Go to the interview with a copy of your most recent passport. I filled the form with a passport from 4 years ago but snapped a new one few days to my interview which I took along with me.

kenwizy:
Pls house, I use the pics that I used last year on my ds form ?

Please what can I do as I have already sunmitted my old pix for the second application.

My interview is in 3days time from now..

What can I do please...?

I don't think it's an issue.

I filled 3 to 4 ds160 forms for the same application/interview slot. The first one was for my f2. Filled in the second one but forgot to note the confirmation number. Filled a third one but when I was done, I noticed an error in my name. Then a filled a fourth one which I used. You are permitted to change your ds160 form if you want but has to be before 72 hours to the interview ie 3 days. Once you fill a new form, just go to your CGI portal and update your profile with the new number. Please do this at least 72 hours to your interview. Need I say that I got my visa approved with all the changes I made?

BigboysZ:
Sadly, you can't delete it and they have your information in their database.

I can't give a specific advice because you have submitted a wrong information before and now you want to correct it. Doing that will show inconsistency and it's a red flag.

I would suggest you leave it if it's something you can defend, otherwise, I really don't know what to tell you.

Let's see what others have to say.

Yes definitely. That's what was stated in the DS160 form if I remember

omooye22:
To be clear, you are not required to disclose anyone who is not an immediate relative. The US government is not interested in your Aunt or Uncle. They want to know about immediate relatives, such as your parents, your kids, and your siblings. I agree that you answer truthfully always.

Like I said, say the truth and don't lie about anything.

Except, of course, you are not close to your relative in the US, you should name them.

If I am not mistaken, I think the DS160 form lists specifically the kind of relatives they are asking for (brother, sister, father, etc)

If you lie about it, they will most likely find out. Except the said relatives migrated illegally, its not something you should be worried about.

ciarasommy:

Congratulations dear. This your interview really showcased your academics skills and shows you are truly a scholar.
Just a quick one: if someone has an Uncle or Aunty from maternal side staying in the US, would it be necessary accepting you have a relative or friend when asked to indicate.? Not talking of immediate relative ooo. I asked because people will always advice that you check "No" whether relative or immediate relative to avoid them denying you Visa.

For those asking for my transcript, here it is. Before I go on, I would like to state that I am the student whose spouse is already in the US on an f1 visa (Ph.D.)


VISA APPROVED
Interview Day: May, 2022. (This week)
Course: Ph.D. in Computer Engineering
School: an R1 school in the US
Funding: 100% fee waiver and half TA (about 13,000 USD)
Deficit: about 12,000 USD

Also note: I initially applied for an f2 visa in october 2021 after my spouse left (as we got married legally after his interview before he left) so when I got an offer for my Ph.D., I filled out a new DS160 form for an f1 visa instead. This was advised by the customer service representative I called. So long story short, I used my f2 slot for my f1 visa.


After my thumbprint and document check, I walked to the VO window.

VO: Good morning, please pass me your document.
I pass the document and they scan it.
VO: So why are you going for a Ph.D. in Computer engineering, that must be wow.
Me: I am going for a Ph.D. at the University of Bleep because I want to advance my career and it is the right time for me. I recently finished my Masters's degree in Data Science from Bleep University in the UK and I learned soso and so. That has prepared me for research in Machine Learning (ML) and I want to go deeper.

Additionally, while researching the schools, I came across Prof. Bleep work on mental health; using ML to predict depression from mobile phone data and it caught my attention specifically because a close family member suffered from mental health challenge and left home in 2018 unaware of her present environment (AKA she went missing). With my research, I want to be able to use ML to detect patterns in patients' data or data such as smartphone data for early detection of mental health challenges and other medical diseases and to connect patients to healthcare quickly before their ailment gets worse.


(At the point where I mentioned a family member suffering from depression, she left what she was typing and was looking straight into my eyes. she was listening attentively like I said something that touched her. )


Additionally, I have funding from the school that waives my tuition.

At this point, they cut in and ask.

VO: who is paying for your fees?
Me: I have funding that waives 100% of my tuition and covers a part of my living expenses. (cuts in and say you have a Teaching Assistantship looking at my DS160 I guess from the screen)

I continue: Yes TA. I will also be covering the other part of the funding from my personal savings.

VO: How did you come about the savings?
Me: I worked at Bleep during my master's and was able to save up some money during that time.

VO: oh so you had a scholarship for your masters and saved up some funds? That's impressive.
Me: yes

VO: are you married?
ME: yes

Vo: what happens to your family?
Me: Oh, my spouse is currently doing his Ph.D. in the same school at the Bleep department on f1 visa.

VO: do you have any kids?
Me: not yet.

VO: I can see you have a j1 visa before, what was it for?
Me: Yes, I participated in Bleep exchange program sponsored by the US government at University of Bleep in Bleep year.

VO: But you have a 2 years residency clause

(two years of residency means I am meant to be in Nigeria for at least 2 years after the exchange program before applying for an H1 visa or permanent residency visa and some others. I only researched about it after I left the interview. I knew I had that 2 years stuff but from my knowledge, it didn't affect f1 visa plus I had done 2 years in Nigeria cumulatively)

At this point, I was dumbfounded. was confused because I never thought this would be an issue. VO goes on to ask me where I did my master's and when I came back. responded that it was in the UK and I got back early last year.

VO: That is not up to 2 years then. Tell me again, when did you come back from the US, and when did you go for your masters and return.
Me: Gives precise dates of when I came back.

VO: but you've been in Nigeria since then right? and you were in Nigeria after your exchange program before your masters?

Me: Yes.

Vo took a pen and wrote all the travel details down. Did some calculations and told me they would get back to me. went inside with these details. at this point, I was already speaking in tongues cos by my calculation, I stayed about 13 months after my exchange program before going for my master's and have spent about 15 months in Nigeria since my master's.


VO comes back shortly still looking at some documents, and types some things on their computer. Oh, I forgot to add that they were typing all through my interview except when I mentioned my family member's health challenge. Then I noticed Vo picking up a white paper and says.

VO: Your visa has been approved, you will need this paper for so so and so.

At this point, I was overjoyed. Was smiling from inside my mask lol.

Me: would that be all?
VO: yes, congratulations again and wish you a safe trip.


Me: thank you. Walks out of the interview room and took a deep breath of relief.


SOME TIPS THAT MY EXPERIENCE TAUGHT ME
1. Be honest. Don't hide information and lie about things and think they won't figure it out.

2. Take your time to fill out your DS160 form. Again don't lie here. They know all these things. If you have been denied before also state it and give reasons. I have never been denied a visa but I didn't fill in my j1 status on my DS160 form as there was no provision for that but they somehow knew cos they have the details in their system.

3. If you have a gap say employment or study gap, be truthful about it and explain why. Try to give a logical and convincing explanation of why. Don't just say I have been looking for work and didn't find it. lol.
I haven't been in full-time employment since I returned however, I have been taking some courses to prepare for my Ph.D. and also published a book, and got married within that 15 months. Additionally, I had taken up some contract jobs for some well known organisations both in Nigeria and outside the country within this time. Those are the explanations I gave for being unemployed.

4. Don't falsify documents or lie about your status of something. They will definitely find out by asking you an unexpected question and since you haven't planned how to respond to back up the lie, you will just be stammering lol.

5. Arrive early. I arrived an hour before my interview and from all the screenings straight to the interview, I spent less than an hour. So, before my interview time, I was already done with the interview.

6. For those who are married to a spouse in the US, don't hide this information. Just say it as it is. It would most likely not affect you if they are there legally except of course yáll have ulterior motives and they will still find out anyways.


sorry for the long story. Lol. I am a writer so don't blame me. *covers face*

Hello,


I have similar experience as you.
MY spouse has been in the US on f1 visa before I applied for graduate school. My interview was this week and my visa has been issued.


You don't have to lie about anything. Just state it as it is.


I was asked "are you married "? I said yes. Then the next question was so what happens to family when you are away. I told the VO that my spouse is currently in the US on f1 visa and I have no kids yet.

If every other thing is good, then this shouldn't be an issue.


To answer your question about statement, there isa high probability that the VO wouldn't even look at your statement, however, printing the extra 2 months statement or requesting it wouldn't hurt. You want to make sure every t is crossed from your end and you have nothing to worry about.

mobbwc:
Good day House,

1. Does it make sense or work to attend the interview in May 2022 with a SOA that was gotten/printed in March 2022?

2. anyone has/or have heard of an f1 applicant who has/had a spouse on f1 already located in the US at the time of their interview? Will like to know the complexities and things to lookout for.

Please advise.

Thanks. The visa has been issued.

UmmZayd:


Congratulations and you're already worried. Since it was approved, don't be worried

Good evening Guys,


I am new to Nairaland and this is my first post here.


So I did my Visa interview today and was told it's been approved. However, I tried to track the status of my visa out of curiosity on https://ceac.state.gov/ and it says "Administrative Processing". I have googled what it means and it seems to be that it's for people who need additional screening and they are usually told during the interview? Sometimes the wait time can be weeks r even months?


I was told mine was approved so I am wondering if this is a normal status for everyone immediately after the interview.

I also tracked using https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ and was told my passport is still with the US consulate.

Now my question is, Is the administrative process status normal for everyone immediately after the interview or should I be worried?