hand experience from someone. I will leave it at the two universities I have applied at.

One reason could be that universities are not the only ones that can be conduits for a F-1. English academies, flying schools, even some private "universities" (which are sort of shady in some cases and whose main motivation is to extract as much money as possible from the students, via a government loan) can also sponsor for an F-1; and they are all considered colleges.

For a 'real' university, that is, one that has been there for a while and is widely recognized as such, you should have no problems at all.

One of the universities I applied to is a private university, but it was on the list of the list of "America's Best Colleges 2010", so hopefully that won't make things difficult for me.

[Harsh_77 718]

As long as you are applying to acredited univ, state univ etc. you should be fine.

[Pickle 65]

As long as you are applying to acredited univ, state univ etc. you should be fine.

Okay thanks, I guess I should be fine then.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

Thanks Little My, it gives me peace of mind hearing first hand experience from someone. I will leave it at the two universities I have applied at.

One of the universities I applied to is a private university, but it was on the list of the list of "America's Best Colleges 2010", so hopefully that won't make things difficult for me.

By 'private' I was meaning small colleges that are often local and not widely recognized as 'universities' and that usually run by quarters and whose majority of students are there thanks to a government loan, even when their name has 'university' or 'college' on it. They usually offer short term (2 year) degrees that are technical/operational in nature. Admission to those colleges is usually automatic, that is, all you have to do is complete a form and there is no rigorous process. The one you are referring to should be no problem.

[Pickle 65]

By 'private' I was meaning small colleges that are often local and not widely recognized as 'universities' and that usually run by quarters and whose majority of students are there thanks to a government loan, even when their name has 'university' or 'college' on it. They usually offer short term (2 year) degrees that are technical/operational in nature. Admission to those colleges is usually automatic, that is, all you have to do is complete a form and there is no rigorous process. The one you are referring to should be no problem.

Oooh, okay, I get ya! Haha, I'm overly paranoid.