Student Visa Experiences

After initial approval in US consulate in Dubai, they requested for OFAC license (2 months later). This caused to lose my university award and allocated fund.

Surprisingly, OFAC section in Treasury Department responded that I do not need such license simply because I am Iranian.
I sent their response to the embassy and they confirmed that they had received required information. Indeed, they had done a mistake in their visa process.
Anyway, it has been more than six months after our interview, and I am waiting for visa clearance.

Please help me on this issue.

entered cabin. and stood in front of the glass.... there was cute young lady sitting behind the glass said hello mam and the interview started.

consulate officer(CO): hello mam
me: hello mam good morning
CO: wat is your percentage
me: said
CO: when did you passed out
me: said
CO: wat did you do from then
me: worked inXXX company as an XX
CO: which university
me:XXX university
CO: tell me abt the university
me: it has very acadamic standards, the location of the university is almost as my home town
most of the professors hold Ph.D. the course includes....
CO: any back logs?
me: no mam
CO:did you apply for any other universities
me:yes mam...4
co: did you get admits?
me: yes all 4
CO: then why did you chose this university
me: got positive reviews from my seniors and my professors
CO: then why did you apply for other universities?
me: we cannot depend in only on one I20 ..so I've applied for others also
CO:what is your father?
me:working as XX in XXX
CO: your father income:
me:said
CO: why only XXX major ?
me:I'm interested from my childhood about the subject. that is the reason why i selected it as my major in bachelors and also i want to study in depth.

She said wait for a moment and asked some other officer standing behind her about me(the mic was off, so couldn't hear)
after talking to him, she turned on the mic and said "i'm sorry this time we cannot issue a visa this time " and gave me 214b paper.


guys, everything depends on luck, two others who came with me also got rejected,....I hope the best for you all...

Hey everybody.
I love this website, thanks to all of you for sharing your experience.
I'm going to schedule the interview soon. I am expecting for the I-20 which was already mailed out to me from an international university in FL. and in a few days will need to submit my application.
The university didn't require me to take TOEFL or any other certificate of English prof, I already got higher education and my major is English and literature where all my curriculum classes were delivered in English. Will that be a problem in the embassy?
I understand that i have to stay cool, positive, confident and convincing. Usually i don't have problems with that.
My biggest concern is the fact that my boyfriend, who is the US citizen is my sponsor...
Did anybody had a situation like that, where the sponsor is a US citizen who is not your relative? Is there a chance to get the visa? if yes, what kind of documents would be useful in the embassy regarding that?

Please email me if you have any experience to share capitowik@mail.ru
Kindest regards.

Prior to my Wife's and child visa interview , I was keep on browsing the net for J2 dependent visa experiences, but i was not able to find any threads.
Recently they went for visa interview and got the visa. I thought it would be nice to post the visa experience as it helps to some one. Visa counselor asked only 4 questions .

V.O: What is your husband's annual income?
My wife: She replied how much i am getting.
V.O: What is your qualification?
My wife: MS in Biotechnology
V.O: Do have any research or industrial experience?
My wife: No,i dont have but i have teaching experience and i worked as a lecturer for 3 years.
V.O: Are you going to work in US?
My wife: No, i am going to take care of my child
V.O: How long you will be there in US?
My wife: For a period of six months.
V.O: Will you come back to india after that and you know about the HRR rule
My wife: Yes , i will come back to india and explined about HRR rule
V.O: Congrats, your visa is sanctioned
My wife: Thanks

No questions to my child..

I hope it helps to someone.............

My visa interview was on 25th July'11.
I got a pink form wth a case number on it.
After two days my passport was returned with a slip saying-SAO was not drafted-donkey.

What should I do?
My semester starts from 17th August & only few days are left.

This is the information I found on the internet

Visas Donkey
A Visas Donkey is requested when there is a direct "hit" on the visa applicant's name in the CLASS system. This type of SAO is requested if, for example, the applicant's name is a direct match to that of a known terrorist. It is impossible to know whether or not an applicant will be subject to this particular SAO unless the person has been subjected to one previously. The Visas Donkey SAO request can take months to process, and there tends to be no predictable period within which this kind of SAO request is resolved. . Once a Visas Donkey SAO is issued, it is valid for three months.

Plz advice me on this....

hello,
I had my interview on july 21st and was rejected under section 214(b). The VO rejected the applicant before me and i was very tensed as she was rejecting and her face expression was very bad. IT was my turn now. This is how it went

VO: (didn’t wished me, with seriousness on her face) your passport?
me: hello mam (handed my passport)

VO: hello( started typing something)

VO: why XXX university
me: becoz the department and faculty members over there are very good and quite supportive.

VO: and?
me: it has a good rank in princeton review and it is a tyre 2 school. and also my brother studied over there

VO: what is your percentage?
me: distinction and my overall aggregate is 71%

VO: what is your brother doing?
me: he is working in XXX company

VO: (shocked and repeated the companies name again. as it was the top 3 fortune companies of the world) give me your brothers passport copy.
me: yes sure mam.. handed the passport copy

VO: whats your GRE
me: told

VO: (concentrated on my brother’s passport copy) how much u got verbal?
me: answered. i did’t concentrated much on this as the university do not require GRE.

VO: (typing..after 10-15 secs) this time your VISA is not approved you are under section 214(b) and handed me a white sheet.
me: shocked that i was rejected

i didn’t knew what was 214 b at that time.. can any one tell me that who ever got rejected under section 214 b has a stamp on their passport or any remarks in their passport. As in my passport nothing is mentioned. Will they have a record of this or not? as i don’t have any stamp or remark on my passport. If i re apply what should i mention in my DS- form

Hi,
I had my visa interview on June 17th 2011 at the Mumbai consulate.
It was rejected under 214(b)

VO: Why are you going to America?
Me: To pursue BS in Computer Science
VO: Which university?
Me: Mississippi State University
VO: Why MSU?
Me: I liked the curriculum of MSU, MSU is a well-known university from USA and I also received positive feedback about it.
VO: Positive feedback from where?
Me: From Students studying over there and from the internet.
VO: What did you learn from the internet?
Me: I learned about the courses offered at MSU, it's faculty and infrastructure.
VO: Based on your answers, I regret I'm not able to approve your visa at this time. I'll hand you a letter explaining why your visa wasn't approved.. blah.. blah.. blah..

My husband is on f1 since jan 2011, i had applied for f2 last month, but denied undersection 214b, i think i had given some unclear answere to the officer for which she denied my visa, now again i had applied for the same visa this month again denied for the same reason 214b but for no guinuine reason i had all the documents.

My VISA interview was scheduled on 26th Aug 2010 at 9.30 am in Mumbai.

I bought coupon of the Stars and Stripes lounge, a facility offered by VFS Global Services. They gave the guidance about security check-up and all, and these people said NO to my folder in which I have arranged my docs properly. They said this folder will not be allowed inside the embassy......
Thank God!!! I was having a small paper folder with me. So I have arranged all my documents once again. (Not a good sign to start with... )

They took all 9.30 interview time people at Consulate by their vehicle at around 9.15 am. We got direct entry to check up facility.

1) Keep the Passport and Interview appointment letter in hand.
2) You need to remove your belt and watch before security check-up.
3) They will give you wooden stick. Keep it in your pocket till you come out.
4) You will get your Docs (which you have submitted b4 at VFS center....(I guess this is only applicable for Mumbai consulate only) back along with pink Token. The lady directed me to #2 counter for Finger prints. #1 and #2 window was for taking finger prints only.
5) After finger prints I sat on the chair in the waiting area for my token no (I got # 947) to announce.
6) I started talking to the guy seated next to me, He said he wanted to join film school in LA at Columbia College Hollywood……Coo l !! . After waiting for 5-10 min his no was announced. After 2 min. only he came out with smile.
7) After 10 mins. I heard the announcement as # 946 , # 947 and # xyz bla bla bla … come to Window # 7
8) I was 2nd in the queue.
9) The 1st guy got rejection, my heartbeat started bumping. Then I just closed my eyes for a sec and said “All is well” and stand in front of the lady.
10) Now here is the conversation –
Me: Hello, Good morning mam!
VO: Very Good morning!!
VO: which university?
Me: XYZ
VO: What?
Me: XYZ (little loudly) and also told where it is situated.
VO: Which course?
Me: ABC
VO: What is this course about?
ME: explained …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
And she listened to my long answer.
VO: Ohe, ok good. (Now my confidence is increased)
VO: Have you applied to any other universities
Me: Yes, XYZ
VO: looked in my I-20 form, and asked so you got XXXXX scholarship? What is this scholarship?
Me: Yes Mam’, this is Merit Scholarship.
VO: What is the basis to decide the scholarship?
Me: bla bla bla
VO: So Can you show me the example of your work?
Me: No Mam , But I can explain you with example. Also I can show any other documents if you want to see (She didn’t ask for any other documents that generally people asked for, and asked something which I didn’t bring with me. I thought my wicket is gone…)
VO: Explain
Me: Bla bla bla ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(This time much longer explanation and she waited till I finish.)I was so much involved in explaining that my hands were active in the air while explaining.
VO: ok, so you develop products.
Me : Yes mam
VO: Whats you previous degree ?
Me : XYZ
VO: How much % you got ?
Me : Mam we get the grades in GPA , and my GPA is XXXX
VO: Don’t you know equivalent to how much percentile?
Me : No Mam
VO: Whats your GRE Score ?
Me: There is no need to give GRE for this course if your previous degree education is in English.
VO: looked in PC for few sec. and wrote “A” on my documents with her.
VO: So Kiran, Whats your plan after coming back to India?
Me: Mam bla bla bla ……
VO: That’s very nice intention
Me: Thank you Mam
VO: You will get your Passport back in 2-3 working days.
Me: Thank you Mam
VO: Have a nice day
Me: Thank you Mam ………..And I came out with smiling 
That’s it and I got the approval. She didn’t ask /checked for a single doc (except my work example, which I was not having with me) Not asked for any financial docs or anything ………….

HI

16th Aug 2010 MOrning
i reached there by 07:00 Am
my sceduled time is 08:30 Am

i had seen it was very crowdy

i got a call of 8:30

then i went with doc

after a Security Checkup

i got slip for interview
i got P60 number


dn going throught from photograph and finger prints

i got a seat in front of the que


there were almost 50-55 students

and one counslar started taking interview and he refused 25-30 candidates in 5-10 min (record)......

then couple of windows opened and started taking interviewz

then number of refusals starts increasing
no one got viSa

then i was called by smone for interview

i went
counslar cautions me to come to window as sm1n is already arguing him for refusal

then
Me: i asked him Gud Morning Sir
VO: ----------No Reply ----------

VO : &%^&#*(#&( School ***** (I did't get what he said he was out of the reach of MIc)
ME : SORRY I DID NOT GET U SIR

VO ; ***************** WHICH**********(SAME PROB AGAIN)
mE : ITS NOT AUDIBALE OUTSIDE COULD U PLEASE SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER

VO: U ARE GOING TO BRIDGEPORT Y?
mE ; ITS ONE OF THE REPUTATIVE UNI AND HAD CONSIST OF LOTS OF RESEARCHERS OF MY FIELD

VO ; IN WHICH COURSE ?
ME : WIRLESS AND MOBILE COMUNICATION THE MAJOR AND RARE COURSE THROUGHT OUT THE COUNTRY

VO ; BUT HERE IT IS.....
ME ; IT IS MS. IN COMPUTER ENGG BUT THE MAJORS OF THIS COURSE IT MOBILE COM

VO; EXPRESSIONS ARE ......................HE GOT CONFUSED ND ENABLE TO UNDERSTAND ............ACTUALYY I WAS UNKNOW TO THIS FIELDS
ME ; ..........SILENCE...........

VO ; R U WORKING SM WR?
ME : YEH WITH AN N.G.O
AGAINST CHILD LABOUR

VO ; SORY SIR U ARE NOT APROPRIAT STUDENT .......
I CAN'T ALLOW U

'''''''''''PLEASE HELP ME AND TELL ME WHAT SUD I DO
DO I TAKE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AGAIN'''''''''''
@MAIL___: GOLDY_CAD@YAHOO.CO.IN