Interview in US embassy

[May90]

Hello everyone.

I am a student currently living in Russia. I have applied to a few US PhD programs on Physics in December, got accepted into 13 out of 16 (no bragging ) and decided to accept the offer from one of the top 20 US universities. Now I am waiting for the I-20 form and other documents to arrive, then I will send them all to US embassy and, after interview, should receive the F-1 student's visa.

First of all, as you all know, Russia is currently doing some really nasty things in Crimea, which certainly doesn't help it look good in the eyes of US. Do you guys think I may encounter any visa problems as a result?

But the main question I have is different. On the interview in US embassy, I will be asked a long series of questions as to what my plans are after graduation, why I've decided to study in the US and so on. The problem is, my real plans are to get a Postdoc position somewhere in the US and to stay there as a permanent resident. However, when I am asked what my further plans are, I am not sure it is a good idea to honestly say all that - from other people's experience, immigration officers like to see the evidence that I will return to my home country after my visa is expired, and, if there is a slight chance that I will stay in the US, they consider me to be a potential immigrant (which I am) and can reject the visa on this basis. Do you guys think it is appropriate to lie about my further plans, or, at least, to say that I consider different options and it will be more clear by the graduation? It would really help me if some international US students could tell me anything about this whole process, but I would strongly appreciate any opinion.

I have been to the US only once, in 2010, when I went there for 3 months on students exchange program and worked there on a beach, so I don't really have much experience with their embassy, but I've read a lot of stories, especially from people from India (it seems, embassy stuff does not usually trust them well), how just one wrong response can destroy all your plans on happy future life, so I'd like to avoid all the traps set by the officers, successfully get the visa and go pursue the American dream.

[Deleted]

Just be honest and let them do their job.

[May90]

That's what I am being told by pretty much everyone - telling the truth will be the right thing to do, and lying will have negative consequences at some point anyway. After all, my application should be strong enough for immigration officers to understand that I am going to USA for study, not use study as an excuse for staying there illegally.

As for "hurry up" thing, unfortunately, I have to wait, at least, 2 weeks before the packet of the documents arrives, and after that it will be 2-3 more weeks before the interview. So the sanctions should be on by then. I guess all I have left is to wait and pray...

[Deleted]

I always tought the US was founded on immigration, why would they want to stop a potential new citizen? If you do a masters degree of some sort in the US, they are far more likely to accept you and give you citizenship (I think their is a special immigration law for it).

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That's what I am being told by pretty much everyone - telling the truth will be the right thing to do, and lying will have negative consequences at some point anyway. After all, my application should be strong enough for immigration officers to understand that I am going to USA for study, not use study as an excuse for staying there illegally.

As for "hurry up" thing, unfortunately, I have to wait, at least, 2 weeks before the packet of the documents arrives, and after that it will be 2-3 more weeks before the interview. So the sanctions should be on by then. I guess all I have left is to wait and pray...

Look at it this way, they educate you into some fine scientist or whatever you are going to study, and then they would want you to return to your homeland (and take your expensive studies with you).

[Manju]

You should really ask this on a Russian immigration forum.

It would be much more effective than asking on a MMO forum with majority of Americans and EU residents who certainly don't have any experience with US embassy in Russia...

Just think about it and good luck with your studies.

[Netherspark]

Sanctions generally do not apply to private citizens, and if you have a PhD in physics I doubt they'll have a problem with you staying. It's only non-worky type immigrants they don't like.

[Olo]

You'll get a green card stapled to your diploma.

[May90]

Look at it this way, they educate you into some fine scientist or whatever you are going to study, and then they would want you to return to your homeland (and take your expensive studies with you).

Hmm... Now that you put it this way, I think I understand why some applicants get rejected. Undergraduate schools usually are paid by the applicant himself, or by his parents - anyway, from his money, not from the government funding. Such applicants may be rejected for various reasons: no proof of sufficient income to cover the expenses, no proof that the applicant is not going to just stay in the US illegally after the graduation, etc.

PhD, however, is different. In most cases (including mine) university itself offers funding to its students, and these funds come primarily from government funding, or from some private funding - these money come from the US. As such, the fact that I have been accepted to the program and funded in the first place already shows that US is ready to accept me. Also, the difference from undergraduate students is that they, usually, do not have clear plans on what they are going to do after graduation, and, even if they have, they often change them later. PhD students, however, usually know what they are going to do - I, for example, will get a Postdoc position in high energy physics or astrophysics somewhere in the US. They don't have any reasons to expect me to stay there illegally - I will have a lot of opportunities to stay there on legal rights and to contribute to their science.

So, I guess, Masters and PhD students are a different case. They shouldn't prevent me from studying if they themselves provide me with funding.

One of the things that upcoming sanctions (2nd or 3rd package) would enforce would be a ban for russian citizens to study abroad.

I am not a specialist on politics, but I do not think it will go so far. As far as I'm concerned, only citizens of North Korea (and, perhaps, Cuba) have a ban for studying in US universities. Russia, after annexation of Crimea, probably won't have THAT bad a status, maybe somewhere near Iran or Afghanistan, but even students from these countries have opportunities to study abroad.

They may, however, impose certain limitations on a number of students allowed to study in US at the same time, or on a quality of those students. I really hope it won't affect me though.

You should really ask this on a Russian immigration forum.

It would be much more effective than asking on a MMO forum with majority of Americans and EU residents who certainly don't have any experience with US embassy in Russia...

Just think about it and good luck with your studies.

I try to stay away from Russian forums - every time I try to mention there that I am going to study in the US, I get more "f!@king traitor" than any other kinds of responses. Russia in this regard is a very... weird country. Also, I am asking here because there are many Americans here who know better than me what their government can and cannot do, and also there are many people from other countries currently living in the US, some of them students, and they also should know something about immigration procedures.

Sanctions generally do not apply to private citizens, and if you have a PhD in physics I doubt they'll have a problem with you staying. It's only non-worky type immigrants they don't like.

With me staying they shouldn't have any problem since, after receiving PhD there, I will de facto be considered and international scientist, and they are always welcome in such immigrant countries as US. With me crossing their borders however - I am not sure...

Also, in severe cases sanctions can actually affect private citizens as well. It is not always very direct, but sometimes there are difficulties with receiving a visa. Good example is poor African countries: although they are allowed to travel to the US, the probability of them staying there illegally is quite high, and so they often get visa rejections. Something like this may happen to Russia. Also, and that's what I fear the most, the limitations may be imposed on Russian end - remember USSR where citizens were not allowed to leave the Eastern block at all and only sometimes got special offers, such as a short travel to India under strict supervision? Given the craziness of our (Russian) current government, I won't be shocked if they really decide to contain people inside their borders once again. I hope it doesn't happen, and I very strongly hope it doesn't happen in the nearest few months.

You'll get a green card stapled to your diploma.

Who knows... I know one thing for certain: if I get to the US, I will be able to stay there without much problem. After PhD in physics from one of the top 20 universities I will surely find some Postdoc position there. I just need to get there, and I will be happy as a dryad.

[Xargoth6634]

I would think that if you're going to a top 20 US school you're the kind of person that we'd like to have move here in a long term capacity. It's not like you're moving here to do grunt labor, you'd ideally be contributing something meaningful to the U.S. Gratz on your acceptance, and (hopefully) welcome to the U.S.! Hope you enjoy your time here, however long it ends up being. =)

[May90]

I would think that if you're going to a top 20 US school you're the kind of person that we'd like to have move here in a long term capacity. It's not like you're moving here to do grunt labor, you'd ideally be contributing something meaningful to the U.S. Gratz on your acceptance, and (hopefully) welcome to the U.S.! Hope you enjoy your time here, however long it ends up being. =)

That's what I think as well - I don't see how I can bring your country any harm, but there is a lot of opportunity for me to contribute to its science. I hope the immigration officers see it the same way.

I hope I will be able to live in the US for a long time. You have an amazing country, and maybe it will find me amazing as well.

[Kasierith]

The US views immigrants in the general labor pool and immigrants in specialized programs in a completely different light. The United States actively promotes programs to encourage intellectual from around the world to come and work in the country after graduation. Be very clear that you want to work in the US after, give any possible plans that you may have to this effect, and if you can try to express that you specifically don't want to work in Russia (Why are you interested in studying in the US? With the academia and political systems the way they are right now, I will not be able to further my career in my home country and want to work in a country that allows me to work freely).

[iengdixuecun]

I have to wait, at least, 2 weeks before the packet of the documents arrives

[lawow74]

While it's true there's an element of luck with immigration officers(I've heard some real doozies in marriage visa forums of snags and snares caused by officious creeps), if you're coming prepared with the credentials they want, you should be fine. GL!

[May90]

The US views immigrants in the general labor pool and immigrants in specialized programs in a completely different light. The United States actively promotes programs to encourage intellectual from around the world to come and work in the country after graduation. Be very clear that you want to work in the US after, give any possible plans that you may have to this effect, and if you can try to express that you specifically don't want to work in Russia (Why are you interested in studying in the US? With the academia and political systems the way they are right now, I will not be able to further my career in my home country and want to work in a country that allows me to work freely).

Theoretically, this is all true; however people post their stories about how mentioning the desire to stay in the US after graduation sometimes led to complete change of attitude from immigration officers. I think they do not like people using student's visa for immigration purposes - they expect people willing to immigrate to apply for special immigration visas. In other words, they kindly welcome professionals able to contribute to their science, technology, art, etc., but they view them strictly as professionals, not potential immigrants. It is my theory, anyway.

I think the best way to go is to tell the truth, but to tell it cleverly: not just say that I am going to stay in the US and that's it, but more like that I want to get a Postdoc position in some research center, such as CERN or Fermilab, and if such position will be available in the US, I will consider it. Thank you for your advice, it makes me a little braver to tell of my plans more openly.

While it's true there's an element of luck with immigration officers(I've heard some real doozies in marriage visa forums of snags and snares caused by officious creeps), if you're coming prepared with the credentials they want, you should be fine. GL!

I certainly hope so. And you are right, there is some element of luck. Some officers, according to Internet stories, can be real jerks (although I wonder to what extent these stories are exaggerated - certainly someone who got his visa denied will have a lot of bias towards the officer). However, I don't think there are really bad people working in the embassy - US cares about its representatives in other countries and probably won't hire someone who rejects all visa applications just because of having a bad day.

[Xargoth6634]

That's what I think as well - I don't see how I can bring your country any harm, but there is a lot of opportunity for me to contribute to its science. I hope the immigration officers see it the same way.

I hope I will be able to live in the US for a long time. You have an amazing country, and maybe it will find me amazing as well.

Express that kind of positive and giving attitude at the interview and I think you'll do fine!

[May90]

Hey again guys. Just wanted to say that everything went smoothly and I received the visa a few days ago! Now off to the States in 2 months!

It appears I worried too much. The interview was very easy and quick. No tricky questions. The immigration officer was very friendly, asked me what I study here, what I am going to study in the US and how much my TA salary will be. After that he redirected me to another officer who asked me for 3 documents, 2 of which I didn't have with me, but he said I could send it online directly to the embassy. After that they considered the case for 2 weeks, and on Wednesday the status of visa was changed to "Issued".

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!

[Xargoth6634]

Hey again guys. Just wanted to say that everything went smoothly and I received the visa a few days ago! Now off to the States in 2 months!

It appears I worried too much. The interview was very easy and quick. No tricky questions. The immigration officer was very friendly, asked me what I study here, what I am going to study in the US and how much my TA salary will be. After that he redirected me to another officer who asked me for 3 documents, 2 of which I didn't have with me, but he said I could send it online directly to the embassy. After that they considered the case for 2 weeks, and on Wednesday the status of visa was changed to "Issued".

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!

Gratz man, really happy for you! Welcome to the USA! =)

[Reeve]

That's what I am being told by pretty much everyone - telling the truth will be the right thing to do, and lying will have negative consequences at some point anyway. After all, my application should be strong enough for immigration officers to understand that I am going to USA for study, not use study as an excuse for staying there illegally.

As for "hurry up" thing, unfortunately, I have to wait, at least, 2 weeks before the packet of the documents arrives, and after that it will be 2-3 more weeks before the interview. So the sanctions should be on by then. I guess all I have left is to wait and pray...

Good luck man. I think things are going to heat up after May 25th, the date of the Ukrainian elections, which may make things more difficult for you. If the whole business in Ukraine doesn't get in the way, you should have a decent chance, since you'd be coming under a student visa.

I'd agree with RICH and say just be honest, especially with all the stuff going on at the moment.

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I always tought the US was founded on immigration, why would they want to stop a potential new citizen? If you do a masters degree of some sort in the US, they are far more likely to accept you and give you citizenship (I think their is a special immigration law for it).
.

We are, but we already take in so damn many people per year that we tend to be a bit selective. That said, students are usually a good thing.

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I am not a specialist on politics, but I do not think it will go so far.

If Russia invades Eastern Ukraine, it may, at least for a period of time. The West needs some sort of stick to threaten the Russian government with on top of what they've already done over Crimea, and I think everyone would prefer to avoid open war, so limiting immigration would be a relatively easy way to deal with that.

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The US views immigrants in the general labor pool and immigrants in specialized programs in a completely different light. The United States actively promotes programs to encourage intellectual from around the world to come and work in the country after graduation. Be very clear that you want to work in the US after, give any possible plans that you may have to this effect, and if you can try to express that you specifically don't want to work in Russia (Why are you interested in studying in the US? With the academia and political systems the way they are right now, I will not be able to further my career in my home country and want to work in a country that allows me to work freely).

As a Russian student living in the US, I'd trust what Kasi has to say.

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Hey again guys. Just wanted to say that everything went smoothly and I received the visa a few days ago! Now off to the States in 2 months!

It appears I worried too much. The interview was very easy and quick. No tricky questions. The immigration officer was very friendly, asked me what I study here, what I am going to study in the US and how much my TA salary will be. After that he redirected me to another officer who asked me for 3 documents, 2 of which I didn't have with me, but he said I could send it online directly to the embassy. After that they considered the case for 2 weeks, and on Wednesday the status of visa was changed to "Issued".

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!

Congratulations!!! Welcome!

[koodledrum]

I can't imagine the US would be too pissed at the thought of acquiring someone of an intellectual standard through migration, so I can't imagine they'd be too bothered if you do plan to stay on and work in the US after graduation, that's part of positive migration pretty much, infact I'd go so far as to say it's a poster case for it. Just be prepared for a whole lot of probing with regards to political & social factors though, they might want people with high IQ's but they don't particularly want those who have sympathetic ideologies with Moscow as it stands - but I'd say you're probably not a card carrying believer in everything Russia does being perfect. (As any sensible person should be with regards to their own nation - not just Russia!)

Good luck with the interview & in your studies.