Let me start with actual interview
Me: Good morning, Ma’am! How are you?
VO: Morning!Pass me your passport and I-20.
Me: Sure. (Passed the passport and unopened envelope from college)
VO: Don’t you have opened one?
Me: I’ve a copy, do you need it?
VO: Yes, give.
Me: (gave it to her)
VO: Why did you choose this college?
Me: I personally think that it is better for international students to study at small school so that they can get adapt to new American lifestyle, culture and environment easily.
Then she asked about my uncle, bomb on me but I was prepared ugh
VO: Where will you live now? Are you not going to live with your uncle?
Me: I’ll live in college hostel, not with my uncle.
VO: Why will you not live with your uncle?
Me: Because he isn’t my first blood relative, he’s my distant relative. Also, I think it’s better to live on-campus so that we can easily communicate with the professors and ask them about all the doubts and complications, um, and also the college mates can help in academics and we can score better as compared to living off campus with any relative.
VO: What does your uncle do there for living?
Me: I don’t know, I’m not that much in contact with him.
VO: Okay but you were attending bachelors degree here in Delhi, what about that?
Me: Yeah, I was but I left that college few months back. (She asked this so because I was attending BCom Honours Degree classes from Delhi University and I’ve mentioned about it in every form)
VO: Why so?
Me: Because I wanted to study in USA. It was my dream to study there since childhood.
VO: Who’s is Karla David?
Me: He’s my designated school official(DSO) and I’m under him.
VO: Oh, okay! What’s the name and duration of your course in College?
Me: It’s Business administration and for two years.
VO: What will you do after that?
Me : I’ll transfer to four year university, either UC Berkeley or California State University.
VO: Okay, good.
Again about uncle,
VO: Why will you not live with your uncle?
Me: As I told you, he’s not my first blood relative, he’s my second blood relative.(Same answer)
VO: Why will you live on campus?
Me: Better for international students to live on campus to understand the new Environment and lifestyle of US with less difficulties.(Same answer)
VO: Who’s gonna pay for your tuition?
Me: My father is sponsoring me.
VO: What does he do?
Me: He is a businessman and told the type of business he do.
VO: How many employees are under him?
Me: 6–7, I’m not sure but. I think they’re 5–6.
VO: What is his monthly income?
Me: Though he never told me about it but it is estimated to be xxx.
Again asked about uncle,
VO: Why will you not live with your uncle?
Me: Because he isn’t my first blood relative, he’s my distant relative.(Same as before)
Again asked about where will I live,
VO: Why will you live in college hostel?
Me: I think it’s better to live on-campus so that we can easily communicate with the professors and ask them about all the doubts and and my college friends can help in academics and we can score good.(Same as before)
I was literally pissed that why is she asking the same question again and again but laughing from inside that I’ll stick on the same answer. Don’t test me pretty lady, I’ve pure intentions to come back India 😉
USA VISA interview experience conversion from H4 to F1
Ultimate Guide for H4 to F1 Change of Status – 2020
Enrolling in a University is a big step that requires a lot of planning. It gets even more complicated when you have to worry about immigration status. H4 dependents that choose to go back to college often have two options – Enroll in the program on H4 status or convert from H4 to F1 visa. Read this blog to learn about these options.
The first and foremost thing you need to do is find a University that meets your needs and a program that best aligns with your career goals. Enlisting help of a Counsellor like skoolville.com is a great way to shortlist programs, find about application requirements, and submit applications. Read this blog to learn about all the steps involved in pursuing a masters degree in USA. And read the Best courses for H4 visa holders blog to learn about the trending programs guaranteed to land you a job after graduation.
Once you receive I-20 from University, you need to apply to change your immigration status from H4 to F1 visa. You could either travel outside the United States and get F1 visa stamped or stay back in the US and apply for a change of status from H4 to F1. Change of status petitions can take anywhere from 3 to 9 months depending on the service center your petition gets sent to. You can find the latest processing times here. You can enroll in the program while your H4 to F1 change of status petition is pending with USCIS but you should continue to maintain your H4 status until the COS is approved. If your H4 visa is at risk of expiration before the H4 to F1 COS is approved, you need to file another change of status petition to extend the H4 status. You can find USCIS regulations regarding this here. Although you can start classes while waiting for the approval of COS to F1, you will not be eligible for OPT or CPT until the H4 to F1 change of status petition is approved. Note that the change of status petition is only to adjust your status while you are in the US. If you step out of the country, you need to visit a US consulate and get the F1 visa stamped.
The Day of the F1 Visa Interview:
On the day of the H4 to F1 Visa stamping, I was all cool and ready for the interview. I was cool on the outside, but definitely not on the inside.
On way to the consulate, I was just looking around and I can just hear only one thing “Your visa is rejected.”
I felt fear and bone cracking nervousness.
My Interview was at 10.15 AM, but I have reached the US Consulate by 9.15 AM. I wanted to see if they would allow inside the US Consulate earlier than my allocated time.
On reaching the spot I have seen few guys holding a blue sheet, and coming across me, after letting few people walk past me, I have finally stopped and asked a guy what is that they are holding? And do I have to carry the one?
Sarcastically that guy said that it’s 221(g) Administrative Processing form and you need not carry it. You will get one if the interviewer finds you were not fit for the getting the visa. Now with my inner voice of “Your visa is rejected” this blue page got added up to my imagination.
After waiting for two hours in the line, they let me in into the Consulate around 12.15 PM. Even though, my scheduled visa interview was at 10.15 AM!
After entering into the interview hall, there are several windows where the visa officers were asking the candidates with different questions.
In midst of this chaos, one window caught my attention, the interviewer was questioning the candidate, “What API’s did you use in your code?”
My goodness, now I am dead. I have made up my mind to receive the 221(g) form or 241(b) form.
I was praying to not to let me go to that window. And to my surprise, I was allotted the same window!
H4 to F1 Visa Interview Experience
From the day I have decided to attend the H4 to F1 Visa consulate interview, I, started to come across many H4 Visa to F1 Visa rejection stories which made me nervous.
Even after listening to many success stories they didn’t help me to ease up.
After carefully reviewing my profile, background work, my courses, colleges, and my presentation skills, I thought that chances of H4 to F1 Visa rejection are quite narrow, and if and only if I let the visa officer reject me for lack of quality answers.
I did several mock H4 Visa to F1 interviews with my wife. I was focussing to improve the quality of answers. I wanted to is to stay and look confident and speak my mind. But, it’s easier said than done. I have to make sure my answer sound genuine and which proves my intent. And they were genuine.
