Questions about the F-1 Student Visa for My Sister

[hope2018 25]

Hello everyone,

My sister is from Vietnam.

She is 24 years old.

She has a master's degree in Chinese language. Her grades are great.

I sponsored her on an F4 visa.

My father sponsored her on an F2B visa last year.

She wants to go to medical school in the US, so it would be better for her to come to study now because she is still young instead of waiting for 7 more years in Vietnam.

My parents, I, and another relative will pay for her tuition. She has no proof of ties to Vietnam (She is single, parents and sister are in the US, and she is on both F4 and F2B visa)

She will eventually come to the US to live (hopefully ), what are her chances of getting an approval for F-1 visa if she honestly explains her intentions? (going to medical school, adjust the visa status when her F2B visa becomes available, and she has no intention to return to Vietnam after the completion of her study).

Thank you for any input/advice!

Edited May 3, 2014 by family741

[Boiler 45,516]

I know Medical School is expensive, must be very expensive for International Students.

If you can afford it and she has the qualifications to get in why not have a go.

I would not specifically mention the intent to drag it out to her visa number becomes current.

[hope2018 25]

I know Medical School is expensive, must be very expensive for International Students.

If you can afford it and she has the qualifications to get in why not have a go.

I would not specifically mention the intent to drag it out to her visa number becomes current.

Can family members in the US become her sponsor?

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hello everyone,

My sister is from Vietnam.

She is 24 years old.

She has a master's degree in Chinese language. Her grades are great.

I sponsored her on an F4 visa.

My father sponsored her on an F2B visa last year.

She wants to go to medical school in the US, so it would be better for her to come to study now because she is still young instead of waiting for 7 more years in Vietnam.

My parents, I, and another relative will pay for her tuition. She has no proof of ties to Vietnam (She is single, parents and sister are in the US, and she is on both F4 and F2B visa)

She will eventually come to the US to live (hopefully ), what are her chances of getting an approval for F-1 visa if she honestly explains her intentions? (going to medical school, adjust the visa status when her F2B visa becomes available, and she has no intention to return to Vietnam after the completion of her study).

Thank you for any input/advice!

Don't put the cart before the horse.

Your sister needs to be admitted to a US medical school before she can apply for a F1 visa.

She will need to prove to the school that she can afford her course of studies to get the I-20. Funds in a US bank and not mere promises from relatives that they will pay once she is here.

With the I-20, she can apply for an F1 visa.

To get the nonimmigrant F1 visa, she has to provide proof that she intends to return home after her course of study is completed.

No intention of returning home = zero chances of getting a student visa.

Edited May 4, 2014 by aaron2020

[Boiler 45,516]

Sponsor is the wrong word, but you can provide the money.

[hope2018 25]

Don't put the cart before the horse.

Your sister needs to be admitted to a US medical school before she can apply for a F1 visa.

She will need to prove to the school that she can afford her course of studies to get the I-20. Funds in a US bank and not mere promises from relatives that they will pay once she is here.

With the I-20, she can apply for an F1 visa.

To get the nonimmigrant F1 visa, she has to provide proof that she intends to return home after her course of study is completed.

No intention of returning home = zero chances of getting a student visa.

I will talk to the international student advisor next week about her I-20 (I graduated from this university so I knew the advisor).

Becoming a physician is her goal, but she will have to do it one step at a time. She is aware that she might not get accepted into medical school, but it does not hurt to set high goals.

Her plan:

Obtaining a bachelor's degree in science first

Volunteering (and doing some extra things that will make her application stand out)

Taking MCAT

Getting recommendation letters from professors and physicians

Applying to medical school

She will return home if she has to do it to obtain a student visa. Before my parents left Vietnam, they gave the house to her, but other than that, she has nothing else to tie her to Vietnam.

In her case, what else can she use as the proof of ties to home country?

Edited May 4, 2014 by family741

[Boiler 45,516]

It will look odd when she has a Masters doing a bachelors.

You will know what ties she has better than us, we only know what you have posted.

I did a quick google seems you would be looking at $400,000 plus, but if you have the money go for it.

Edited May 4, 2014 by Boiler

[christeen 966]

If we have 400k is in the mix why not just go for E2 investment visa? Not too well versed on them, just throwing out ideas...

[aaron2020 11,651]

I will talk to the international student advisor next week about her I-20 (I graduated from this university so I knew the advisor).

Becoming a physician is her goal, but she will have to do it one step at a time. She is aware that she might not get accepted into medical school, but it does not hurt to set high goals.

Her plan:

Obtaining a bachelor's degree in science first

Volunteering (and doing some extra things that will make her application stand out)

Taking MCAT

Getting recommendation letters from professors and physicians

Applying to medical school

She will return home if she has to do it to obtain a student visa. Before my parents left Vietnam, they gave the house to her, but other than that, she has nothing else to tie her to Vietnam.

In her case, what else can she use as the proof of ties to home country?

How would any of us know?

What are her reasons for returning?

In light of the fact that you have already stated she has no intention of returning, I say you are looking to manufacture some ties to home.

[aaron2020 11,651]

If we have 400k is in the mix why not just go for E2 investment visa? Not too well versed on them, just throwing out ideas...

Vietnam is not an E-2 treaty country, so she will not qualify for an E-2.

[christeen 966]

Vietnam is not an E-2 treaty country, so she will not qualify for an E-2.

Ok... It was Just a thought...

[Boiler 45,516]

500k will get you an EB5.

[Super King 26]

A better idea. She can get into Medical school in home country, then during her clinical rotation years, she can apply for clerkship (clinical rotations) in well known U.S Medical Schools (like Harvard, brown, tufts) for a fees of few thousands dollars. Once she will be accepted for clerkships she can apply for tourist visas ( which she will get most probably) for those clerkships. Meanwhile doing clerkships she can give USMLE Clinical skills exam here, after finishing clerkships she goes back to home country, give remaining USMLE exam back at home ( as its computer based test), and then can apply for residency in Internal Medicine here. If she gets good score on USMLEs, with clerkship and Letter of recommendations from US faculties she can easily get into Residency Program here which will sponsor her H-1 or J-1 visa.

[hope2018 25]

How would any of us know?

What are her reasons for returning?

In light of the fact that you have already stated she has no intention of returning, I say you are looking to manufacture some ties to home.

You said "no intention of returning = no chances of getting a visa", that's why I look into the option of her going back to Vietnam after the completion of her study.

Her reasons for returning: She wants to follow the rules and regulations for F-1 visa students. She wants to do everything legally so that it does not affect her chance to come to the US in the future.

[Super King 26]

While on H-1 she will be able to adjust her status as well.