Need you guys help

dogger · April 11, 2006, 9:02pm

I have F1 visa which i got from london, That is going to expire very soon.If i start my Phd programm then it mean that i have to stay here in U.S next 5-6 yrs…do i need to go back Pakistan to get extension or i have to go london ,from where i got it…or i will not get any extension at all.Please let me know if you guys have any idea about this…

dinzee · April 12, 2006, 10:44am

Re: Need you guys help

I believe your current F1 is for MS Level,and it is expiring soon,

then you should start PHD, and it will require extension I-20, which can be done after PHD admission, once you have new I-20, then you can any time go abroad(Canada,Mexico, in most cases) and stamp your new F1

Ganja · April 12, 2006, 1:46pm

Re: Need you guys help

There are 2 things to consider:

1) ** your status in US **: if you get your new I-20 for PHD for lets say 5 years, you can stay in US legally for that time period. You are fine as long as you stay in USA. But if you want to visit Pak or something, you need to have F1 stamped on your passport to get back into US, read below.

2) ** F1 visa stamped on your passport **: If you are Pakistani citizen, it is preferred to get US visa from Pakistan. But if have seen pakistani citizens getting F1 or H1 from Canada, Mexico and other countries. Once I got H1 visa from Malaysia and I was just visiting the country. Other time in UAE, I was asked to go back to Pakistan to get US visa, as I was just visiting UAE. so it depends on your luck.

There is another thing called background check. If your visa is approved, and if you are male citizen of Pak of age b/w 18 and 40, your case will go for security clearance. This can take any time b/w a week to 6 months or even more. I've seen people stuck in Pak for almost an year. Good Luck.

dogger · April 12, 2006, 9:56pm

Re: Need you guys help

Ganja:

There are 2 things to consider:

** your status in US **: if you get your new I-20 for PHD for lets say 5 years, you can stay in US legally for that time period. You are fine as long as you stay in USA. But if you want to visit Pak or something, you need to have F1 stamped on your passport to get back into US, read below.

** F1 visa stamped on your passport **: If you are Pakistani citizen, it is preferred to get US visa from Pakistan. But if have seen pakistani citizens getting F1 or H1 from Canada, Mexico and other countries. Once I got H1 visa from Malaysia and I was just visiting the country. Other time in UAE, I was asked to go back to Pakistan to get US visa, as I was just visiting UAE. so it depends on your luck.

There is another thing called background check. If your visa is approved, and if you are male citizen of Pak of age b/w 18 and 40, your case will go for security clearance. This can take any time b/w a week to 6 months or even more. I’ve seen people stuck in Pak for almost an year. Good Luck.

thats sound not good…for sure i have to visit pakistan …i cannot keep myself away for five yrs…very tough decision to make:teary1: