f1 Student visa dilemma

[ram85 0]

Hi All,

 

I'm an expatriate Indian citizen living & working in the UAE. I plan to study Masters in Computer Science in the US starting in Spring 2018. I have an admit currently from the University of Illinois and I'm awaiting others. My question is can I apply for a F1 visa at the consulate in Abu Dhabi, UAE? My residence visa in the UAE is valid as long as I've a job here. I'm worried about getting denied under 214 (b) since I don't have any ties with UAE other than the reason that I work here. I have a wife and child living with me now and they'll be moving to India. Would it be better to apply for an F1 from India?

Edited September 2, 2017 by ram85

[Meg&Andrew 297]

And what exactly would your ties to India be?  

[ram85 0]

I made a small edit to my post. So my wife and child will be living in India with my parents while I study in the US.

[usmsbow 801]

Applying from India wouldn't make you any less (or more) likely to be rejected. How would applying from there help your chances? Because you have family there? That really doesn't matter.

 

When it comes to student visas, I think they care more about your ability to pay and support yourself. If you can demonstrate that, you should be fine. 

[Coco8 1,042]

You can really do it either one. 

 

If you are going to work in UAE while doing the visa, then do it in UAE because you have to hand in your passport. If you go to India, you never know how long the consulate will keep your passport so you won't be able to go to UAE to keep working. 

 

But if you plan to resign to take your family to India, then do the visa in India while your family is there.

 

 

[ram85 0]

7 hours ago, usmsbow said:

Applying from India wouldn't make you any less (or more) likely to be rejected. How would applying from there help your chances? Because you have family there? That really doesn't matter.

 

When it comes to student visas, I think they care more about your ability to pay and support yourself. If you can demonstrate that, you should be fine. 

Thank you for your reply sir..I was under the impression that having a wife and child back home and parents who are old, will be considered strong ties to one's home country. I can show sufficient funds so I'm not worried about that. I'll hope for the best!

[ram85 0]

6 hours ago, Coco8 said:

You can really do it either one. 

 

If you are going to work in UAE while doing the visa, then do it in UAE because you have to hand in your passport. If you go to India, you never know how long the consulate will keep your passport so you won't be able to go to UAE to keep working. 

 

But if you plan to resign to take your family to India, then do the visa in India while your family is there.

 

 

I'll be working while applying for the visa. Thank you that was a good thought  It didn't occur to me that I would have to hand in my passport! Do you think being an older applicant with a wife and child in India will hurt my chances of getting a student visa?

[ram85 0]

8 hours ago, Meg&Andrew said:

And what exactly would your ties to India be?  

My parents are old. My wife and child will be living in India until I finish studies.

[Unlockable 7,314]

17 minutes ago, ram85 said:

Thank you for your reply sir..I was under the impression that having a wife and child back home and parents who are old, will be considered strong ties to one's home country. I can show sufficient funds so I'm not worried about that. I'll hope for the best!

If they were strong ties you would not be leaving them behind. You would be staying there with them to take care of them.

[ram85 0]

7 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

If they were strong ties you would not be leaving them behind. You would be staying there with them to take care of them.

this is true   honestly though, that's the best I could come up with! any suggestions on what would be considered strong ties to your home country? Thank you

[Unlockable 7,314]

2 minutes ago, ram85 said:

this is true   honestly though, that's the best I could come up with! any suggestions on what would be considered strong ties to your home country? Thank you

 

Was just trying to make a point by challenging your claim to them being strong ties. Family is certainly ties to home but what officers want to see is that you are more established in your home country. That way you want be a risk to overstay in the US.

 

Do you own property? You seem well educated, have you held any high level jobs in India? Own a business? These things may help.

[ram85 0]

8 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

 

Was just trying to make a point by challenging your claim to them being strong ties. Family is certainly ties to home but what officers want to see is that you are more established in your home country. That way you want be a risk to overstay in the US.

 

Do you own property? You seem well educated, have you held any high level jobs in India? Own a business? These things may help.

The properties in India are in my Dad's name so I'm not sure if that's any help. I worked in India for 6 years as an IT consultant (high level?). I have experience certificates from all the companies I worked at. I'm wondering though, do I have to present these documents to the visa officer even if I'm not asked to? 

[Boiler 45,553]

The important thing is that your studies make sense and that you have the funds to pay for them. Obviously most students have very few ties.

[Coco8 1,042]

3 hours ago, ram85 said:

I'll be working while applying for the visa. Thank you that was a good thought  It didn't occur to me that I would have to hand in my passport! Do you think being an older applicant with a wife and child in India will hurt my chances of getting a student visa?

How long they keep the passport usually has nothing to do with the likelihood of getting the visa. They might need to run more background checks because of you live in UAE or they might ask you to fill in an additional form because you were randomly selected to do that. You can get your passport back in a week or in a month, or more. 

 

The issue with the MA is that is has to make sense given your professional background. Take your CV to the interview, they usually ask for that. 

 

Also, if they ask you for future plans, think about your answer. Maybe you will go to work with the same company you are now, or you plan to get a new job in India or somewhere else. 

 

 

 

Edited September 2, 2017 by Coco8