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You have been accepted by a school in the US.
When must you apply for a student visa?
US visa expert Dr Arun Vakil, in a live chat with Get Ahead readers on February 9, said: "You can book 90 days before the commencement of your school in the US provided you have not got any other student visa before.
"Also there is a proposal to allow booking 120 days before."
Dr Arun Vakil has an MBA from the University of California, USA, and a PhD from the University of Wyoming, USA. He is an expert on US visa regulations. He was associated with the US consulate in Mumbai as an economist from 1974 to 1977.
Dr Vakil conducts orientation courses for students going to the US; these courses are organised by the United States Education Foundation in India and the Indo-American Society. He also lectures on US visas and immigration laws.
Dr Vakil wrote the book Gateway To America, in 1984.
For those of you who missed the chat, here is the transcript:
Part II: US visas: When to apply
rajesh: Hello SirNext Year I am plaaning to apply for a job in USA and work there for 3 years .So which VISA should I take.Hope you will answer me.Thanks
Dr Arun Vakil: You have to get an employer who will file for you. Go to nostops.org or visajobs.com for jobs.
dshashikanth: Dear sir, i have got H1b visa last oct and am planning to go US in June this year. so , do i face any problem in port of entry if am late? am not going early due to health problems.
Dr Arun Vakil: If you have employer letter stating that they have no objection to your joining now but no later than a specific date, you can do it.
parm: Sir can u please tell me if i go to usa in march on a visitor visa then cani apply for H1 visa over there and can u please tell me under which conditions a visitor visa is converted to H1 visa? thanks
Dr Arun Vakil: If you find an employer who is interested in you and if you qualify for an H-1B visa, he can apply for you. However, H-1B has a quota. The next lot begins only on October 1, 2006.
anand: Good evening Dr. Arun Vakil!! I need your help urgently. My F1 visa was issued on December 28, 2005 and I was supposed to join the university from January 2006. Now I will be joining from September 2006. Can I enter in August on my current visa? Or can I enter in June and then commence studies from September? Or is there any other alternative other than new visa? I got visa on fourth trial so I think it would be risky to go again there for new visa. Can I get permission from any other place other than the Mumbai Consulate such that I need to only send new I-20 and passport and don't need to go there?
Dr Arun Vakil: Your visa must be valid for two to four years. You could use this visa to enter later than the date of issue.
However, whenever you enter the US, you must carry valid I-20 that gives details of the university you are going to study and when your course begins.
Normally, you can enter the US no earlier than 30 days before commencement of classes.
VishalM: Hi ArunI am in IT. My B1 got rejected in september 2005. Will this thing adverslely effect my L1 and H1B applications. Can this affect my application for Visa of other countries also eg UK and AustraliaI also dont have my experience letter from one of my previous organisation though i have a releiving letter and resignation acceptence letter from them. Do you think it can become a hurdle when i file H1B
Dr Arun Vakil: A rejected B-1 will not affect an L-1 or H-1. A relieving/ resignation letter is no issue provided you meet requirements of H-1 visa.
Sanjay: i have green card, and after that came back to india from US in august 2003, I also have re-entry permit till august 2006, after coming here I have daughter who is now 2 years and 3 months old, what visa is required for her and how can i take her with me if I want to go to US before permit expiry?
Dr Arun Vakil: Go to the US Embassy, New Delhi, to the Immigrant Visa section with the birth certificate of your daughter and file a petition to immigrate her with you. However, you will have to show a US income to support your daughter.
shaikhubaba: once you get into usa with a student visa plus 1 yr work permit, how can you work there after this period is over and how long before you can come back without ruining ones chances
Dr Arun Vakil: You need to get an employer who will file H1-B temporary worker visa (valid for 6 years) for you before your study plus one year training gets over.
MSinCS: Is an I-20 form necessary even to book a visa appointment? Though I have an I-20 from one of the universities I applied to, I want to wait to hear from other universities. So keeping in mind the rush for appointments, I want to book an appointment as early as possible.
Dr Arun Vakil: Yes, I-20 is necessary to book a visa appointment. For students, emergency appointments are available if you inform VFS online or in person the date by which you have to be in the US to start your studies.
Rambwani: i got h1b visa in 2001 but couldnt go to usa as my company didnt call me. now i am again applying for the h1b visa. will my previous visa will help me in getting a visa this time or will it creat a negative impact
Dr Arun Vakil: Previous visas will have nothing to do with the new H1-B application. They may however ask you why you did not use it earlier.
taps: i want to send my mother on a visit to u s this month only can it be doneif yes how
Dr Arun Vakil: Unfortunately, there is a long waiting time for non-immigrant visa applicants for getting interview appointments.
You cannot send your mom this month. If you are in Mumbai, it would take three to four months to get visa interview appointment and there is nothing you can to do expedite this.
NT1717: Hi Good Evening. I have H1B visa of one Company, it's already stamped. But I never been in USA. At present I am in Australia. I left the company. I want go to USA. Can I go there without informing my Company.
Dr Arun Vakil: You need to get a job in the US first and then a H-1B visa from US consulate in Australia to proceed further. A good employee relationship suggests informing your current employer of your wish to move.
Priya: Hi i am Priya and i wiold like to apply h1. i am a post graduate and working as Finance Manager. my qualification is MBA Finanace, M.Com Accounts, BL and i heve done diploma in computer applications. i have work experience of 5 years with this qualification is it possible to get h1. Kindly advice me
Dr Arun Vakil: Good qualifications. You do qualify but you have to look for an employer. Visit nostops.org for details on employment possibilities.
amanshah: sir, Can i get a priority for visa if it involves only a name change in my visa as i already have 10 years visain my old name
Dr Arun Vakil: If you have a 10 year visa, you don't have to go to the consulate. You may only carry official documents indicating your change of name when you travel overseas.
deepak2: Really critical sir - my friends are management students and are representing india in a global competition next month in U.S. they went for the visa interview and got rejected inspite of possessing ALL documents including letter from university of washington who is taking care of all expenses, flight tickets everything. They need to leave on 24th . Please suggest what they should do . Really critical sir..if you dont find time now, you can also reply to dkbhatter@yahoo.com
Dr Arun Vakil: I need to see and study documents to comment on it. Contact me on ask@arunvakil4usvisas.com or arunvakil@gmail.com as this requires longer discussion not suitable in chat.
madhu1731: my consultant is charging more than 3 lacs rupes so plz tell me it is reasonable
Dr Arun Vakil: Not making sense. What is the consultancy about?
Rekha: HELLO MR. ARUN. I am a Graduate in B.Tech (IT). I have taken GRE(1130) and TOEFL (230). I got a admit form FLORIDA. What Preparations I need to be considered for getting STUDENTS VISA.
Dr Arun Vakil: Study my Web site www.arunvakil4usvisas.com and also my book called Gateway To America available through shweta@indoamericansociety.org.
Rahul: I have a B-Arch, Architectural Doctorate (Not A Ph.D.)USA, Doctor of Communication Design (Not A Ph.D.), USA , current finishing my MBA from SP Jain Mumbai, can I apply for a National Interest waiver Green Card?
Dr Arun Vakil: There is a good chance but let a professional person study your case and advise you on this.
Nischal: tis is nischal..i hav applied for my masters.so do i need my i 20 for abookin a visa slot?
Dr Arun Vakil: Yes. You do.
satya: Hi, I am Satya from Vizag. I got postdoctoral fellowship from US Univ which sponsored cap exempt H1 B visa.I want to know1. How much time does it take for petition to get approve from USCIS if it was initiated in jan 2006.2. Can i apply for emergency visa appointment 3. Whats the chance of getting Visa if the fellowship amount is 30000 us 4 per annum
Dr Arun Vakil: Petition approval is subject to where it is filed in the US. Each filing centre has different clearance dates. You can apply for emergency appointments only in the case of death and accident cases. You should not have a problem with regard to the finance part since you are getting good fellowship.
Sridhar: Hello Doctor Arun, my brother attended for H1B visa, but he doesn't exact number of US company employees. So gave some wrong information to visa officer, so he gave him 221g Admin. process last 6 months back. Is there any chance of getting visa?
Dr Arun Vakil: It depends on what is written on 221g. Anything gone in the administration process takes a long time of six to eight months. Maybe more. Depends on individual cases.
anuradha: Hello Dr.Vakil , My husband is planning to apply for H1 this year.He also has a prospective employer in US and also an offer letter from him. However my husband has jumped 2 companies in 2004. One of the employers did not give him his exit letter.(he worked there for 3 months only and he quit as there were no projects)Is it OK to say that he was not employed during that period? His employer in US says its not a big issue.Please advice
Dr Arun Vakil: As long as he has the documents to show that the US employer is interested in him for his experience and education and will pay the prevailing wages in the US, there should not be any problem.
P.Shah: Sir, my uncle is a us citizen. He stays there since 1966. What are the possibilities to get the immigrant visa for myself. Can my dad first apply for the immigration visa on he basis of blood relation with my uncle, and thereafter, I can apply for the same. What is the approx time taken to process these type of applications. Thanx.
Dr Arun Vakil: Immigration through family takes a very long time. Your uncle has to apply first for your dad, which will take 12 years. Then when he goes there, he applies for you which may take another six to eight years. It is not worth it. Apply for a student visa or a visit visa on your own merit.
senamit_s: Hi, Dr. Arun, I have a valid B1 VISA upto september 2006, if I go for a H1B stamping before that, then will my B1 VISA be lapsed?
Dr Arun Vakil: If you get H-1B visa stamped, your valid B1 visa may be cancelled without any prejudice stamp.
Gauravsharma: Hello Mr. Arun, Is there any way by which an Ayurvedic Doctor (M.D.-Ayurvedic Medicine) can get Visa for U.S.
Dr Arun Vakil: There is no special category for ayurvedic doctors. Depending on the purpose of the visit, the appropriate visa can be given.
antiansweet: helo sirmy sister is in usa she is working in USA as a teacher in GA Atlanta. she is holding an H1 visa. its valid till sep 2007. I would like to get a visiting visa and and visit their family. So could u plse halp me in the documents which i need to present from both mine as well as her end for the same.
Dr Arun Vakil: Read my book Gateway To America which will give you all details. Contact shweta@indoamericansociety.org.
udhay: Hi! I have applied to US universities for Fall 2006. Can you tell me when I can book my VISA Interviews?
Dr Arun Vakil: You can book 90 days before the commencement of your school in the US provided you have not got any other student visa before.
Also there is a proposal to allow booking 120 days before. Keep watching the web site www.vfs-usa.co.in.