International students - pharmd?

[destiny64]

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Hi,
I am international student and I completed my bachelors in US last year. I've been accepted to Pharmacy school commencing Aug 2010 and I had a serious question regarding F-1 Visa. Yes, I am on my F-1 Visa but since my 4 visa expires at the end of this year, I was considering extending my visa next month by returning to my home country. I have a serious concern though: As i am planning to do this I have been warned by a couple people saying that since it is a doctoral program for this country, the Immigration Consulate might reject my request. I wanted to know if there are any international students on SDN who have been through a similar situation and can help me out..!!! I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY USEFUL INFORMATION.

PS: I am aware of the fact that even if my visa expires on my passport but my I-20 is valid that I am in legal status but I would prefer if I could have a valid visa cause I go back home every year for summer and you never know when an emergency arises.

PLEASE HELP... THANK YOU..

 

[treeshadow]

Why would you get rejected if it's for a doctoral program?

As far as I know, as long as you can prove that you have enough funds (whether personal savings, sponsors, or loans and scholarships), they have no basis on rejecting you.

 

[destiny64]

@Treeshadow: I pretty much said the same thing but then most of the public schools here do not allow international students to apply to the PharmD program since the government wants to produce doctors that will serve their nation and not go to serve another country and I think its fair game. And since the immigration is a government institution wouldn't they stand by the same policy?? I am REALLY hoping that all these induced fears are worthless.
If you dont mind: Are you an international student??

 

[WhiteSnows]

Your F-1 visa will never expire if you are enrolled in fulltime at any college or university. The expiration time on your visa is 1 year since the day that you receive your visa at embassy. It means that if you return to your home country after the expiration date, you will need a new interview to extend your visa. IF YOU ARE STILL IN THE US, THEN YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY AS LONG AS YOU CONTINUE YOUR FULLTIME SCHOOL IN THE US. If you go back to your country before the expiration date on your visa, you do not have to have a new interview in order to go back to the US.

 

[treeshadow]

Yes, I am an international student. Will be going home for this summer before I start pharm school this Fall. My visa will also be expiring in a year though, still unsure if I should apply for one this summer, that's why I asked what's wrong with being accepted into a doctoral program 😕

@Treeshadow: I pretty much said the same thing but then most of the public schools here do not allow international students to apply to the PharmD program since the government wants to produce doctors that will serve their nation and not go to serve another country and I think its fair game. And since the immigration is a government institution wouldn't they stand by the same policy?? I am REALLY hoping that all these induced fears are worthless.
If you dont mind: Are you an international student??

Well, you ARE accepted already right? I seriously doubt the officials will reject your visa renewal based on that reason alone. Where did you get that from anyway?

 

[destiny64]

@5minutes: I checked with my universities(undergrad and Pharm School) and the US Consulate.. and yes, I DO have to submit my documents and face an interview but for Visa Extension/Renewal NOT start the process afresh.. thus I'm concerned =/ and J-1 is given for only a tear or two but F-1 is for four years or more and you cannot be in a professional school with J-1 Visa.

@treeshadow: If you still have a year to your visa expiration I do not think you need to worry.. I graduated last year and for the past year I've been on my OPT and now I have been accepted already.. I got that from a friend who is in the same boat and thinks its a big risk to go back home for renewal...

 

[WhiteSnows]

I don't understand your story because you said you are on F-1 visa now. If you are already on F-1 Visa now, you do not have to go back to your country for professional school as long as you are full time student in the US.

Possibly, it is your school policy that you may have to go back home. When I was admitted to pharmacy school, I did not have to go home for another interview. Yet, I still been to summit documents to school and obtain a new I-20.

It is my advice not to go back home during school because anything can happen. As long as you stay fulltime in the US. You are ok.

 

[WhiteSnows]

When you enter the United States on a student visa, you will usually be admitted for the duration of your student status. That means you may stay as long as you are a full time student, even if the F-1 visa in your passport expires while you are in America. For a student who has completed the course of studies shown on the I-20, and any authorized practical training, the student is allowed the following additional time in the U.S. before departure:

F-1 student - An additional 60 days, to prepare for departure from the U.S. or to transfer to another school.
M-1 student - An additional 30 days to depart the U.S. (Fixed time period, in total not to exceed one year). The 30 days to prepare for departure is permitted as long as the student maintained a full course of study and maintained status. An M student may receive extensions up to three years for the total program.
As an example regarding duration of status, if you have a visa that is valid for five years that will expire on January 1, 2009, and you are admitted into the U.S. for the duration of your studies (often abbreviated in your passport or on your I-94 card as "D/S"), you may stay in the U.S. as long as you are a full time student. Even if January 1, 2009 passes and your visa expires while in America, you will still be in legal student status. However, if you depart the U.S. with an expired visa, you will need to obtain a new one, applying at and Embassy abroad, before being able to return to America and resume your studies.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html

 

[treeshadow]

When you enter the United States on a student visa, you will usually be admitted for the duration of your student status. That means you may stay as long as you are a full time student, even if the F-1 visa in your passport expires while you are in America. For a student who has completed the course of studies shown on the I-20, and any authorized practical training, the student is allowed the following additional time in the U.S. before departure:

F-1 student - An additional 60 days, to prepare for departure from the U.S. or to transfer to another school.
M-1 student - An additional 30 days to depart the U.S. (Fixed time period, in total not to exceed one year). The 30 days to prepare for departure is permitted as long as the student maintained a full course of study and maintained status. An M student may receive extensions up to three years for the total program.
As an example regarding duration of status, if you have a visa that is valid for five years that will expire on January 1, 2009, and you are admitted into the U.S. for the duration of your studies (often abbreviated in your passport or on your I-94 card as "D/S"), you may stay in the U.S. as long as you are a full time student. Even if January 1, 2009 passes and your visa expires while in America, you will still be in legal student status. However, if you depart the U.S. with an expired visa, you will need to obtain a new one, applying at and Embassy abroad, before being able to return to America and resume your studies.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html

i think what destiny meant was that s/he just wants a newly issued visa based on the new program duration, say 4 years for PharmD until 2014, so that s/he can go in and out of the US without worrying about renewing her visa during this period.

This is one of my concerns too because I am interested in doing international rotations during my P4 year. I've heard of international students who applied for F-1 visa in another country besides their home country and got denied. They would have to fly back to their home country and re-apply from there.

However, destiny, I don't think the officials would be this biased. You are paying for school, you know. Or, you can wait until the next time you go home in the middle of pharmacy school and apply for the visa then. It would be impossible for them to refuse your visa application when you are already a student. 😎

 

[WhiteSnows]

i think what destiny meant was that s/he just wants a newly issued visa based on the new program duration, say 4 years for PharmD until 2014, so that s/he can go in and out of the US without worrying about renewing her visa during this period.

This is one of my concerns too because I am interested in doing international rotations during my P4 year. I've heard of international students who applied for F-1 visa in another country besides their home country and got denied. They would have to fly back to their home country and re-apply from there.

However, destiny, I don't think the officials would be this biased. You are paying for school, you know. Or, you can wait until the next time you go home in the middle of pharmacy school and apply for the visa then. It would be impossible for them to refuse your visa application when you are already a student. 😎

If this is the case then you should consider reapply it at your country.

Importantly, your visa will also expire in 1 year from the day of renewal. IT WILL NOT LAST FOR 5 YEARS. If you renew it at your home this month, the expiration date will be next year this month. Hence, it is a big risk to visit your country during the course of studying. I have 3 more years to go before I even consider to go home.

 

[destiny64]

@5minutes: You are right I dont you understood my situation. I'm glad treeshadow explained it again. And..renewal is NOT always just for one year. If a person has not finished his/her current course of study ONLY then it is one year. If you go for grad school then it depends on the number of years on your I-20. So, if a PharmD student considers renwal then he/she gets it extended for 3-4yrs(depending on the program) not just one year.

@Treeshadow: thanks for explaining 5minutes my situation. Yea, the rules clearly state that no other country is allowed to issue F-1 visa apart from home country. I am hoping there is no problem but I know you want to know more about it too.. I have an appointment with a lawyer tomorrow to ask these questions so I'll surely let you know how the talk goes with him... If you dont mind me asking, which is your home country??

 

[treeshadow]

Just pm'ed you.