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.