Going from O1 to F1 visa. Will the consular officer be concerned that I’ve spent “too much time in the US” and deny me a visa?
In 2017 I came to the US on a J1 visa to attend a Masters programme in the US. I graduated in 2019 and had 1 more year of academic training. My visa expired in late 2020, I returned to my home country and in the Summer of 2021 I came back to the US with an O1 visa, which is valid until the Fall of 2023.
I plan to apply for PhD programmes next year so that I can start my PhD in 2023-2024. However, going back to F1 status somewhat makes me nervous as we have to “prove ties to home country” and I fear that the fact I’ve had so many visas to be in the US may damage my chances to get an F1. I don’t have any relatives in the US, I have property/wealth in my home country, my parents are there as well.
It should be noted that I still have a 212e (two year home residency requirement) left to do. So it’s not like I could adjust status in the US through marriage or employment anyway. I’ll eventually have to go home and spend 24 months there, so I don’t know if that actually helps my chances of getting the student visa.
My plan is to return home after my PhD and teach either in my home country or somewhere in Europe. But I’d really like to do my PhD in the US and am just wondering if my immigration experience may hinder my plans.
Would love to hear people’s thoughts on this. Thanks!
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source https://www.reddit.com/r/immigration/comments/puuyvp/going_from_o1_to_f1_visa_will_the_consular/
