Advice on Difficulty of Renewing F1 Visa
May 28th 2004, 9:52 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Advice on Difficulty of Renewing F1 Visa
Hello, I am a Japanese international student currently in my senior
year of computer engineering at a California University. Here are my
details:
- I am a Japanese citizen born in Hong Kong
- I will be able to graduate no later than 3/2005 (14 quarter credits
to go until graduation)
- I have a valid Japanese passport until the year 2008
- My F-1 VISA expires 6/15/2004
- My SEVIS I-20 states that I will complete my education no later than
9/30/2005
- Both my I-20 and I-94 are stamped D/S
- My mother (Japanese) and father (Filipino w/ Green Card) are
separated and as such:
- My mother travels back and forth between our residences in the
Philippines (where my father used to work) and Japan (her home
country)
- my father is currently remarried in the USA to a US citizen. He has
a green card and has applied for citizenship.
- My sister (British citizen through her Hong Kong borth) is in the
U.S. on a working visa
- The financial documents I will provide will be from my mother, whch
is a US$ account in a Philippine bank and from my own US$ account in
California
- the above accounts will have sufficient funds for the duration of my
studies
- I contacted the US Embassy Tokyo and was told that I can waive the
personal interview (http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/visa/tvisa-20030717a1.html)
and renew by mailing in my documents from within Japan
- I have no criminal record
- I am in good standing at university with a 3.4 overall GPA
These are the relevant details that I can think of right now. My
question is: I am aware that I can legally stay within the US for the
duration of my studies, which should be no longer than March 2005.
However, I do not particularly like the idea of being "tethered" down
once my F1 visa expires this June 2004. I would like to be able to
return to Japan for the 3 summer months and renew my U.S. F-1 visa to
last me until my graduation date. However, I am concerned about my
father and my sister living/working in the U.S. and would like to know
if this would work against me in the visa renewal decision. Would it
be wise simply not to mention them?
How "risky" would it be for a person in my situation to renew my F-1
visa ?
Thank you very much for your time!
year of computer engineering at a California University. Here are my
details:
- I am a Japanese citizen born in Hong Kong
- I will be able to graduate no later than 3/2005 (14 quarter credits
to go until graduation)
- I have a valid Japanese passport until the year 2008
- My F-1 VISA expires 6/15/2004
- My SEVIS I-20 states that I will complete my education no later than
9/30/2005
- Both my I-20 and I-94 are stamped D/S
- My mother (Japanese) and father (Filipino w/ Green Card) are
separated and as such:
- My mother travels back and forth between our residences in the
Philippines (where my father used to work) and Japan (her home
country)
- my father is currently remarried in the USA to a US citizen. He has
a green card and has applied for citizenship.
- My sister (British citizen through her Hong Kong borth) is in the
U.S. on a working visa
- The financial documents I will provide will be from my mother, whch
is a US$ account in a Philippine bank and from my own US$ account in
California
- the above accounts will have sufficient funds for the duration of my
studies
- I contacted the US Embassy Tokyo and was told that I can waive the
personal interview (http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/visa/tvisa-20030717a1.html)
and renew by mailing in my documents from within Japan
- I have no criminal record
- I am in good standing at university with a 3.4 overall GPA
These are the relevant details that I can think of right now. My
question is: I am aware that I can legally stay within the US for the
duration of my studies, which should be no longer than March 2005.
However, I do not particularly like the idea of being "tethered" down
once my F1 visa expires this June 2004. I would like to be able to
return to Japan for the 3 summer months and renew my U.S. F-1 visa to
last me until my graduation date. However, I am concerned about my
father and my sister living/working in the U.S. and would like to know
if this would work against me in the visa renewal decision. Would it
be wise simply not to mention them?
How "risky" would it be for a person in my situation to renew my F-1
visa ?
Thank you very much for your time!
May 31st 2004, 12:27 pm
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 771
Re: Advice on Difficulty of Renewing F1 Visa
Quite risky, I would say. Since you have close relatives in the U.S., a consular officer may consider it an immigrant intent, even though you may not have it.
So, you may consider staying until the end of your studies plus a year of optional practical training.
Or, you may consider getting a visa in Mexico or Canada.
You may not omit information about your father and sister being in the U.S. on your non-immigrant visa application. When the information is found out, you will find yourself inadmissible to the States forever.
Good luck!
So, you may consider staying until the end of your studies plus a year of optional practical training.
Or, you may consider getting a visa in Mexico or Canada.
You may not omit information about your father and sister being in the U.S. on your non-immigrant visa application. When the information is found out, you will find yourself inadmissible to the States forever.
Good luck!
