Student Visa for US High School Graduate????

[liirthropp 0]

Hello Everyone I decided to post on here because I have a very complicated situation, and really need some advice.

I traveled to the USA with my parents on a tourist visa in the year 1998. We overstayed the visa, and I graduated from High School as an Honor Student in the year 2009. Upon graduating, I received a Bright Futures Scholarship Certificate for 90% of my tuition. However, since I was out of status, I do not qualify for financial aid. I made the decision to return to Mexico to continue my studies. I left the USA on July 4, 2009, exactly 20 days before my 18th Birthday. My parents stayed in the US, and I live with my sister in Mexico.

I attempted to apply for a tourist visa in July of 2010, but was denied because I did not have sufficient time working (I needed a minimum of 6 months). I reapplied in February of 2011, showing that I had nearly a year of employment, and indicating that I lived with my sister. I was not asked for financial information from my parents.

Now, as of June 2012, I have completed 2.5 years in a Mexican University. However, I feel that I am not being challenged enough, and am somewhat unsatisfied with the education I am receiving. I was told about a community college in the US and how it has partnerships with a state university to offer a direct transfer once the A.A. degree is completed.

I applied to the college, and carried out the following activities:

-Sent out high school transcripts

-Affidavit of support from my uncle. He owns a customs agency and lives in a border town in Texas.

-Credential Evaluation of my coursework in Mexico: a total of 76 US Credits

The school notified me that I have been accepted and sent me the I-20 form. I was also told that many of the credits I completed in Mexico are for core coursework and that I will be receiving credit for those courses. Therefore, I am not losing those 2.5 years of schooling.

I know that my situation is a bit complicated. I have thought out many of my responses. One of the main problems could be my interest in a community college. In my eyes, I view the community college as a way to complete the coursework necessary to obtain my A.A. degree and hopefully (with permission to extend the I-20), continue my bachelors degree at the state college mentioned previously. Additionally, many of the professors from the state college also teach at the community college. I see it as gettin the quality education of the state college at a community college cost.

My questions are:

1. Will I be asked to show my high school transcripts? And if so, will the fact that I was in the U.S. illegally before i turned 18 affect me? How does the 3 and 10-year ban work??? Should I show the transcripts if I am not asked for them?

2. How will this affect my parents? I was not asked much about them during my Tourist Visa application. What happens if I get asked in this interview?

3. If i get the F1 visa approved/denied, what happens to my tourist Visa? do I lose it?

4. When I applied for my tourist visa, my DS-160 was filled out at a local business by more "knowledgeable staff". Upon reviewing a printout they provided me with of the application, I noticed they didn't indicate my "unlawful presence" in the US. I asked them and they brushed it aside indicating my leaving before I turned 18. I do realize this will clash with the information I provide now..what can I do?

Aside from all of this, I feel that i have a very strong argument. I have excellent qualifications and feel that my stay in the U.S. as an undocumented student GREATLY influences me not to try to live there illegally. Perhaps its easy as an elementary/middle school studnet, but it gets complicated in high school. Additionally, I am providing recommendation letters from previous professors.

I do apologize for all of the information provided..I just want to make sure I provide accurate information so that you may be able to provide me with any advice! Thank you so much inadvance!

[canadian_wife 1,822]

1. you might, but I wasn't when I went for my F-1. But they can ask for anything. However, after already completing 2.5 years in a Mexican University, probably not

2. It probably won't but no guarentees. USCIS and ICE are WAY too busy to deal with your parents. If you get asked, you must tell the truth....you MUST

3. You applied in 2011 for a toursit visa? Was it approved? For how long? Regardless, probably nothing will happen to it

4. You are not responsible for unlawful presence gained while under the age of 18, you need to always be truthful about it however.

When is your interview for the student visa?

Good luck

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Since you left before you 18th birthday, you have no ban at all. You should be able to go forward with your student visa plans and be honest about your high school education (you should be proud of your hard work!). You can't do anything about your parents; they made their own choices in life. However, they are unlikely to go after them.

[liirthropp 0]

1. you might, but I wasn't when I went for my F-1. But they can ask for anything. However, after already completing 2.5 years in a Mexican University, probably not

2. It probably won't but no guarentees. USCIS and ICE are WAY too busy to deal with your parents. If you get asked, you must tell the truth....you MUST

3. You applied in 2011 for a toursit visa? Was it approved? For how long? Regardless, probably nothing will happen to it

4. You are not responsible for unlawful presence gained while under the age of 18, you need to always be truthful about it however.

When is your interview for the student visa?

Good luck

1. Oh okay, so I'll take them just in case. I feel like i'll have to mention my time in high school to adequately explain WHY I'm picking the specified community college and college.

2. Ohh okay, this is probably the one part that has me really concerned and worries.

3. Yes, I applied and it's been approved for ten years. I have great use for it since I live in a border town and shopping is always a great option for us

4. Thank you. I'll just be honest about it and explain what happened. Hopefully the fact taht its different information will not affect me :/

As for my interview, I haven't yet made the appointment. The total for the application and the SEVIS is 360 dollars, and, since i'm not self-funded, I want to make sure to keep costs as low as possible. So I wanted to go over all of these concerns before I went ahead and filled out the forms and everything. Overall, what do you all think of my situation? Is obtaining the visa likely?

[liirthropp 0]

Since you left before you 18th birthday, you have no ban at all. You should be able to go forward with your student visa plans and be honest about your high school education (you should be proud of your hard work!). You can't do anything about your parents; they made their own choices in life. However, they are unlikely to go after them.

Thank you for your advice I really hope that this works out. I applied for an AA degree with a focus on Peforming Arts. I know that my grades and qualifications are really good, but its a little different when you want to go in for Arts, but doing so at a U.S. school is really my only option, since there are no performing arts schools nearby, and travel to another area in my country is definitely out of the question because of the insecurity :/

[canadian_wife 1,822]

1. Oh okay, so I'll take them just in case. I feel like i'll have to mention my time in high school to adequately explain WHY I'm picking the specified community college and college.

2. Ohh okay, this is probably the one part that has me really concerned and worries.

3. Yes, I applied and it's been approved for ten years. I have great use for it since I live in a border town and shopping is always a great option for us

4. Thank you. I'll just be honest about it and explain what happened. Hopefully the fact taht its different information will not affect me :/

As for my interview, I haven't yet made the appointment. The total for the application and the SEVIS is 360 dollars, and, since i'm not self-funded, I want to make sure to keep costs as low as possible. So I wanted to go over all of these concerns before I went ahead and filled out the forms and everything. Overall, what do you all think of my situation? Is obtaining the visa likely?

Honestly, I see it 50/50. You have a history of abuse of a non-immigrant visa and all your family is in the US. What ties do you have to MX to show them? But then you showed integrety in leaving and starting a life in MX. You want to highlight the latter and show how you aren't going to abuse the system again (whether it was your fault or not)

Good luck

[liirthropp 0]

Honestly, I see it 50/50. You have a history of abuse of a non-immigrant visa and all your family is in the US. What ties do you have to MX to show them? But then you showed integrety in leaving and starting a life in MX. You want to highlight the latter and show how you aren't going to abuse the system again (whether it was your fault or not)

Good luck

Yes, I do understand. As for my ties to Mexico, well in the end, this is my home country. Although my parents are in the U.S., my older sister (whom i've lived with for the past 2.5 years) is living in Mexico, as well as all other family members. Additionally, I have received a letter from my current employer (a Television Station) to return once I complete my studies. And I agree about highlighting that I returned and started a life in the U.S. I guess my main point is that many colleges accept undocumented students, (at out of state prices), so I could have easily stayed and started college there, but once you near the end of high school, you really start seeing what it's like to really be undocumented. No driver's licence, a feeling of insecurity when taking ACT, SAT exams (because of lack of SSN), the inability and fear of applying to schools. So I can only imagine what it's like to actually be an ADULT. And, to be honest, the amount of jobs for undocumented individuals isn't really much, especially for my chosen career paths, so i definitely know that If i want to live Out of the shadows, I need to come home

[canadian_wife 1,822]

I understand what you are saying and I really honour you for what you've done, but the family ties and the "I could have stayed and been illegal but didn't" type attitude won't work for USCIS. You're going to want to highlight the return to MX to establish ties and REALLY focus on why you are going to return

Good luck

[liirthropp 0]

I understand what you are saying and I really honour you for what you've done, but the family ties and the "I could have stayed and been illegal but didn't" type attitude won't work for USCIS. You're going to want to highlight the return to MX to establish ties and REALLY focus on why you are going to return

Good luck

Thank you so much!!! I really appreciate your advice