<p>Yes, it was in Germany. My point was not to compare India to Germany though. I just wanted to show that the sentence I quoted is quite questionable.</p>
<p>"And you actually believe them? A Yale student I know went there and once his interviewer knew that he's going to Yale, she got very excited and even advised the student about stuff he should do in New Haven. Trust me, there's stuff ppl say and stuff ppl do."</p>
<p>I really really hope ur right pearfire!!!</p>
<p>I've never heard of any student (except perhaps a potential terrorist) who has been denied a F-1 visa after having been accepted to a top university and proven that he/she had the money to pay his/her tuition and cover his/her living expenses in the US. I'd say that possibility is remote. </p>
<p>On the other hand, if consular officials are worried about F-1 students staying in the US as immigrants, why don't they lobby Congress to change F-1 visa regulations? After all, current law is actually an incentive for foreign students not to return to their home countries, as they are given the option of completing one year of "practical training" in the US** after graduation **, during which they can easily get a job offer and obtain a non-resident (H-1) work visa.</p>
<p>
[quote]
pearfire: did your Yalie friend apply in Europe or India? I think the real difficulty is in India. The more I read the more it seems US Embassy @ India is trying to discourage/stop local students who intend to seek employment upon graduation (I know many do as my former employer hired them)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm not an American citizen or permanent resident, but, if I were, I'd have a hard time understanding how it would be in the national interest of the United States to encourage a law-abiding Yale graduate to leave the country. I guess consular officials are/should be worried about poor, uneducated people who seek to cross the border to do manual labo(u)r in the US (no bigotry implied here !). Ivy-bound students, especially master's or PhD students, are on the other hand precisely the type of immigrants the US would like to attract. Am I wrong ?</p>
<p>Why master's or PhD students? Undergrads seem to adjust better to the american environment and become more "american". PhDs and Master students usually keep their original traditions and don't adjust as much. I don't think they prefer M or PhD students over undergrads.</p>
<p>They do. American governments sees through its businesses, and American businesses need people who can contribute to the work force, they don't care about adjusting to American culture. These companies need Highly skilled workers; which in most of the cases, rules out undergraduate. </p>
<p>And I don't think undergraduates adjust better :)</p>
<p>IMO finding a job after a simple undergraduate American college degree is very tough for int'ls, unless you are a graduate from an elite university. Last year there were 150,000 applications for 65,000 H1B Visa (and Indians sucked 43,000 Visas out of them :)).</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm not an American citizen or permanent resident, but, if I were, I'd have a hard time understanding how it would be in the national interest of the United States to encourage a law-abiding Yale graduate to leave the country.
[/quote]
Being on the "other side", I would say the country is splitted on this issue. Some may say "I don't/can't compete with you Yale-educated foreigners so go home." Others may say "we love to hire you so stay."</p>
<p>
[quote]
I guess consular officials are/should be worried about poor, uneducated people who seek to cross the border to do manual labo(u)r in the US (no bigotry implied here !).
[/quote]
The problem is there is no law provision about those (unskilled labors) to enter US legally. Even if there is, most will walk across the border anyway at their convenience.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Last year there were 150,000 applications for 65,000 H1B Visa (and Indians sucked 43,000 Visas out of them.
[/quote]
Same issue this year except it took less than 24 hours to reach the target this week! </p>
<p>Those companies with global capability and financial mean are increasingly setting up "technology/business centers" offshore and hire the "foreigners" locally in their home countries - bypassing this whole H1-B mess. Some then use the uncapped L-1 visa to "transfer" their foreign employees to US.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Same issue this year except it took less than 24 hours to reach the target this week!
[/quote]
I somewhere read that 2000 slots in the H1B visa category are still available for those holding American Master's. So does it means that there a separate quota for those holding American Master's?</p>
<p>anyone of u guys knows exactly how many undergraduate student visas the US embassy denies every year? I have been looking for stadistics but haven't find anything!.. </p>
<p>"I've never heard of any student (except perhaps a potential terrorist) who has been denied a F-1 visa after having been accepted to a top university and proven that he/she had the money to pay his/her tuition and cover his/her living expenses in the US. I'd say that possibility is remote."</p>
<p>what about if the interviewer is not from the US and knows nothing about rankings and top colleges?!...</p>
<p>
[quote]
what about if the interviewer is not from the US and knows nothing about rankings and top colleges?!...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It's highly unlikely that such a person could get a job in US consulate (interviewers, most of the time, are Americans and not of your nationality)</p>
<p>I have my interview in about 11 hours from now. I have read everything on this forum and agree with most of it. I'm from Pakistan and so almost all the above rules applying on Indians apply on us too. </p>
<p>I agree with the fact that they definitely do not want to hear you say the words "I will be back because...". That just tells them you are deliberately trying to ensure them of your return. </p>
<p>Secondly I agree with the fact that they definitely are biased in favor of elite universities (a fact i'm very worried about since I got my I-20 from a SUNY). A student bound for Harvard Columbia or Yale is a one less likely to run away soon as he gets off the plane. </p>
<p>Truths like "I kinda dont know what my major is gonna be.." or "I'm not sure about my return, I might stay there if I get a job" are almost surely going to be denied the F-1s. </p>
<p>Be precise, short and confident. Give them a reason of your return that does not outright say "I'LL BE BACK DAMNIT" but says it in a hidden nondescript less subtle way. </p>
<p>Running the family business is a very good point but obviously already been used countless times. </p>
<p>No matter which university you are attending make sure you know a lot about it and can rant praises in its favor. The university doesnt have to be an elite, only YOU have to believe its best for you and you can convince the counselor the same.</p>
<p>Bring all the necessary papers you can to the interview. </p>
<p>Your educational records, transcripts, degrees, certificates. </p>
<p>Your financial support records, the bank statements, attested copies of university submitted financial support forms, bank letters. </p>
<p>Your "Ties-To-The-Home-Country" financial papers, proof of assets, lands, bank accounts, business papers. </p>
<p>Acceptance letters of all universities you are accepted to, acceptance letters of the university you will be attending. </p>
<p>The complete acceptance packet of the university you will be attending. </p>
<p>The original I-20 and SEVIS reciept. </p>
<p>Organize all the above documents in 2-3 separate files/folders and make sure you know which one contains what documents. Only show documents when asked for them but you can casualy mention the documents you have during the interview so they MAY ask for them.</p>
<p>Again, be precise and confident. Dress good. MUST talk in proficient and skilled english. </p>
<p>I can come back and tell you the interview results and the questions they asked if you guys want. Let me know over here.</p>
<p>Good Luck.</p>
<p>All the best, Tango :)</p>
<p>good luck Tango :)</p>
<p>(so what time is exactly there in Pakistan? 'cause here is Sunday mornning..)</p>
<p>
Really? I don't think they would ask for your other acceptances and I don't think you can bring that topic up on your own either.</p>
<p>hey everyone, I just got back home from Islamabad, from the interview. I got it :). I received the approval letter and will get the passport in a few weeks. I just drove 11 hours straight so kinda tired. I'll post everything about my interview in the morning. Its a lot different then I was (and a lot of people on the forum are) thinking and I think it can help you guys still seeking the F-1 if I post my interview and everything. So I'll do that in the morning.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I actually did bring that topic up this morning during my almost-3-minute interview. It is all a matter of how smoothly you can slip them info that they didnt really ask for but is impressive nonetheless ;). I will talk all about it tomorrow in my detailed post about the interview.</p>
<p>hey grimtango! I'm so happy for u :)!!.. ur the first one to get the F1 here in the forum (I think!).. :)!</p>
<p>well I hope to read 'bout ur interview tomorrow! xD</p>
<p>Congratulations!!
Looking forward to the full report. :)</p>
<p>GrimTango, congratulations, post fast.</p>
<p>I too can't wait for that report!!!..I am from Nepal btw...</p>
<p>aiite I'm back with the interview post. The interview timings mentioned on the sticker on my passport said it is a Walk In interview from 8-10 in the morning, but I knew there is going to be a heck of a lot of people so I was at the embassay at 5:30 AM with 6 boys already in line infront of me. First we had to get a ticket for the bus that takes us to US embassy. The ticket counter openend at 6:30 and the bus took us to the embassy at 7. At 7:30 they started searching every person, metal detectors n all, checked the papers and let us in one by one. Ok this is the interesting part, they let us into a small hall with a number of chairs in the center. There were counters at the north side of the hall, 6 counters with numbers on top of them and then more counters at the west side of the hall, all of them 12 in total. The counters had a thick glass window, a small slit in the front and a phone receiver hanging by a hook at one side. You know those prison type counters where you talk to the felons from behind the glass with a phone? exactly like that :P. Now once a lot of people were finger printed, visa counselors began taking up positions behind those counters. Each one of them took a random handful of Passports from the finger printed heap and sat at their desks. Ok some of you might know this was how interviews are conducted, I certainly did not know that. The interviews started right there in the hall with candidates standing infront of those prison counters talking to the counselor on the phone. Everybody watching and listening to what everybody is saying and around 10-11 interviews going on at the same time. Every now and then one of the counselors would announce on the loud speaker the next person they want on their windows. I was the second person to enter the embassy from among hundreds waiting outside but my interview was around 20th or so. I could see a lot of horror stories unfolding right there infront of me. So many were denied the visa. I knew because for one I was sitting right next to the counters wall, second the ones who get rejected are handed a paper with re-apply instructions as well as their passports. The ones who are accepted are only given a letter of approval and their passports are kept for further processing. So many F-1 candidates were rejected and so many other J and M too. This F-1 guy who was infront of me all along had his interview from this chinese lady and got rejected. Later the same lady called my name on the lound speaker and I went up to the counter. Ok from here on I'm going to narrate the whole interview alongwith what I was thinking at the time and how I managed to say what I wanted to. </p>
<p>I go upto the counter, pick the phone up, smile at the lady and say "hi good morning", </p>
<p>she "Good morning sir, I have your visa request form right here"</p>
<p>tango "good"</p>
<p>she "so what are you going to study at the US?" all the while looking at the papers.</p>
<p>tango "Computer Science."</p>
<p>she "Computer Science? ok. So why did you chose this university?"</p>
<p>tango "you mean SUNY Stony Brook?" <em>thinking</em> ofcourse thats what she means dumbass, its on your papers isnt it. Dont stall, say something.</p>
<p>she "yeah..." still looking at the papers</p>
<p>tango "well its in the top university rankings" <em>thinking</em> MORE THAN THAT DUDE COMEON. wheres everything you been rehearsing??? comeon say it all.</p>
<p>Here is something you guys should know. The counselors have VERY little time to judge you. My whole interview was less than 3 minutes. Which means they ask you a question and after you answer it they ask the next one on their list and not a one they derive from your answer. WHICH in turn means the moment you stop speaking, stop telling your answer, they are gonna spit out the next one. SO dont STOP unless you have said it all. Unless you have said what you wanted to in answer to any particular question. NO PAUSES or there will be the next question. But another thing to remember too is that do not stretch your answer too far. Make your answer big in a listwise way, the way I did right here. </p>
<p>tango, quickly adding before she could say anything, "I actually applied to a number of universities and fortunately was accepted everywhere, I have the acceptance letters right here if you want to see."</p>
<p>she "you did? which ones?"</p>
<p>tango, ticking off names at full speed "University of East Michigan, New York University, SUNY Buffalo, State Uni of Ohio, SUNY Binghamton, Stony Brook" </p>
<p>Now she looked up at me</p>
<p>she "ok, so why did you chose Stony Brook?"</p>
<p>tango "they have an excellent computer science program. I talked to current students, graduated students, student's parents, university professors of all the universities on my list. I have been doing that for the last 5 months and Stony Brook in the end was the clear choice. They are pretty far up in the USNews rankings too. Also they gave me a hefty scholarship".</p>
<p>she, looking at my I-20 "Why were you given a scholarship?"</p>
<p>tango "I have 1390 SAT, 115/120 TOEFL and 3.72 transfer GPA"</p>
<p>she "Can I look at your SAT score please?"</p>
<p>tango "Sure, here it is" handing over the SAT score report <em>thinking</em> phew I took it along.</p>
<p>she "so who is sponsoring you?"</p>
<p>tango "a family friend"</p>
<p>she "what do they do?"</p>
<p>tango "he is a businessman, I have the sponsorship guarantee and statements right here if you want to see"</p>
<p>she "ok, so what are you planning to do after you are done with the degree?"</p>
<p>Ok guys, she said it pretty casually but I got the feeling this is a very important question even on her mind, as we all knew anyways.</p>
<p>tango "I want to build a software house in Islamabad."</p>
<p>she "ok, can I have your original I-20 please?"</p>
<p>tango "Sure, here you go" handing over the original I-20</p>
<p>she, stapled the I-20 to my visa application. started hammering on her keyboard. did that for like an eternity while I was standing with the phone receiver pressed on my ear, and finally "ok, everything seems to be in order. Your application has been approved. You will receive your passport in less than a month via the same courier service that sent it."</p>
<p>tango, smiling his best I-love-you-baby smile, "Thank you"</p>
<p>she, smiling for the first time, handing over the approval letter, "Good luck with your education sir".</p>
<p>That was all guys. I'm sure you must have picked up a thing or two about what to do and how to say your stuff. Some things to remember though. Practise your spoken english, it MUST be very good. DO NOT stutter, practise mock interviews with someone. Remeber the major things you have to say there but dont cram them, they will know if what you are saying is crammed or coming from you right away. I'm not going to study at Stony Brook, I'm accepted at NYU too and just yesterday when I was at the interview they sent me a $10000 scholarship aswell. But since I did not have the I-20 from them just yet. I used Stony Brooks I-20 for SEVIS and the interview. The point is, no matter which uni you are going to attend, but really get to know about the one whose I-20 you are using. Tell yourself that its the best, gather points as to why it is the best. As I said before the interview, elite or not only you have to believe its the best university and you can definitely convince the visa counselor the same.</p>
<p>Good Luck everybody :).</p>
<p>Also when is everyone thinking of taking the interview?</p>