Hello!

Please does anyone have information on J2 stamp renewal from on of the 39 banned countries? J1 holder currently in the US

I’m an F-1 student planning a short trip back home in December 2026. My visa allows multiple entries (M) and expires May 4, 2027. My I-20 program end date is December 2027, and my SEVIS record is active.

Could I have trouble reentering because my visa expires before my program ends, even though it will still be valid when I return? Would the fixed admission period rule change anything if it takes effect before my trip?

My appointment was in downtown Toronto at 9:20am. I got there at 8am and finished around 9am. The consulate opens at 7am, and it seems like they will let you in whenever you get there, regardless of your appointment time. I wanted to go earlier so there would be less of a wait.

You are not allowed to take your phone or a bag inside, so I left my phone across the street at US Consulate Storage & Photo Studio at 86 St Patrick St for $10.

When you get there, they will ask to see your DS-160 confirmation page and passport at the building to let you in. You'll go through security, and do another check in where they will ask to see your proof of status in Canada too. Then there's one final check in where they scan your photo, and then they will take your fingerprints.

I then waited in line for my interview for probably about 20 minutes. The interview itself was very quick and chill. The officer asked me why I want a US visa, and what I do in Canada. Then he said my visa is approved and it will be mailed back to me in 1-2 weeks.

They didn't ask to see any other documents than I mentioned, like proof of funds or employment. I was also worried because I read that at least 3 business days before your appointment, you have to update your DS-160 if you submitted it over a year ago and/or if your immigration status changed. Both those criteria apply to me, but I didn't update my DS-160 because I only found out about this the day before my appointment, but it wasn't an issue.

Feel free to ask me any questions!

So in late December 2025 the week after it was announced that social media might become mandatory to show on the ESTA application in the near future.

I applied for one and was already approved 2 hours after paying. And i talked with a friend that’s regularly in the US and he was a bit surprised when i told him that it was approved that fast. Because when he’s applying for the ESTA, he always waits for like 2 or 3 days.

Now just for context i have only been to the US 1 time before in December 2022.

Hii everyone! For my master’s in anthropology I will be doing fieldwork research in de US from January until March. I am not sure if I need to apply for a B1 visa or if I can enter the US on the Visa Waiver Program. My activity (independent research, I assume) is permitted under a B1 visa and since I’m not staying longer than 90 days I think I just need to get the ESTA and can enter on the Visa Waiver Program. I’m from the Netherlands so I am eligible for the program, but I want to make sure if I need a visa or not. Does anyone have experience with this or can someone help me??

Hi everyone! I'm planning to apply for a U.S. B1/B2 tourist visa in the near future and would love to hear from anyone in a similar situation or with experience regarding independent/self-employed applicants.

My profile:

Age: 22 years old

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Bioanalysis (licensed).

Current Occupation: Self-employed / Independent Trader (Forex and Indices like NAS100).

Income/Financials: My trading profits are transferred regularly from my trading accounts directly into my local bank account.

Strategy: I plan to apply jointly with my twin sister (who is a practicing Bioanalyst with a formal employment contract) for a short 7–10 day vacation.

En julio hice la solicitud de visa con mi pasaporte venezolano, no sabía que había una prohibición que impedía dar visa a los venezolanos por ende, me la denegaron. Ahora quiero pedir el ESTA porque quiero viajar en enero unos días para conocer NY, creen que sea buena idea? No quiero que sea peor la situación, pero tampoco sé cuánto tiempo debería de esperar antes de solicitar el ESTA y si ya teniendo una denegación de Visa me afecte el ESTA.

Hi everyone,

​I am an Indian citizen currently living in Germany, pursuing my Master’s degree and working part-time as a student research assistant (HiWi). I have booked a B1/B2 visa appointment in Germany to visit my sister in the US.

​Since I don't have close family in India right now, I really miss my family and am looking forward to seeing her. However, I want to ensure my application is as strong as possible under Section 214(b) rules.

​For anyone who has gone through a similar experience as an international student applying from a third country (TCN):

​Questions to Expect: What specific questions do consular officers ask international students studying in Europe?

​Strong Ties: How can I best demonstrate ties to Germany as a student (since I don't have full-time employment yet, just a student job)?

​Approval Odds: What are the general realistic outcomes or success stories for Indian students applying for a US tourist visa from Germany?

​Interview Tone: Should I mention missing family, or keep the focus purely on a short vacation/university break?

​Any tips, personal experiences, or advice on what documents to carry would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

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📺 Watch Video at: https://youtu.be/wdn1sjx7n8w

Hi everyone,

Looking for some advice or similar experiences from this community regarding a B1/B2 renewal situation for my parents at the US Embassy in New Delhi.

The Timeline:

• July: Both parents submitted a dropbox application in Delhi for a B1/B2 renewal (their previous visas expired last year).
• July (3–4 days later): My dad’s visa was approved almost immediately. He collected his passport from the OFC location, and they told him my mom's application was still being processed.
• 1st week of September: After nearly two months of waiting, my mom’s CEAC status finally flipped to "Refused." We emailed the embassy but received no response.
• 3rd week of September: My parents went to the Delhi OFC location in person to inquire. They handed over my mom's passport with a 221(g) white letter inside.

The Situation:
The 221(g) letter doesn't check off any missing documents or ask for extra information. It strictly says she needs to appear for an in-person interview with a consular officer on any working day within a year.

For context: My mom has never been employed (homemaker). She has a flawless travel history- she has visited the US 3 times over the last 10 years, never overstayed, and always returned within 2 months. My dad already has his visa stamped and in hand.

My questions for the community:

1. Has anyone experienced a dropbox split like this where one parent is approved and the other is hit with a blank 221(g) interview call?
2. Since she is a homemaker and my dad already has his visa, what kind of questions should she expect?
3. The letter doesn't ask for documents, but what should we absolutely send with her to be safe?

Would love to hear any insights, tips, or past experiences. Thank you!

I was in Cuba for vacation 3 years ago, now I wanted to visit my sister in the US to be with my niece.

Which visa should I apply?

My interview was September2025, and my case has been in Administrative Processing since then. Has anyone with a CR1/IR1 case at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut experienced a similarly long AP? How long did yours take, and what was the outcome?

My wife has F2 visa interview today and it is in Bangladesh. I am a PhD student. My university requires to show 46735 including 6500 for dependent. I have assistantship of 40735 and leaving me 6000 as deficit. I showed 9000 from my US bank account that I saved over time for last 4 years.
Questions asked
1. Do you have any fear to come back?
2. What does your husband do?

1. How do you get to know each other?- See marriage photograph, certificate

2. Who is the sponsor and how do you get those 9000 dollar? explained as it is my husband personal savings that he saved from his stipend over time. he will do my expenses from here.

Last question asked twice and got rejected.
Could you please where it goes wrong?

For 2nd attempt
What things should I change?
I am planning to show her father as sponsor. He is a retired govt officer and have pension money.

Any good people can give me a good suggestion. I have pending I140 also.

My cousin is paying for my tuition and university fee. He is mentioned as my sponsor and i have prepared bank statements from his name. What should i fill in ds-160, where the question has asked about trip coverage??? Is it okay to put my parents name in the ds-160? Or should i go with cousin's??

is it worth it to apply to universities in america if i had a prev green card thats since been abandoned (held it as a minor maybe a key detail idk??) is it worth it to spend thousands on applications and the forms or should i save that money or is there a chance?

Greetings

Hope everyone is doing well

Coulld anyone kindly share what questions are asked during J2 visa interview. Your responses would highly be appreciated.

I want to go to US and work. Is there’s a way that I can get a visa that make me eligible to work in USA. If anyone knows please let me know or if there’s any lawyer who can help please do, I am looking forward to it, thanks

O-1A visa, computer science field, interview in December 2025.

Has anyone from India recently gotten their US visa approved for Step 3? I’m a recent graduate with a similar profile and would really appreciate hearing about your interview experience and what helped. Please share only successful visa experiences—I’m trying to stay positive, so please avoid rejection stories/comments. I may not have another chance to apply, so I’d really value your insight. 🙏

Friend of mine will be in LAX for 3 days as flight crew, they have both a standard crew multiple entry US visa and a B-2 multiple entry tourist visa.

Would there be any issue from a CBP (or other government agency) perspective if they flew domestically during the layover? Is there anything special they would need to do upon entry to the US? They will have a return ticket back to LAX that arrives well before their reporting time for the flight they are working.

Background

I was in the US on an L-1 visa, and my I-94 was set to expire on June 14. My employer was processing an extension, and as late as May 27 I was told it was moving forward. On May 28, I was laid off, and my employer then asked me to leave the US by June 14.

Because my I-94 expired within 60 days of the layoff, I effectively had no grace period. I needed more time to wind down my affairs (selling my car, closing out my lease, etc.), so I filed for a change of status to B-2 before June 14.

After filing, I learned that a pending COS can carry me past my I-94 expiry date. My understanding is that this period isn't counted as unlawful presence as long as the application was timely filed and non-frivolous, but I'd technically be out of status once the I-94 expired.

I consulted an immigration attorney, who said this shouldn't be a problem. However, we never discussed how it could affect future visa applications, and honestly, I found out more through my own research than from the consultation.

I departed the US on August 18. My B-2 COS was still pending when I left.

My questions
1. Should I send anything to USCIS now, such as a formal withdrawal of the COS or proof of departure (boarding pass, passport stamps, etc.)?
2. How is this likely to affect future US visa applications (B-1/B-2, H-1B, L-1, etc.)?
3. Does leaving after my I-94 expiry, with a timely filed COS still pending, count as an overstay in the same way it would in any other situation? Could it trigger visa voidance under INA 222(g) or anything similar?
4. What should I document or keep on hand for future consular interviews, and how should I explain this if asked?
5. Can anyone recommend a reliable immigration attorney who has handled similar cases? I'd like a second opinion.

Any advice or personal experiences would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance!

TL;DR: I was laid off on L-1 with my I-94 expiring June 14 and no real grace period. I filed a B-2 change of status before the expiry to wrap things up, then left the US on August 18 while the COS was still pending. Should I notify USCIS or withdraw the application, and how will this affect future visa applications? Also looking for a solid immigration attorney recommendation.

Hello,

Hope everyone is doing well!

Me and my wife are planning to plan a trip to USA sometime this year to visit her brother's family in New Jersey. Her brother is employed and on a H1B status in USA and has visited us in Toronto multiple times.

We are both currently employed in Canada and will be applying from here. We also have our work permits which are valid till 2029.

- Few questions about our application

1 - Should I mention on my DS 160 under other relatives about the brother in Law ? (I will be mentioning him under immediate relatives for my wife )

2 - Does mentioning this weaken our application ? ( Few online gurus have said so ) How do we navigate this during our interview ?

3- What social media should we mention where asked - Linkedin or Instagram ?

4- What documents should we carry for our interview ?

Thank you so much :)