From: soapy@cs.utexas.edu (Nandit R. Soparkar) Newsgroups: alt.visa.us,soc.culture.indian Subject: f1 visa renewal / extension summary (longish) Keywords: f1 visa renewal extension summary Message-ID: Date: 7 Aug 93 03:25:31 GMT following is a compilation of responses etc. that constitutes my summary. for those who wanted to know - my original intent to go to juarez was to get the f1 extension here - and not to have to bother with it when i went to an upcoming conference. however, since the plans for my attending the conference have been shelved, it appears pointless. my reading is that if one has the necessary documents etc., one can get a renewal on an f1 visa in india itself. in fact, unless there is some reason to believe it is going to be refused, going to mexico seems a waste of time. i have more or less decided to get extended my f1 visa when i next visit india. finally, in the cases that a visa extension was not granted, it seems that the grounds for refusal have been whimsical - i.e., no serious reasons... thanks to the those who responded - i am posting this without permission from you all. hope this helps. - nandit ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: kmitra@poly.edu (Kunal Mitra) Subject: Multiple Entry F1 from Canada Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1993 14:03:20 GMT Hi Netters, Its quite easy to get multiple entry F1 visa from Toronto. I did this few days back. Lot of people are calling me or sending me email. I myself before going was not confident. But its pretty simple if you have proper documents. You can call me at (718) 237 1895 or send me mail : kmitra@prism.poly.edu >From gopal@as.arizona.edu Mon Aug 2 14:44:18 1993 From: gopal@as.arizona.edu (Gopal Narayanan) Subject: Re: another question... Hi Nandit, I've never taken Mexican Visa the times I've been to Mexico. I wouldn't worry about it at all. No one checks you as you enter the Mexican border. When you reenter the US you'll be fine with your F-1 renewed and your passport in hand. Just for a day, I wouldn't bother with the Mexican visa. Hope that helps. -Gopal. >From jreddy@capella.cup.hp.com Mon Aug 2 19:24:53 1993 Subject: Re: f1 visa renewal in india Hi Nandit, I got my f1 visa in India without any problems, in 08/92. Of course, I took a letter of continued financial support from my advisor and also, my I-20 said that my date of graduation would be 08/93. The consulate officials didn't ask me any questions. hope this helps, -Jyothy jreddy@cup.hp.com >From kdhole@enuxha.eas.asu.edu Mon Aug 2 20:28:46 1993 From: Kiran Dhole Subject: Re: f1 visa renewal in india Hi there, I got my F-1 renewed in Oct. 1992 in Bombay. All I had to do was to give my I-20, some photos,passport, $100 fee(paid in Rs.) at the front counter , which is on the street, i.e., no interview at all. I came back at 4PM on the same day and collected my new visa. My case was : Transferred student Bye, Kiran >From sundara@reef.cis.ufl.edu Mon Aug 2 20:31:31 1993 From: "Balaji Sundara" Subject: Re: f1 visa renewal in india My friend from UCF, Orlando got his visa extended in Calcutta in May. He had absolutely no problem, in spite of the fact that he is graduating this fall. I myself am going to get it extended this month. Let me see what happens. Balaji >From sankaran@morticia.Princeton.EDU Mon Aug 2 08:28:49 1993 From: "Dr. Subramanian Sankaran" Subject: Re: regarding your posting... Hello nandit: This is all the information Sundeep Kumar sent me; may be you can contact him at kumar@cs.ep.utexas.EDU (at your node itself!) for more specific questions; with best wishes, sincerely, Subramanian Sankaran. 8/2/1993. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >From kumar@cs.ep.utexas.EDU Wed Feb 26 00:02:57 1992 From: kumar@cs.ep.utexas.EDU (Sundeep Kumar #2) To: sankaran@phoenix Subject: Visa Hi, I am an F-1 student. I recently visited india and applied for a multiple at madras. However I had been refused at Juarez mexico once before. The madras counsulate did not give me the visa in the first visit. Later they told me to get a clearance from the US counsulate in Juarez mexico. I had some of my friends here in the US drive up to Juarez, mexico, to get a clearance and Fax it to the counsulate. Then i was called for an interview and grilled about how I crossed borders etc. Then finally I was given a One year multiple. All this took about one month, from Dec 20 to Jan 20. sundeep >From karrot@fubar.cs.montana.edu Mon Aug 2 23:22:31 1993 Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1993 22:21:45 -0600 From: karrot@fubar.cs.montana.edu (John G. Karrot) Subject: F-1 renewal Hi : When I went for my F-1 renewal in Jan at Calcutta, there were no problems. Recently, 2 of my friends have been rejected. They have completed an MS & are currently getting their second. It seems that the official said that getting one is sufficient & that he was sure that they would not return. We are in the process of mailing them additional documents stating that they need to be here. John >From kurdikar@ecn.purdue.edu Tue Aug 3 09:36:38 1993 From: kurdikar@ecn.purdue.edu (Dev) Subject: Re: f1 visa renewal in india I renewed my F1 visa in bombay last December. No problem, just drop off your passport, 2 pictures, and a form at a counter and pick it up in the evening. Of course, don't forget the Rs 2900 fee. But the nice thing is that you get a F1 visa valid for 5 years and multiple entries. Devdatt Kurdikar Chemical Engineering, Purdue University >From kurdikar@ecn.purdue.edu Tue Aug 3 10:03:47 1993 From: kurdikar@ecn.purdue.edu (Dev) Subject: Re: f1 visa renewal in india I have been 4 years in the US. I renewed my F1 last December. >From sundarar@eecs.umich.edu Tue Aug 3 11:13:10 1993 From: Mohan Subject: Re: f1 visa renewal in india In my experience, there is no real problem getting your F1 renewed - it will cost you $50 to $100 depending on how much longer you want to stay in the US (on that visa). I got my visa renewed twice in the last 3 years, at Madras, once with 4-6 months left on my I-20, and once with lots of years left on my new PhD I-20. So don't worry - you should be able to come back without any problem if you go home now. Good luck Mohan >From sundarar@eecs.umich.edu Tue Aug 3 11:36:08 1993 From: Mohan To: soapy@cs.utexas.edu Subject: Re: f1 visa renewal in india The first time, I had been here for a little less than a year, the next time, I had been here for 2 yrs. >From roy@CS.MsState.Edu Wed Aug 4 15:44:09 1993 From: roy@CS.MsState.Edu Subject: Re: your visa query... Hi nandit, I am including below the responses I got for my visa query. It seems that there is a good chance of getting a visa extension from canada or mexico. I am planning to go to India sometimes in December. But I am still undecided about when to make a trip for mexica/canada... Any way thanx and Best of Luck..... Bye.. Sandeep --------------------- Begin included message --------------------------------- >From hvadalia@prism.poly.edu Thu Jul 1 12:39:59 1993 From: hvadalia@prism.poly.edu (Hiteshkumar Vadalia) Subject: Re: F-1 Visa extension from India Please contact Kunal Mitra who is planning to leave for canada on July 4. His purpose is same as yours i.e., extension of F-1 visa. His e-mail address is kmitra@prism.poly.edu tel # is (718) 237 1895 Good luck. >From dbeke@tasha.poly.edu Thu Jul 1 14:13:10 1993 From: A1 devendra beke (civil) To: roy@cs.MsState.EDU ear Sudip Hello..As soon as I saw your posting, I wanted to give you a clear warning.. Theses days it's almost impossible to get VISA from Calcutta consulate, and thus if you are trying, please think of it.. A friend of mine Pranav Prakash had come in Dec.90. He went to India in Dec.92, at that time his VISA was expired.(Oct.92) He thought, as he was supposed to finish his MS within next 6 months, and he had I-20 showing funding from School, didn't bother too much. Unforunatelly he was denied his VISA on some filmsy grounds..His 2 chances have gone abortive, and no longer he can come here to finish his MS.. The story does not end here. NY Senator Daniel Patric Moynihan, who served as an Ambasedor to India, 1974-78, had given a letter to him, saying that consulate should help him. In turn Consulate sent a reply to his office, saying that Pranv is potential e mmigrent and on this text, they no longer can give him VISA. Another person from cornell recently had said, that his friend was denied VISA in Bombay. or else, although had full scholarship..(basu@cs.cornell.edu) Think about it.. All the BEST (DEVENDRA P BEKE) >From mohammad@icaen.uiowa.edu Thu Jul 1 14:16:52 1993 From: Ejaz Mohammad Subject: Re: F-1 Visa extension from India I came last year from India. With me , there were many who were applying for F-1 visa extension. And as far as I know, they all got it. So may be , you better check again with the source of info for the validity of the news that it is difficult to get visa nowadays. Only key point is that you should have enough funding. Ejaz >From shnanu@rpi.edu Thu Jul 1 16:02:34 1993 From: Unni Mr Krishnan Subject: Re: Getting F-1 visa extension I dont see any problem to go on F1 and come back provided u have not graduated Good Luck They gave me visa without interview . >From mahadev@ecn.purdue.edu Thu Jul 1 16:28:29 1993 From: mahadev@ecn.purdue.edu (Vadali Mahadev) Subject: Re: Getting F-1 visa extension Hello: I was in India recently (March '93) and had no problem in getting a visa. No questions were asked. Also, my visa extension was only for 2 months. Inspite of that they did not ask any questions. However, I got my visa at the Madras consulate. I also had heard some stories like that before I left for India, but the day I went for my visa I dont know of a case where a student visa was denied. Hope this helps...Have a nice trip and dont bother about going through all the hassels of getting a visa from canada or some other place before going to India. Not worth the trouble. It is just a simple business transaction, pay $$ and get your visa... Mahadev o WHY TAKE CHANCES. Bye Saborna> >From ashutosh@engr.LaTech.edu Sat Jul 3 22:06:20 1993 From: ashutosh@engr.LaTech.edu (Ashutosh Srivastava) Subject: F1 visa I would say it is easier to get your F1 extended here itself. Just talk to your International Student Advisor, he will do the rest, or atleast direct you to the proper person. You don't have to do anything after that. Kindly let me know whatever you find out about this because I will be applying for an extension myself later this year. Thanks, Ashutosh. >From banerjee@cs.utk.edu Sun Jul 4 01:21:56 1993 Subject: Visa From: Himadri Banerjee Sandeep, I saw ur posting in the net. Although it is very tough these days to get a visa from Calcutta. But it is very unlikely for them to deny visa for continuing students. Several of my friends went home recently and no one of them has been rejected because they were continuing students. But US consulate has rejected lots of F1 visas for first time applicants. That lady in the US Consulate in Calcutta was about to refuse visa to one of my friend but when she found out he was a continuing student, she told him you are very lucky that u r a contunuing student otherwise I was about to deny ur visa. So I think you will be fine. If you want to know what happened in details u can contact that friend of mine, Hemanta De you can call him at (615)546-4596 or send him e-mail at hde@cs.utk.edu Himadri ----------------------------- End included message -------------------------- >From rekha@cs.widener.edu Thu Aug 5 08:20:58 1993 From: rekha@cs.widener.edu (Rekha R Bhandarkar) Subject: Re: F1 I called the embassy last week and they said as usual that there was a 50-50 chance of getting it. I had been there in January and did not get it, so I am hoping I will get it this time. Apparently I did not have the right I-20 in Jan - I had my copy and not a new one. I had never done this before so I slipped up bad there. Besides I think the guy who looked at my papers took one look at me and decided he did not want to give it 'pour moi' and just needed an excuse. >From gopal@as.arizona.edu Fri Aug 6 03:05:56 1993 From: gopal@as.arizona.edu (Gopal Narayanan) Subject: Re: another question... Hi Nandit, I took a new I-20 with me, but that was only because, I had been admitted to a different degree program, namely my Ph.D. If it is only for a year you are seeking an extension a letter and an old validated I-20 should do the trick. That's my guess- please ask the folks at your Int. Student office. They should know better. -Gopal. >From kmitra@prism.poly.edu Fri Aug 6 08:34:17 1993 From: kmitra@prism.poly.edu (Kunal Mitra) Subject: Re: Multiple Entry F1 from Canada Hai Nandit, If you have a valid I20 that should be fine. I changed from MS to Phd so I have a new I20. Bye....................................Kunal >From sundarar@eecs.umich.edu Fri Aug 6 08:38:15 1993 From: Mohan Subject: Re: f1 visa renewal in india Hi, Just heard from my friend Ramesh too. He says if you have not graduated yet, there is no problem in getting a new visa. This is what he says about Madras. And whether or not you need a new I-20 depends on whether your old one has expired. I know they have been changing these forms every time, but there is one item on the form that says 'expected date of graduation' or something to that effect. If that date is still in the future, your I-20 is valid and you just need an endorsement at the back of the form. If that date is in the past, you will have to get a fresh I-20. In either case you have to meet the International Student Advisor. Hope this helps Mohan >From kurdikar@ecn.purdue.edu Fri Aug 6 09:07:34 1993 From: kurdikar@ecn.purdue.edu (Dev) Subject: Re: f1 visa renewal in india I got my old I20 endorsed at the back from our Intl' Student Office. -Dev >From sundarar@eecs.umich.edu Fri Aug 6 09:15:19 1993 From: Mohan Subject: Re: f1 visa renewal in india > who were rejected a visa, were those who were told that an > i20 that is simply re-validated is insufficient to get the > visa, and in fact, were given that reason for refusal...! I've never heard of that! Looks like somebody somewhere is not aware of the rules. There was a time when people with old-format I-20's were being stopped at the point of entry because somebody had misinterpreted the rules. The INS then sent a circular to all their people, with copies to all the schools and every student who went home had to carry a copy of this letter just in case the officer at the port of entry had not seen it. But these are isolated incidents and normally, you should not have any problem at all. Mohan PS: I'll talk to Ramesh and let you know his phone/email >From kdhole@enuxha.eas.asu.edu Fri Aug 6 09:28:30 1993 From: Kiran Dhole Subject: Re: f1 visa renewal in india As I mentioned earlier my case was a transferred student so I had new I-20 with me. If you are a continuing student then you will have same I-20 . I think you are going towards your phd, right? If that is the case you will get new i-20 then you will have to show that new one but if I am wrong, I mean if your i-20 is expired then you will take the current i-20 with sig. on it. I think in any case you will have to take sig. on it because you are a returning student to USA. Bye, -- Kiran >From jreddy@hpmpeb9.cup.hp.com Fri Aug 6 10:54:20 1993 Subject: Re: f1 visa renewal in india From: jreddy@hpmpeb9.cup.hp.com ( A Jyothy Reddy) I didn't get a new I-20 since the original I-20 I had from UT said that the duration of my M.S. would be 3 years. That put me in a safe situation where I could graduate as late as 08/93. At the consulate (Madras, India in 07/92) they just noted that and asked me whether I haven't graduated still. I told 'No' and the rest was easy. Yes, I did get my I-20 signed by the intl. advisor (isn't that mandatory, me wonders!) What does your I-20 say about the duration of your degree? Does it 'give' you more time to graduate? -Jyothy >From thakur@npac.syr.edu Fri Aug 6 11:22:37 1993 From: thakur@npac.syr.edu (Rajeev Thakur) Subject: Re: F1 visa The international students office at Syracuse Univ. gives us a new I-20 if we need to apply for a visa when traveling abroad. They say it is better to have a new one rather than the signed old one, but I don't think there is a rule which says that a new one is required. I too need to renew my F-1 visa, so please send me a summary of the responses you get. - Rajeev >From subhas@cs.wm.edu Fri Aug 6 11:55:31 1993 From: subhas@cs.wm.edu (Subhas Roy) Subject: Re: more on f1 visa renewal at juarez hey nandit, Curious, why are you going to Mexico for F-1 (instead of India)? Are you just preempting any potential denial in India? Also, what excuse will you give to the officer in Juarez about your trying to get f-1 from mexico? Recently I called US consulate in Quebec (Canada) and asked about it. She said the chance of getting it is very low and u will have to furnish proof that u will go back to india after study (my phd). when i asked what proof? she said - job offer from indian company. that discourageed me at that time. then a guy Kunal Mitra got it from toronto without problem. I have already sent you his email address/phone number. about old versus new i-20, i think it is safer to get a new one. also the international student office gives you a new one gladly anytime. i will be very interested to know your summary and experience. Could you forward it to my email subhas@cs.wm.edu, since I am irregular on reading SCI and i dont want to lose your summary. thanks, -subhas >From raj@geds01.jsc.nasa.gov Fri Aug 6 13:00:20 1993 From: raj@geds01.jsc.nasa.gov (Raj Manohar) Subject: Re: more on f1 visa renewal at juarez fyi: one of my friends was refused renewal of f-1 visa at juarez. when they asked him why he wanted an extension, he told that he is planning to go to India, then they asked him to get the visa in India itself. So the best thing to say would be that you are going to a conference etc (i guess they will ask for a proof) and further if you had worked on/off campus, take all yr pay stubbs with you It will help proving yr fin status. cheers >From karrot@fubar.cs.montana.edu Fri Aug 6 13:05:29 1993 From: karrot@fubar.cs.montana.edu (John G. Karrot) Subject: Re: F-1 renewal I took a n one - don't know whether one is necessary, but that's the way the ISA decided to go. I mean the I-20. Addios, John