Visa Experience - 08

[vignesh274]

Hi guys,

HDFC and Sevis fee are two different things...

HDFC fee u got to pay before u book your Visa slot and you dont need your I 20 for it.... .. And remember to the keep the receipt copies cause you will need to carry it during your visa interview... and it will take 2 days to get activated after you have paid ur fees at HDFC, so you got to wait for 2 days before u can book your interview date..

SEVIS fee you can pay only if you have your I 20 with you.. and it is a separate fee of USD 100 and this receipt also you have to carry it with you during your interview...

regds

vignesh

Originally Posted by .M.A.K.

Hi,

When we pay our fee at HDFC, its including application fee plus SEVIS fee.
Totally it comes out to be 5824 INR. That is approximately $145.

Earlier, a different procedure existed which required one to submit a DD post acceptance.

My friend paid the fee at HDFC recently.

Best Regards,
Maunang

[Apurva27]

Hi,

I am going to apply for a F1 visa. However, I have a query. I am staying in Pune since the last 2 yrs. My passport also has a Pune address. However, my permanent address is of Delhi. My father who would be sponsoring me also resides in Delhi. Where should I file my visa from Mumbai or Delhi?

I talked to the vfs helpline representative and was asked to apply from Delhi. But on the website they mention that state of residence is the place where you are residing since the last 6 months.

My consultant also told me that file your visa from the location where ur sponsor is.

What should I do? Please help.

[mbabuster]

It really does not matter since I have always had a Mumbai address and last time for H1 visa I got it stamped at Delhi. So I think you can choose either , this is based on the address you give to US consulate.

[Apurva27]

Originally Posted by mbabuster

It really does not matter since I have always had a Mumbai address and last time for H1 visa I got it stamped at Delhi. So I think you can choose either , this is based on the address you give to US consulate.

Thanks for the information. So you mean to say that if I put my state of residence and the current address as Delhi it would be fine? But why have they mentioned that 6 months thing on the website then??

[desiboy100]

I am most probably going to do my MBA in Canada just to get away from the immigration issues in the US, and this might be more for an immigration forum, but if someone has any info, please share:
H1b---> US MBA--->H1b?
I am currently on H1B (I got my H1B on my Masters degree in the US). I also used my OPT initially during the first few months of my job.

I plan to do a 2 year full-time MBA in the US, next yr (Aug 2009). I would have used up 3 yrs of my H1B by then.

I understand that I won't be eligible for another 12 months of OPT for my MBA, since I already used my OPT for my MS degree (it seems that MBA=MS, as far as OPT is concerned). Please advice whether this is correct.

But my question is, when I finish my MBA, and if I am able to get a job, do I need to be considered as part of H1B quota (for fiscal 2012). Since I only used 3 yrs of my H1B, will I still have access to my 3 yrs left on my curent H1B.

If I do, what will the company need to do to 'reactivate' my H1B? Will the H1B have to start on October 1st of that fiscal yr, or can it start on ANY day, as long as the a US company hires me?

Thanks for your input.

[desiboy100]

Here is a response that I got from an immigration forum to which I posted the same question:

"Since you were already counted once against the quota, you will not be counted against once you finish your MBA. All you will have to do then is file the H-1B petition at any time you have an employer willing to sponsor it; however, note that you will not be able to start working immediately, you will have to wait until the H-1B is approved. We recommend you use premium processing for 15-day response in such case.

You have 60 days grace period after the completion of your studies. You can search for a job, travel, etc. but you cannot work. That means that you have until about the middle of July 2008 (if you graduate in mid May) to leave the U.S.

Also, note that even if you find a job, applying for H-1B change of status, for example, may be a problem since some immigration officers deem this grace period as a time for wrapping up your presence in the United States and not as a time to change your status."

Originally Posted by desiboy100

I am most probably going to do my MBA in Canada just to get away from the immigration issues in the US, and this might be more for an immigration forum, but if someone has any info, please share:
H1b---> US MBA--->H1b?
I am currently on H1B (I got my H1B on my Masters degree in the US). I also used my OPT initially during the first few months of my job.

I plan to do a 2 year full-time MBA in the US, next yr (Aug 2009). I would have used up 3 yrs of my H1B by then.

I understand that I won't be eligible for another 12 months of OPT for my MBA, since I already used my OPT for my MS degree (it seems that MBA=MS, as far as OPT is concerned). Please advice whether this is correct.

But my question is, when I finish my MBA, and if I am able to get a job, do I need to be considered as part of H1B quota (for fiscal 2012). Since I only used 3 yrs of my H1B, will I still have access to my 3 yrs left on my curent H1B.

If I do, what will the company need to do to 'reactivate' my H1B? Will the H1B have to start on October 1st of that fiscal yr, or can it start on ANY day, as long as the a US company hires me?

Thanks for your input.

[vineet_cpa]

Yes you will not be able to use your OPT again when you graduate from the MBA program. However since you already have a H1B, and have 3 years left on it, you should not really be facing any problems. I have quite a few friends here who have been through the process you plan to, and all have them have got their visa status transferred without any issue what-so- ever. I think you are one the lucky few who will not have to worry about a VISA lottery after you get done with your MBA. Focus hard and all the best.






Re: Visa Experience - 08
I am most probably going to do my MBA in Canada just to get away from the immigration issues in the US, and this might be more for an immigration forum, but if someone has any info, please share:
H1b---> US MBA--->H1b?
I am currently on H1B (I got my H1B on my Masters degree in the US). I also used my OPT initially during the first few months of my job.

I plan to do a 2 year full-time MBA in the US, next yr (Aug 2009). I would have used up 3 yrs of my H1B by then.

I understand that I won't be eligible for another 12 months of OPT for my MBA, since I already used my OPT for my MS degree (it seems that MBA=MS, as far as OPT is concerned). Please advice whether this is correct.

But my question is, when I finish my MBA, and if I am able to get a job, do I need to be considered as part of H1B quota (for fiscal 2012). Since I only used 3 yrs of my H1B, will I still have access to my 3 yrs left on my curent H1B.

If I do, what will the company need to do to 'reactivate' my H1B? Will the H1B have to start on October 1st of that fiscal yr, or can it start on ANY day, as long as the a US company hires me?

Thanks for your input.

[mkarthik01]

I have a query.

My First Name / Given Name -> Karthik
My name in all documents -> M . Karthik
I am from South India and this is the way South Indians write their name.

"Surname" field in the passport -> Blank
"Given Name" field in the passport -> Mahadevan Karthik

Will this create any issues during the US Visa process?

I mailed and also called the VFS guys... They said that it is fine if the "surname" field is blank....
But apart from the "surname" field being blank, will the way the "given name" is mentioned in my passport, cause any issues?

Any thoughts?
Any other Southies here?


Karthik

[pumpupthejam]

Hello all ,

im have a few doubts

what is the diff between the emergency visa slot and the regular one.
I checked the website and it dint list any available slots for may . can i possibly apply for an emergency visa even though the term starts in aug?

[mkarthik01]

There are slots available in May...Mumbai office....
I believe the slots ae shown with a green square box.....