Regarding the F1 visa

[Nibs]

Strange sort of question here. I have an MFA offer from SIUC, which I will almost certainly be taking up for Fall 2015, and applying for an F-1 visa in the process. However, I've also applied to a summer workshop in the US, which I have -- tentatively -- reasonable hopes of making it into. This workshop is in June - July.

 

Since the F-1 prohibits entry earlier than 30 days prior to the start of your degree course, I'd have to make it into the US on a different visa (tourist, I think?) to attend the workshop. What this would ultimately work out to, I believe, is that I'd already be in the US when the term of my F-1 officially came into effect.

 

Does anyone know if this is allowed? Doable?

[TakeruK]

I think this should be okay. It might also depend on a lot of other things. There is a difference between "entry requirements" (visa) and status (F-1 or J-1). So it's possible, for example, to have a visa that expires immediately after entry but have F-1 or J-1 status for length of your degree. I think once you enter, the visa you used to enter doesn't matter anymore--you just have to maintain whatever legal status you have. However, since you would have entered with tourist status, I'm not sure if you need to exit the US and reenter with F-1 status or if checking in at the school can achieve this. I would recommend contacting your school's international office for advice.

[Karoku_valentine]

Strange sort of question here. I have an MFA offer from SIUC, which I will almost certainly be taking up for Fall 2015, and applying for an F-1 visa in the process. However, I've also applied to a summer workshop in the US, which I have -- tentatively -- reasonable hopes of making it into. This workshop is in June - July.

 

Since the F-1 prohibits entry earlier than 30 days prior to the start of your degree course, I'd have to make it into the US on a different visa (tourist, I think?) to attend the workshop. What this would ultimately work out to, I believe, is that I'd already be in the US when the term of my F-1 officially came into effect.

 

Does anyone know if this is allowed? Doable?

 

Hi. I was invited to a graduate information day, so I had to get a tourist visa, which is valid for 10 years. Once I am given my I-20 and everything, I will request a F-1 visa and enter the US with an F-1 visa.  In order for you to be able to study in the US, you need to leave the country and then enter and ask to be registered with your F1 visa. But you should ask about that. Just go to Mexico or Canada for the weekend (now it is cheaper because of the exchange rate and you need no Mexican visa if you travel from the US/have an American visa) and go back.

 

 

I think this should be okay. It might also depend on a lot of other things. There is a difference between "entry requirements" (visa) and status (F-1 or J-1). So it's possible, for example, to have a visa that expires immediately after entry but have F-1 or J-1 status for length of your degree. I think once you enter, the visa you used to enter doesn't matter anymore--you just have to maintain whatever legal status you have. However, since you would have entered with tourist status, I'm not sure if you need to exit the US and reenter with F-1 status or if checking in at the school can achieve this. I would recommend contacting your school's international office for advice.

[chateaulafitte]

Strange sort of question here. I have an MFA offer from SIUC, which I will almost certainly be taking up for Fall 2015, and applying for an F-1 visa in the process. However, I've also applied to a summer workshop in the US, which I have -- tentatively -- reasonable hopes of making it into. This workshop is in June - July.

 

Since the F-1 prohibits entry earlier than 30 days prior to the start of your degree course, I'd have to make it into the US on a different visa (tourist, I think?) to attend the workshop. What this would ultimately work out to, I believe, is that I'd already be in the US when the term of my F-1 officially came into effect.

 

Does anyone know if this is allowed? Doable?

 

It is doable; it's called an "adjustment of status". See this doc for example: https://iss.washington.edu/procedures/change-status/b-1-b-2-to-f-1

 

Note the questions mentioned on the page:

 

 

• What did you tell the consular officer was the purpose of your visit to the U.S.?
•   Upon entry to the U.S., what did you tell the immigration officer was the purpose of your visit?
•   How and when did you arrive at your decision to study in the U.S.?
•   How and when did you first contact the University, and when were you informed you had been admitted?
•   If prior to your entry into the U.S. your intention was to attend school, why didn't you apply for an F-1 student visa rather than the B-2 visitor visa?
•   Have you been in the U.S. before? When and for what purpose?
•   Any relatives in the U.S.? If so, what types of visas are they here on?

 

Also: I am not sure what your 'summer workshop" entails, but be aware that only recreational study is permitted under a B1/B2 visa, so make sure your workshop qualifies for that.

 

Best of luck!

[Infy]

Hi all!

I am new here.

I have a similar question.

I have a 2 month course ( permitted on B visa, which I have already obtained ) to attend before I start my masters course( at a reputed university) on F1 almost immediately.

I would like to know if I could enter the US on B visa and finish my course while I apply for F1 in US and may be visit CA/Mexico to re enter US on F visa.

Can I interview for F visa while in US? 

 

Thank you for your help!

I appreciate it!! 

Edited March 8, 2015 by Infy

[TakeruK]

Hi all!

I am new here.

I have a similar question.

I have a 2 month course ( permitted on B visa, which I have already obtained ) to attend before I start my masters course( at a reputed university) on F1 almost immediately.

I would like to know if I could enter the US on B visa and finish my course while I apply for F1 in US and may be visit CA/Mexico to re enter US on F visa.

Can I interview for F visa while in US? 

 

Thank you for your help!

I appreciate it!! 

 

No, you cannot interview or apply for a visa while in the US because a visa is for entry into the US only. You don't need a visa if you are already in the US.

 

However, you still need to get F-1 status to legally reside in the US for school. I am not certain if you can get status while in the US. Perhaps you can do an "adjustment of status" as mentioned above.

[Nibs]

Thank you, everyone who posted! Unfortunately I don't think visa adjustment will work for me, since it looks complicated and the site says it can take a month or more. My course ends July 31 and I'd have barely two weeks between that and the start of term at my university. It looks like I might just have to exit the country and re-enter, sigh.

 

My summer course is a creative writing workshop, incidentally. I'm pretty sure it's covered by a tourist visa, though I'm looking into it~

[chateaulafitte]

Thank you, everyone who posted! Unfortunately I don't think visa adjustment will work for me, since it looks complicated and the site says it can take a month or more. My course ends July 31 and I'd have barely two weeks between that and the start of term at my university. It looks like I might just have to exit the country and re-enter, sigh.

 

My summer course is a creative writing workshop, incidentally. I'm pretty sure it's covered by a tourist visa, though I'm looking into it~

 

Nibs,

 

Re-entering is all good, but it means that you either:

1- get the visa before you first enter the country in June, somehow convince the CBP agent to let you enter on the B1/B2 visa instead of the F1 visa that's on your passport, then exit at the end of July and re-enter, this time on the F1 visa. I believe it is unlikely that this would work out.

2- get the visa in Canada or Mexico, between the end of July and the beginning of your program in mid-August, during the peak season of visa appointments season. Are you sure you'd be able to get a visa within two weeks then?

 

Have you emailed the international office people at your future university? What do they say?

 

For both Nibs and Infy: this document from CMU explains how to apply for a visa in a country that is not your home country: www.cmu.edu/oie/forstu/pdf/visa-in-3rd-country.pdf

 

Be aware that refusal in a third country is more likely than in your home country.

Edited March 9, 2015 by chateaulafitte

[Nibs]

Nibs,

 

Re-entering is all good, but it means that you either:

1- get the visa before you first enter the country in June, somehow convince the CBP agent to let you enter on the B1/B2 visa instead of the F1 visa that's on your passport, then exit at the end of July and re-enter, this time on the F1 visa. I believe it is unlikely that this would work out.

2- get the visa in Canada or Mexico, between the end of July and the beginning of your program in mid-August, during the peak season of visa appointments season. Are you sure you'd be able to get a visa within two weeks then?

 

Have you emailed the international office people at your future university? What do they say?

 

For both Nibs and Infy: this document from CMU explains how to apply for a visa in a country that is not your home country: www.cmu.edu/oie/forstu/pdf/visa-in-3rd-country.pdf

 

Be aware that refusal in a third country is more likely than in your home country.

 

I actually already have a tourist visa that's valid until 2021. I figured I would get the F1 here in my home country, before I left.

 

As for convincing Immigrations to let me enter on the B1 instead of the F1, I don't actually think that would be an issue? The F1 regulations prohibit entry more than 30 days prior to the date listed on your 1-20, which in my case, is Aug 17. In other words, if I was entering the US in June, the B1 would be the only valid visa that would let me do so -- my F1 would not even be valid yet.

[fuzzylogician]

As for convincing Immigrations to let me enter on the B1 instead of the F1, I don't actually think that would be an issue? The F1 regulations prohibit entry more than 30 days prior to the date listed on your 1-20, which in my case, is Aug 17. In other words, if I was entering the US in June, the B1 would be the only valid visa that would let me do so -- my F1 would not even be valid yet.

 

Indeed, this shouldn't be a problem. You might want to point out that you have two visas in your passport and that you're entering as a tourist now and have plans to leave and re-enter before your program begins so you're on the correct F1 status. As long as the officer knows you've made plans to always be in the correct status, you should be just fine.

[nderaemy]

Hi !

 

I have a similar problem.

 

I want to enter the country earlier than the 30-days period of the F-1 to travel around for a couple of months.  Does anyone know if I could enter as a tourist (Visa Waiver program / ESTA) and then activate my F-1 status with (or without) a trip to Canada or Mexico ?  Do you think the the customs officer would grant me the entrance as a tourist in that situation ? And do you think that my ESTA application would be accepted with a flight back being far later than the 90-days period of my tourist status ?

[Nibs]

Hi !

 

I have a similar problem.

 

I want to enter the country earlier than the 30-days period of the F-1 to travel around for a couple of months.  Does anyone know if I could enter as a tourist (Visa Waiver program / ESTA) and then activate my F-1 status with (or without) a trip to Canada or Mexico ?  Do you think the the customs officer would grant me the entrance as a tourist in that situation ? And do you think that my ESTA application would be accepted with a flight back being far later than the 90-days period of my tourist status ?

 

As far as I can tell, the only way to change to F-1 status without leaving the country is to file for a Change of Status. This can take weeks, particularly during peak visa activity periods like July/August. So it's not a very feasible option. Far simpler to just make a quick trip across the border, into Canada or Mexico, I think.

 

I don't know much about the ESTA, so I can't advise you on that. I suppose you could always provide photocopies of your I-20 or offer letter with your application, as proof/explanation of why you'll be staying on in the US well past the 90-days period?

[Karoku_valentine]

Yes. You can enter the country earlier, but you will be admitted as a tourist and required to have a tourist visa/visa waiver. As far as I know, once you are in, you need to leave the country and then go back and tell the officer you are entering as a student . 

 

Regarding the flight, they just ask you how long you are going to stay in the country, they do not ask you for anything. I was in NYC last week and the officer just asked me if I was studying in the USA (since I have my older F1 visa in my passport), and how long I was going to stay. It took at most 2 minutes.

 

Hi !

I have a similar problem.

I want to enter the country earlier than the 30-days period of the F-1 to travel around for a couple of months.  Does anyone know if I could enter as a tourist (Visa Waiver program / ESTA) and then activate my F-1 status with (or without) a trip to Canada or Mexico ?  Do you think the the customs officer would grant me the entrance as a tourist in that situation ? And do you think that my ESTA application would be accepted with a flight back being far later than the 90-days period of my tourist status ?

[nderaemy]

Yes. You can enter the country earlier, but you will be admitted as a tourist and required to have a tourist visa/visa waiver. As far as I know, once you are in, you need to leave the country and then go back and tell the officer you are entering as a student . 

 

Regarding the flight, they just ask you how long you are going to stay in the country, they do not ask you for anything. I was in NYC last week and the officer just asked me if I was studying in the USA (since I have my older F1 visa in my passport), and how long I was going to stay. It took at most 2 minutes.

 

 

Thank you for the details. I have now received my visa, and there is an Issue date (which is today apparently) and an expiration date. Do you know if my entrance into the country as a student is granted in-between this window or if it is related to the dates of my studies, which are somewhat not mentioned on the visa ?

[fuzzylogician]

Your I-20 indicates the start date of your program. You can enter the US on the F-1 visa up to 30 days prior to the start date. 

 

See e.g. here for more information: https://internationalaffairs.uchicago.edu/page/arriving-us-airport-or-port-entry

[nderaemy]

Oh yeah I forgot about the I-20, thanks.

 

And damn, they seem pretty reluctant to the idea of going there earlier on the website that you gave. I'll just have to hope for the best then...

[Classy_Nerd]

yes it is possible for you to attend workshop on B-1/B-2 and then change status to F-1

if that is a hassle or you have the time and can afford it, a short trip to Mexico or Canada can be another option