F1 Visa

[snapple84]

I must commend the individual that created this forum, its been an eye-opener for me regarding people's experience in obtaining their F1 visa.

I am an international student from Nigeria and I have in Canada for almost 6years now . I got accepted to UIC for my Masters program and I will going for my F1 interview soon.

My question is how do I prove ties to my home country even if I haven't been home since I arrived here. although 99.5% of my time here has been towards my education.

 

[carmaski]

Bit of Experience - but no definite Knowledge

Hi,

I am not knowledgeable in this aspect, but I have been twice for F-1 Visa interviews, once in India in 2002 and another this month in Germany. In both of the cases the Visa Officer did not ask me regarding ties to my home country.

I don’t think that any document can satisfy this requirement – so this is the discretion of the visa officer. From what I know, if you can show that your family is living in your home country that would be sufficient. (I know that other people say that once you are an adult the ties to your family do not count. However you can explain to the visa officer something like “The family in the Nigerian society is very close as compared to that in the western world. So I would not be able to live without my family even if I were given the possibility to live here … etc.”)

You should be sure to tell the visa officer that after your studies are over, you would be going back to Nigeria. (If possible mention names of Nigerian companies where you intend to find jobs once you go back.)

You may have a bit more trouble if one of your siblings or near family is already in the US – even if this is as a student.

HTH
O.O.