Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

hi everyone :)

I am thinking of doing MBA from USA. What I want to ask here is:

1- Should I go thru a consultant and let him do everything for me?

Or should I do the whole thing myself?

I have heard that American Emabassy would like if you do it urself and not take help from consultants. true?

2- Secondly I have spoken to a consultant here, just for the sake of information etc, and he told me that he will apply in the Unis, prepare my file, attach all required documents etc, but at the time of submitting my file in embassy, it would be "better" if I apply for the visa from my home country i.e. Pakistan and not from Abu Dhabi (UAE). I asked him why? He said chances of acceptance are more from home country. When i discussed this with my friend, he said, that doesnt seem right.

I am confused now. :confused:

The consultant firm that i have contacted is a recongnized one here, and have been in this field for quite many yrs. Should i doubt their expertise?

by the way let me tell you that i am not married (never married) and living in UAE on my own. My parents are back in home.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

You should never use a "consultant" for immigration. If you need help, you should only use an Immigration Attorney who has experience in what you are trying to do (in your case, US student visas).

If you have beeen accepted at a US university and have the I-20 form, I believe it's fairly easy to do the visa application on your own. But, since you are living in the Middle East and you are originally from Pakistan, you might have a bit more difficulty proving your case, so might be worth having a consultation with an Immigration Attorney to go over your case.

People typically apply for visas in their home country, unless they are resident in a different country. You don't say what your status is in UAE. What are you doing in UAE? How long have you lived there? What is your plan for returning home at the end of your studies? Can you fund your entire time as a student in the USA on your own? You will need to show you have the funds to do that, up front, including tuition, books, and living expenses.

It's also possible you could get put into Admin Processing which can take a very long time, so be prepared to go through the whole visa process and still miss the deadline for starting school in the USA.

Rene

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

I just read your past posts and see that you're working in UAE for the past 8 years. In that case, I'd say yes, you can apply for the student visa there in UAE. At least try there first. Keep in mind that UAE has the right to ask you to apply from your home country, but it can't hurt to apply from UAE first and see if they can accommodate you.

Rene

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

Hi Noorah thank you so much for the response.

yes i am here in UAE from past more than 8yrs. Actually i ll complete my nine yrs in Jan 2012. No issues if I apply from the embassay over here but I was denied Business and visit visa in past so i am kinda afraid of the embassy here :( . I feel they will deny my application everytime. i know it is silly to think like that.

Yes I will arrange money for my tuition. Actually i have a small property back in Pakistan which i am selling for this purpose. Plus my father is ready to sponsor me in case of any financial difficulties. I will have the sponsorship letter from him.

What i want to do after my studies: I have two options: 1- go back to home and find a job there. 2. come back to UAE and either find a new job or join my old employer back. my chances of securing a good job after my degree from US are high in both cases 1 and 2.

Regarding the consultant thing. The guy i met is the Business development Manager in an immigration company.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

Two things.

This probably won't help unless you are a dependent (as in 18 to ~22, "normal" college age) which it sounds like you aren't.

Unless it is an immigration law firm then be very skeptical. Immigration companies are, in general, able to take your money but not give much (if anything) in return.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

hmmmm..... this guy has asked me $2000 for his services.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

I disagree. The OP will need to show that she has sufficient assets to cover the entire cost of his tuition and her stay in the US - an affidavit of support from her father (along with supporting financial documents) is a perfectly reasonable way to help her meet that requirement regardless of her age.

I would be much more concerned about the OP's previous visa refusals, and the reason for them. She has to overcome the presumption of immigrant intent to get an F-1 and it sounds as if that may be an issue.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

Does this mean that you don't have a specific university in mind, that he is going to apply to various universities on your behalf and see what transpires, and will then apply for the visa for you? If that is so, I think you will be far more likely to get a place at the uni if you research the appropriate one for the course you wish to take and then "do it yourself." And apologies if I misunderstood your post.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

That'd be a good price for an immigration attorney. If the person isn't an immigration attorney, then it's $2000 too much.

Ian

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

Who is more likely to make absolutely certain that everything is processed properly - the person who desires to improve their life through higher education in America, or the person who will get paid $2000 regardless of whether or not the other person is accepted to an American university?

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

A Business Development Manager is not the same thing as an Immigration Attorney (even if the BDM works in an immigration attorney's office).

ONLY take advice and pay for the services of a real Immigration Attorney...NOT a Business Development Manager.

Rene

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

Well previously I had applied for Business Visa once (to take a training course at IAITAM). My salary was not that good, plus I had transferred some funds from my sister's account to mine. May be that unusual amount in my account made them doubtful.

Second time i had applied for visit visa, when my sister was travelling with her family for vacation. I was denied, do not know for actually what reasons but that lady in the embassy only saw my employment letter and bank statement. She didnt look at my other documents. She said she thinks I do not intend to come back. hmmm ... I was the last person in the lounge and may be she wanted to get rid of me so she could go home on time lol. just kidding ;-)

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

Well what happens is these consultants have their own few Unis listed, with whom they do business. So it is easy for them to process the applications thru those 3-4 Unis only. I told him that I have done my own research and selected 3 Unis which I liked the most coz of the curriculum they are offering plus they are affordable for me. So I want to apply in those Unis. He said he will consider them too. Not sure if he was serious.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

Yeah i know. I have decided that I am going to do it on my own :) - Thank you.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

The only reason I went to the consultant was coz as I said I am kinda afraid of this embassy now lol. I mean I have no intentions to be there in US for long time. I really cannot live so far away for so long. The reason why I want a degree from US is that the economy is slow worldwide. I do not see any professional and financial growth in my firm for at least next 2-3yrs. Already in the past 3 yrs we have got the minimum annual increments. I have tried to find new job but that has not worked so far. It is hard to find a "new" and "better" job. So i thought might as well I upgrade my education during this slow economy period. I can do it now since I am single and have no family liabilities. US education is very much valuable. actually hands down it is on the top. I am sure that the degree will give boost to my career and make further career path easier.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

"Second time i had applied for visit visa, when my sister was travelling with her family for vacation. I was denied, do not know for actually what reasons but that lady in the embassy only saw my employment letter and bank statement. She didnt look at my other documents. She said she thinks I do not intend to come back."

Your sister does not reside in the US, does she? If so, you will still have "red flags" for the embassy because it would appear that you may remain in the US over the time allowed on a granted visa.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

No my sister doesnt live in US. She lives here in UAE. Her husband and son are US citizens so they visit US once in a while.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

You have a pile of red flags:
* Home is a country where you don't have citizenship
* Female and unmarried
* Links to Pakistan
* Family members with US citizenship
* Previous visa denials

US colleges have an international student office with knowledge of the student visa system. I'd ask them for advice, maybe a referral to a US immigration lawyer as well. At all costs avoid the consultant.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

In review of this thread, there is a lot of information missing -- if it exists at all. OP provides no information of what MBA program he seeks to attend. There is no information on how that will advance his career outside of the US.

If I was still in practice, I would have no idea of what to answer here.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

He claims to be a she. I have seen no evidence to contradict this.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

Point taken. Although no ConOff will ever say this, one wonders if there will be a perception that the "MRS" is the goal rather than an "MBA." [This is a very old joke and no offense is meant -- I have two daughters with a PhD and a MSW.]

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

While I'm sure you believe this to be true (and there is much media hype to make you believe that the US is also the best country in the world in which to live/work), to quote Gershwin, "It ain't necessarily so!"

Ian

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

1- Thats what I asked in my original post that should I apply from Pakistan? I have no issues applying from there. Secondly over here in UAE, there are many many foreigners working here from many many yrs. They do not go to their home countries to apply for visas.

2- I cannot change the female and unmarried part. Not in my hands and i guess Embassy should understand this.

3- Yes links to Pakistan and something I will never want to change. I love that place from the core of my heart and will never change my indentity. There are many students who apply directly from Pakistan and they get their visa approved in first try. It is not that they dont give to Pakistanis but their security check can take some time. They can take their own time.

4- In that case I have many family members with US citizenship. But who is going to tell that in the embassy? Anyways i am not going to stay with any of them, not going to be dependant on them.

5- Yes denials in the past. but one can apply again and again. I know of cases where the visa was denied 7-8 times but it was approved at last.

I will definitely contact the international student office for more info. Right now i am preparing for GMAT.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

I am a she. :)

I am seeking for MBA with concentration in either GENERAL MANAGEMENT or INFORMATION SYSTEMS. I am currently working in IT dept. as an IT Asset Manager. My job is not technical but more on management side.

If you have a degree from US, you at least double your chances of finding a good paid job. This is the reality. I am seeing it here from yrs. A person with US degree is always hired on much high salary compared to a person like me who has a degree from her home country like Pakistan. I want to progress, grow in my career field. A stitch in time saves nine. as I said i have no liabilities currently. Once i am Married and have husband and kids, I can never persue studies.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

How about if I say that i want to experience the American way of life? I want to see what is so special about it that everyone talks about it. I have worked with Americans for like nine yrs now and I must say that I have liked most of them not for anything else but the way they keep theirselves calm and always confident in what they do.
I have been to China. What i saw there with my own eyes, what i learnt there with my own observation, no book or person could have told or taught me. As they say seeing is believing.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

Yes - talk to a couple of schools, pick one, get an I-20 from them and apply for a visa - it's as simple as that - and, no matter what you or anyone else might think your chances of actually getting the visa are, the one thing that you can be sure of is that if you don't apply then you definitely won't get one - you have nothing (other than the visa application fee) to lose by trying.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

A curious statement in the 21st Century. Is that a cultural/ethnic issue?

Ian

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

... or just a matter of personal preference - if the OP decides to devote her time to raising her children instead of just sending them off to a daycare center there will be a period of several (or, perhaps, many) years during which she won't have much time for anything else ...

(That was certainly the case for my mother ...)

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

The first thing would be to tour the campuses of the Universities you are interested in and see which would be the best fit and which ones will accept you.

A friend of mine who has a MBA told me that the name of the Uni is the most important aspect. No the Country it is in.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

lol nothing cultural. It is natural. Once a woman is married, her priorities in life change. Plus when you are raising kids, you have very less time for your ownself.

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

Well how do I tour the campuses when I do not have the visa?

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

You would spend $100,000 plus without the basics?

Re: Student Visa via Consultant or ... ?
 

I understand this well enough... but you said you could never pursue studies afterwards. My wife had kids and, after a while, recevied an MBA and a doctorate.

Ian