• US student visas: Where to start?

Ravi asked, Hello Sir,I ll be going to US for fall-2007, My MS is for one and half years,and F1 visa is valid for two years. Can i stay in US after completion of my MS if i dont get a job?

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, You must get a job as soon as you get your degree to be able to stay in the US. You could get 60 day grace period between completion of studies and starting a job. You cannot stay in the US without a job after you get a degree.

pandyajitesh asked, I have got a job from a US company who is going to sponsor my H1B Visa.When will i know if i have got the visa ?

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, H1B visa is full this year as the quota as a worldwide limit of 65,000. The next filing for the quota filing will start from April 1, 2008, and visas will be issued effective October 1, 2008, the next US fiscal year commencement.

Hari asked, Hi How many hours in a week can i work on a F1 visa?

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, 20 hours.

Darshit Pandya asked, i am an electronics engineer from Gujarat,India passout in year 2005 and want to go USA on Working Visa with part tie study. So how do i go there.I am married in April'2007 recntly. Pls guide me.

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, There is nothing like part study and part work unless you have a green card. As an international student, you have to complete your degree programme first and then apply for a job. Only part time work of 20 hours per week is allowed on campus during semester session. You could work full time during the vacation period. Off-campus employment is disallowed (though there are some exceptions).

vandan asked, i m chartered accountant from india, i want to be CPA from America and plan to settled there, let me know how i can get visa

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, CAs do get jobs through internet and recruitment agents. Try that route. But you have to have CPA knowledge and license.

hawk asked, In your previous post you said "Off-campus employment is disallowed with some exception". Could you please name them?

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, When work is related to the chosen field of study or is related to the work of a professor under whose jurisdiction a student is doing research or graduate assistantship, only then he is allowed off-campus employment.

Tanubhav asked, Respected Sir I'm in the US on a F-1 student visa and I'm now back in India for my summer break. According to my knowledge I can only work on campus and that too to a maximum of 20 hours. Although, my friend from Germany told me that I can work there in Indian offices,banks etc and I will be paid in Indian currency and that too in India. Is that true? And can I do a job as internship whenever I want or only in my final year?

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, Indian owned companies in the US have to follow US Immigration laws; no exception is allowed to them. If one is employed in the US, one will receive salary in US dollars and not in Indian rupees. Depending on your specialisation, you could do internship but the best person to guide you about this would be your foreign student advisor.

lakshman.Boppana asked, Is it a pre-requisite to write Both TOEFL & GRE to enter any of the programme in the field of life Sciences

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, TOEFL is required by most universities in the US, though some do not insist on it. Same is the case with GRE. Normally, for visa purposes, US consulates encourage passing of entrance tests.

sam asked, how many hours can i work with I-20 visa

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, There is nothing like the I-20 visa. It is F-1 visa that allows you on-campus employment of 20 hours per week.

kris asked, This may not fit the topic still. I am s/w engg. married since 18 months and expecting US business tour with spouse after 5-6 months. Do i need to show marriage certificate as a proof for marriage in front of US authority ? thanks

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, Yes.

Abhijeet asked, Hi, I am a an IT employee and I've worked for a well known IT company for about 4 years, also I've done my MS (Soft Engg.) I want to pursue an MBA degree from the best of the universities there and get a good job in the same fraternity. Could you kindly suggest the proper visa and tell any other important suggestions.

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, You have to get F-1 visa for your MBA and before you complete your degree, get an employer to sponsor you for H1-B if you are eligible. There are 20,000 annual quota for this category.

sameer asked, How much time it takes to get a green card after getting your H1B visa in USA?

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, This is an individual case by case situation. There is no precise answer on timing as there are several categories of immigrant visa options.

james asked, Hi arun before going to all these actually i just wanna know how many visas are there what we need to do in US basing on those visas and other most useful relating info of all these diferent visas

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, There are over 80 different types and sub-types of visas that cannot be described in a chat. Suggest you to read my book Gateway To America available at all major bookstores in India that gives comprehensive information on all kinds of US visas.

sam asked, Can u tell the chances of gettin a part time job in US..when studying..from 1st semester itself.. will that be enough for daily expenses and other

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, Twenty hours of week on campus is the only criteria allowed. Difficult to say about survival on this income as all depends on what you are paid and in which city you are. Bigger cities have higher cost of living.

abhayl asked, Hi, I have valid H1B visa for my current employer, But my company never sent me to USA on this visa, Now they want me to file for B1. My question is : can i hold both B1 and H1 ? if B1 got rejected, H1 will still valid or both gets rejected? If B1 got rejected, can i enter in US on existing H1 ?

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, One can have H1B and B1 at the same time but only one of them have to be active at the time of entry. If your B1 is rejected, H1 validity depends on whether the same employer is still willing to take you. It is highly a individual situation and will be evaluated by the immigration inspector at port of entry.

lakshman.Boppana asked, Sir, Could you please suggest me to study any Programme Which contains only one year duration; for that what are the minimum requirements to be fulfilled.

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, You will have to do research on the Internet to locate such universities. However, commercial pilot training is becoming very popular these days wherein study requirement is less than a year. Once you are through, you get fantastic income in India when you return.

dhruv asked, Hello sir, I have been admitted as a engineering freshman in 2 US universities. My first choice university is currently not offering any scholarship. But they would be reawarding scholarships and I might get a scholarship over there. In the meantime, can I initiate the visa process using the I-20 of my second choice university (where I have a scholarship) and switch to the other university later if I get a scholarship over there? Or do I have to stick with one choice only? Can I complete some parts of the process, like SEVIS and visa application fee, without having to mention my university?

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, You have to mention re: your university when you start SEVIS and visa process. You could change the university by informing the consulate before your departure if you have your papers in time and get their approval. Alternatively, after completing a year of study in the US, you can try for a change of university in the US with the concurrence of your first university.

pandyajitesh asked, How is the H1b Visa selection procedure this year? Will there be any more rounds of selection?

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, This time it is on the basis of random (lottery) selection. There is only one round of selection. No more.

Nik asked, Good Afternoon Arun, As a masters student are you allowed to work full time off campus during the summer period. Are you allowed to take up paid work during the summer? Thank you. Nik.

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, Yes, after taking permission from your foreign student advisor.

Samya asked, I am completing doctorate in wireless telecomm and getting opportunity to join as post doc in an A grade US University. Which visa is aprropriate for me? Can I work on that visa over there later on?

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, You have to continue with your F1 visa after getting approval from the USCIS through the designated officer of your university. You cannot work on this visa except 20 hours a week on campus.

c asked, Cant i stay in US for one more year after graduating, as part of OPT, even if no employee sponsers me for H1-B

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, If you have an employer to hire you for a year, you can stay legally on an F-1 visa as an OPT candidate.

further asked, sir, I was on H1 and shifted to F1. Started my course and came to India during winter break. I went for the stamping ar US consulate in chennai in december but the case was referred for further processing. Its been more than 5 months and it has not got thru. The consulat eis not giving any updates. Is there any forum or person whom i cna contact. I have lost a huge amount of money owing to this and also a year in my life as I am forved to take a break and continue next year. Please advise

Dr. Arun Vakil answers, You cannot appeal in such situation. Be in touch with the consulate constantly and I wish you luck.

Dr Arun Vakil has an MBA from the University of California, USA, and a PhD, partly from the University of Wyoming USA and University of Mumbai. He is an expert on US visa regulations. He has authored the book Gateway To America.