NicolaNSam

I would try for it if I were you, Nicola's Grandparents had very little assetts and fails twice! On the third attempt they were mad at me for asking them to keep trying. We organized everything more including a letter head showing all their ties to china, then we made a index of all the documents and this time I flew to China and was waiting outside. I gave them my passport to bring with them inside and they passed. Her grandparents got a six month visa and left after two months of visiting. After that it was all easy street for the rest of the family. Both her parents got their visa on their first attempt after showing the grandparents came and went back and got their 6 month visa extended to a year. Her Cousin later came to visit us for a week and went back. Her family is NOT rich at all. Ties included other family members, their apartment worth around $10,000, their job, anything that gives them a reason to return. Its even easier now I heard because of relations between China and America. Other members have confirmed that here. Good luck to you!

I have actually had two questions: 1) Does she have to fill out the DS-157 2) when she goes and pays the CITIC Bank $131 Interview fee, What information does she need? Passport? or what else? Can someone pay that on behalf of her? She doesn't have one in Zhongshan China and we have a friend in Guangzhou that can pay then give it to her. Thanks in advance!

Thanks everyone, I'm actually very nervous even though the odds are against us i'm staying optimistic. I'm flying to China to give her my passport to go inside with. Anyone know if she needs to fill out the DS-157 she's a 15 year old female. Seems like that form is for males over a certain age right? Thanks again

THANK YOU FOR THE INFO ON WHERE TO PAY! Any links on notorys in China? Thanks

Can you guys confirm that since she is a 15 year old girl she doesn't have to fill out the DS-157? Thanks

Hey everyone, Thanks again for Don and Randy's help with information that helped us finish all the paperwork we need for our student visa. I have already gotten my wife's cousin accepted to a American School and the interview has been made. If we are successful I will post all my information for others to use. Two quick questions, can her parents just sign a paper saying she can travel outside of China with us to America without getting it notorized? Where in China could I get it nortorized if it has to be done? She is 15 turning 16 in September. Her interview is less than a month away. Where do I pay the F-1 Visa interview fee? Can I pay it online or it has to be paid to a bank in China? What bank? Only in Guangzhou? Thanks again and although the chances of her getting a visa at her age is slim its worth trying to make a difference in her life. If she fails, can we make another interview with more evidence? Thanks guys my main worry right now is paying the interview appointment and her permission slip. Wish us luck its going to be a uphill attempt! Sam

Hey Randy, Thanks for the information and I do appologize for my confusion. I was looking up information on elementary and middle school and found that we couldn't get financial aid or scholorships. I asked our attorney about that and she confirmed but I didn't realize that even though you can't get financial aid during college you can get a scholorship with good grades as you and Don pointed out. Its great to have forums like this with everyone thinking together so we can all learn. Thanks again Sam

A few links to universities telling you that you cannot get any financial aid: 1)Q: Can F-1 nonimmigrant students get financial aid? A: To qualify for an F-1 visa, students must show the ability to pay for their educational and living expenses in the US for the entire length of their stay. As a result, they can not qualify for need-based awards through the FAFSA process but may qualify for an award from a designated fund. Link: http://www.nbts.edu/newsite/tuition.cfm 2)7. Can a student in F-1 status get Financial Aid? No. F-1 students show proper documentation that they have the financial support to pay their tuition and do not qualify for financial aid. Link: http://www.stcc.edu/admissions/international_faq.asp 3)If you are in the U.S. on an F1 or F2 student visa, a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, or a G series visa you are not eligible for federal student aid. Link: http://www.umass.edu/admissions/financial_aid/FAQ/ Now I did see that you may be able to get a scholorship and get a f-1 visa. you can get financial aid if you are a greencard holder or a legal resident but you cannot do so as a F-1 visa holder. So to clarify I now realize it seems you may be able to get a scholorship but you def. cannot get financial aid as a F-1 visa holder. Its not allowed. I was wrong about not being able to get a scholorship though.

Randy, Your own link says: (ii) the alien demonstrates that the alien has reimbursed the local educational agency that administers the school for the full, unsubsidized per capita cost of providing education at such school for the period of the alien's attendance. "Unsubsidized" means you did can not get financial aid. I spoke to a very informed attorney about this and she said she is positive you cannot get financial aid. I also called several universities and asked them and all have said foreign students coming in on a F-1 student visa are not allowed to get financial aid.

Hi Randy, Your right but it still doesn't mean you would be allowed to get any financial aid or scholorship to college. Do you know of any rule here that doesn't apply to college? Thanks

Hello everyone, I just wanted to give everyone a great link that provides information about getting the F-1 visa and repaying a public school for their expenses. http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1269.html

Congress enacted limitations on certain foreign students planning to study in U.S. public elementary and secondary schools. The "Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996," which took effect on November 30, 1996, places the following restrictions on students seeking F-1 visas who wish to study at public secondary schools. The student (or his or her sponsor) is required to reimburse the public secondary school for the full, unsubsidized per capita cost of education for the intended period of study. Proof that such tuition has been paid must be evidenced on the I-20A-B application form for the visa. Waivers are not allowed. This law also limits school attendance to a maximum of twelve months for secondary students under F-1 visas. Overseas advisors should know that this law additionally prohibits attendance in public elementary schools, K-8, or publicly funded adult education programs by any individuals coming under F-1 status. These restrictions do not apply to students who come to the United States under a J-1 visa, nor do they apply to private schools. Violating the law or failure to reimburse the school district can lead to a student being barred from the United States for five years. F-1 non-immigrant students must maintain a full course load while in the United States. They must follow a specific transfer procedure if they change schools. They are eligible for certain types of employment, provided the Designated School Official or DHS grants permission before the employment begins. The F-1 foreign student's obligations under U.S. immigration regulations are to: " provide evidence that the unsubsidized cost of tuition for any academic study in the United States is paid in order to obtain their visa, " have sufficient financial resources for the anticipated stay in the United States, " have a residence abroad to return to upon completion of the program in the United States, and " always maintain lawful immigration status while in the United States by keeping a valid passport, not working without authorization, and leaving the United States upon expiration of the visit or securing an extension of permission to stay if needed. Unsubsidized meaning you didn't get any financial aid or scholorship. Why would America allow a foreign student to come and study and take away the potential scholorship of a legal resident or american citizen. They do have a program for gifted students and especially talented individuals but that is not a F-1 student visa. The link to the above quote is: http://www.csiet.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=34133 The people you knew were on a whole other visa program and your information can't apply to regular people trying to get a F-1 visa. Its a special situation that doens't apply to everyone

Stone, Your talking about a visa other than a student visa. To get a F-1 Visa you are not allowed any scholarship or financial aid. I read it right off the immigration website. I also asked our Immigration attorney. The people you know of had something other than the F-1 Student visa to come in.

You can't get any financial aid or any scholorship if she is coming to study from China. I'm positive about this. She can't get into a public school unless you reimburse the school for the full cost of schooling her. To get a F-1 Visa you have to find a immigration approved school that will issue a I-20 for her to get a interview. You also can't have her visit here then switch her to a school. I'm positive about that too. since 911 the its not allowed. I have been researching this for the last week for hours a day. I also double checked with a very informed immigration attorney. If you adopt her and this one i'm NOT positive about you would have to give her in your will just as much as you would give your children. You would also have to support her for two years before she would be allowed to come in and she couldn't live with her parents so you would have to live in a seperate house. Its also the hardest visa to get because she is very likely not to return. Good luck

Thanks Don, I think you would know more about this because you are already in China and know people going through it. We are just hearing everything from the outside. We are trying to get her a F-1 Visa. I will update everyone on our time line. Thanks again for your input. Sam

I just wanted to give you the best links that I have so far for explanations of the F-1 visa. Just to let everyone know your passport can't expire within six months of the time that you want to enter the U.S. I thought you had to have your passport for six months before entering. Here are the best links for F-1 visa: http://www.rusticgirls.com/business/f1-visa.html (Explains everything) http://www.ice.gov/sevis/ (Shows statistics and other info) http://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/ApprovedSchools.pdf (List of schools that issue I-20) Good luck everyone. I have been researching this thing for days.

Hi Everyone, As promised I am posting the evaluation company. I just finished meeting with our Immigration attorney and she said that the F-1 visa is the hardest of all to get because you really have to prove that you will return back to China. Also, She doesn't use that company out of Chicago anymore she recommened somone out of New York. She said that I'm her first person using the company so its not a high recommendation but it seems like they are a national company and they claim to have over 1000 immigration attorneys using their service so don't blame me if they suck HAHA. Morningside Evaluations and Consulting 450 7th Ave, New York, NY 10123 Tel: 212-904-1025 www.mside.com Hope this helps. Also, I don't think the process takes a year. She can make a interview in less than a month for the F-1 visa and they will either tell you no right off or mail you the visa in a week. Remember its a hard visa to get. Also, i'm not sure if this is accurate but she said we could make another appointment to review her case but have to wait six months after she fails the first. Good luck everyone

Hi Don, One to two years to get the F-1 Visa!! I almost had a heart attack! Are you sure about this. I really hope you made a mistake because I found a school that is hopefully going to accept her to teach her TOEFL and english. They are federal government approved to issue the I-20 to us. From that point they said they can get us the I-20 in a week to 10 days. I called the Shanghai appointment center and they would be able to give us a appointment for the interview within three weeks. We were hoping to bring the I-20 pay the $100 SEVIS fee and get her to school here by May 5th. Are you saying that after the interview she would have to wait for them to mail her the visa approval and that would take one or two years? If that's accurate I would be heart broken. I have put her hopes up of coming to study here for High School then maybe even College.

I am going to get the Chicago companies information from our attorney this Friday. I promise to post an answer then. I know there is a minimum amount of months that you must have your passport before entering the U.S. does anyone know if its six months? Nicola's cousin just got her passport two months ago and it seems that she may be able to get her interview less than four months from that time. Thanks in advance Sam

Thanks everyone, I'm slowly researching this and I found out you need to have a private school that will help you with form I-20 so she can get a F-1 student visa to come study in our city. She would have to show strong ties and proof she would return to China. we will later move to Knoxville from New Orleans and our immigration lawyer said it won't be a problem to transfer. Also some schools may require that she takes a TOEFL exam in guangzhou before they accept her here. She would also have to have her grades translated in english with american equivalent grades, a company in Chigaco can take care of that. Just sharing my information. If anyone knows anything else please share! Sam

Hey Everyone, Nicola and I are doing really well! We just got back from China and I was wondering if anyone can help us. We would like to invite Nicola's cousin to study in America. Anyone know the process? She is in Jr. High and will start High School in six months. It would be great if she could go to High School here. Of course we are not expecting to put her in a public schooling system and mooch off the government. We are more than willing to pay all expenses involved in putting her in a decent private school and are willing to pay all her travel and living expenses. Any direction is appreciated. Hope everyone is doing well, good luck to everyone going through the visa process. Its really worth it in the end. Sam

How have you been Carl? How you spoken to Mark in a while? Our family is moving to Knoxville, TN. Is Trigg still around? Can't wait to tell him I'm moving closer to him! HAHA Thanks for the reply. We hope he won't have much problems

Hello everyone! Nicola would like to invite her uncle to visit us from Macau and we were wondering if it should be a easier process than a visitor visa from Mainland China. Anyone have experience with this? How likely is she to get her uncle to visit? We had both her grandparents and both her parents visit on seperate trips and all four returned in time. Thanks in advance Sam

Good luck i'm sure everything will go your way

Does anyone know if I need to fill out a affadavid of support? Thanks