Will the past B1/B2 refusals hurt the application of F1 visa?

[doodlejump]

Hey guys, it's great to find here.

I'm an international student and received a Ph.D. offer from a top-tier U.S. university  (full-funded). Right now, I'm very worried about whether my past B1/B2 refusals will hurt the application of my F1 visa. I tried to apply the B1/B2 visa in a third country when I was an exchange student in 2017. I was rejected twice, however. The visa officer suggested me that I should have applied the visa in my home country.

I finally got a B1/B2 visa from the embassy in my home country in mid-2017, and I traveled to the U.S. several times, none of which exceeded a week.

I am wondering, however, that the visa officer may care much about my past B1/B2 refusal records when I am about to be interviewed for my F1 visa.

Has anyone have similar experiences? I quite appreciate your help. Thank you so much.

[PokePsych]

are you applying in your home country?

I have applied successfully for an F1 visa in a country that was not my own - but my husband is from there. I believe this has to do with 'strength of ties' to that specific location (obviously, ties to your home country are strong, whereas exchange is just temporary) - so in my case, I have obvious ties to that 'third' country and it led to no issues at all.

[ElleBarishnikova]

Hi! I don't think past B1/B2 refusals should hurt your F-1 status as long as you are enrolled in the U.S. university and get appropriate documentation from the university before your interview. It is mostly easy to get a student visa but, it might also depend on the country you are coming from.

Personally, I was denied an H-1B visa after I worked 1 year on OPT. While working I applied for graduate school and got into JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY. After I got admitted I applied for the F-1 visa and got it really quickly and unpainfully. However, I didn't leave the U.S. during this whole process so it might be different for you.

 

Good Luck!

[doodlejump]

8 hours ago, Psygeek said:

are you applying in your home country?

I have applied successfully for an F1 visa in a country that was not my own - but my husband is from there. I believe this has to do with 'strength of ties' to that specific location (obviously, ties to your home country are strong, whereas exchange is just temporary) - so in my case, I have obvious ties to that 'third' country and it led to no issues at all.

Yep, I will be applying in my home country.

The visa officer who rejected me indicated that I had stayed in that third country "too short." I guess that's the main reason why I got refusals twice.

[doodlejump]

5 hours ago, ElleBarishnikova said:

Hi! I don't think past B1/B2 refusals should hurt your F-1 status as long as you are enrolled in the U.S. university and get appropriate documentation from the university before your interview. It is mostly easy to get a student visa but, it might also depend on the country you are coming from.

Personally, I was denied an H-1B visa after I worked 1 year on OPT. While working I applied for graduate school and got into JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY. After I got admitted I applied for the F-1 visa and got it really quickly and unpainfully. However, I didn't leave the U.S. during this whole process so it might be different for you.

 

Good Luck!

Thank you for your comment! Did the visa officer ask you to explain the H1b denial when you were interviewed?

I just don't know how to explain my experience if they were to ask so.