bobby_1234

Hi,

I am supposed to be starting gradschool in the US, but also have the option of going in the UK instead. I've been trying to make up my mind for some time now (too long), and have decided to go visit the university in the US to make my mind up the week after next. The problem is I won't be back in England until July 17th and I am supposed to be arriving to gradschool mid August, and I haven't started the F1 Visa app yet.

How long does it usually take to process the F1 Visa? Am I too late now anyway? (if this is the case, guess I'm staying in the UK anyway). I have the I-20 form and all that, but don't really want to shell out $200 on the SEVIS fee unless I'm committed for definite.

Suppose I got to the US and did like it (I would know this by July 5th, after a few days walking around), would it be possible for me then to pay the SEVIS fee online, come back to the UK on July the 17th, have my interview at the US embassy, and then be ready to move over there by mid August?

Thanks for any help

henryh

That should be enough time if you have all the necessary forms. The London embassy has a ~1 week wait for appointments at the moment.

md95065

Yes, it should be possible for you to delay making a final decision until mid July.

Since you already have the I-20, the rest of the F1 visa application process is really very straightforward assuming that you can demonstrate your ties to the UK and your intention to return there at the completion of your studies.

Not only can you pay the SEVIS fee online while you are still in the US, you should also be able to call and schedule your F1 visa interview at the embassy in London before you return to the UK. The wait time for the interview should be less than 2 weeks and you can expect to get your passport back with the visa in it within 2 or 3 days of the interview.

This is exactly what a friend of mine did last year.

By the way, I think that what you are doing is very sensible - I can't imagine committing to spending several years in the US without having at least visited the place where I was planning on staying.

bobby_1234

Thanks for the replies, put my mind at ease, cheers.

bobby_1234

I still havent done this, and would need to be there before August 17th. Is it still possible if I pay the SEVIS fee online now, to get an interview and visa posted to me before then? Is there any number I could call at the embassy to check how long they would take etc?

ian-mstm

If you file now you *might* get lucky... it not, there's nothing you can do to speed it up at this late date. Sadly, procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on their part!

Ian

bobby_1234

Well It's tricky you see because I have a choice between UK uni and US uni, but I would need to know for definite that I can get the visa in time before contacting the US uni to tell them I'm coming. So I understand that I may not be able to get it at this stage because it's took me so long to decide, and that is fine, I just need a way to find out if it will arrive in time before I say yes to US, no to UK. Was hoping there'd be a way I could just ring and they'd say yeah should be able to get it done by such and such time, so then if it is too late I'll stick with the UK uni afterall.

I looked on the website and seen 3 days?

md95065

You already have the completed I-20, right?

If that is the case then just pay the SEVIS fee on line and call the appropriate number to schedule your visa interview - that is the only way of knowing for sure when your interview will be. You will probably get your passport back with the visa in it within 5 working days of your interview.

So, yes, you probably just still have enough time if you act now.

Worst case it takes a little longer to get the visa and you show up in the US a few days late - inconvenient but probably not the end of the world.

I am more concerned about the fact that you don't really seem to have decided what you want to do. If you want to go to the US university then get that SEVIS fee paid now and make it happen - if you aren't sure then just forget it.

bobby_1234

Yeah I have the completed I20. I can schedule the appointment first right, before paying the $200 to SEVIS? just so I know the interview will be in time.
Unfortunately my stipend depends on me being there for the TA training on the 17th, so it would be the end of the road if I was late for this.

I know this is a ridiculous situation that could have been avoided by acting sooner, but I just havent been able to fully commit myself with confidence. I even went out to the US to check out the university and thought after that I would 100% know, but I still had doubts about actually living there. The main catch for me is that the UK PhD is only 3 years, but US typically 6, so it's a huuuge committment for me, since my doubts are that when the honeymoon period of living abroad weres off I may wish Id done the shorter UK option.

I think the interview schedule number closes at 4PM so will have to wait yet another day

AdobePinon

Just get off your ass and do it. Tell the university that you'll be there on time -they're not going to give your place away if you're a little late. As for the 6 year thing... you'll get a better education out of it, so don't fret it. If things go right you may still be out in 4.5 to 5 anyway.

So in short, get your crap together. This noncommitment thing is not going to serve you well on either side of the pond.

The_English_Bride

Which University/State are you hoping to go to? (Just curious!)

I did the TA/Grad school thing too. It won't matter if you're a little late. We had one or two people who couldn't be there for all the training, and they weren't coming from the UK like me.

Your doubts do concern me a little. Did you come out and visit the place like you said? If so, what makes you unsure still? If i'm honest, and I don't really want to confuse you more but, if I had to do it again i'd probably have stayed in the Uk and studied there. Or, I would have gone to a different Uni/State out here. Six years is a long enough time to commit to one place if it's not quite right for you.

bobby_1234

Well it's a uni in California. I did come out and visit and I loved the place, imagined the lifestyle would be amazing and so on, I have no doubts about that bit. My doubt comes in when I wonder if I should just do the UK PhD (which is in a dull uninteresting city without being too specific), then after it's over try and get out to the US on a postdoc which would just be 2 years, so give me a much smaller taster. Part of me think if I dont do it now though I never will I suppose. Suppose I am little anxious about socialising with solely Americans and giving up old friends/family etc for such a long time too deep down, but that is more of a irrational emotional thing than anything else.

Which uni/state did you go to The_English_Bride? what makes you have wished you did it in the UK?

I rang the embassy anyway, and it seems if I book today/tomorrow they could fit me in for interview next week, then get it back to me 5-10 days after that, so seems I'd just make it, if I acted today or tomorrow.

The_English_Bride

I'm in West Virginia, so not exactly cali! I think in the right area I could be happy, and that area may well be cali for you! I had the option to study in the UK or in the US, just like you but I had my heart set on coming to the US. I sometimes think staying in the UK would have been better because I've had a tumultuous time here for one reason or another, and i'm not keen on the area - there's not much to do, it's somewhat run down, crime etc. Plus, I really miss my family and friends back in the UK and feel that I could have gotten a perfectly good degree there and been well on my way to a decent job.

I want to point out that you could have a wonderful experience, and there is something to be said for taking opportunities like this when they arise. US immigration is not easy and there are limited paths. I guess my advice would be to make sure you really like the area and if you decide to go, really put yourself out there and enjoy everything you can. I still think six years is a long time, but if you go out there and love it, you might be glad that you have the privilege of spending six years there!

If you go and you hate it, can you go back to the UK and study there instead? Maybe transfer credits back? Even if you can't do that, it's not like you would have wasted any time, since the UK degree is so much shorter than the US one would have been.

Bill_S

It will be much easier to get a good US postdoc position if you do your Ph.D. in the US.

meauxna

There aer a lot of non-Americans living here too. In fact, a university is one of the likeliest places to find them!
(and the Americans are not too bad to socialize with)