Happy Schools Blog
Myth 3 – It’s Impossible to Get Part-Time or Scholarships for F1 Students
The general view among International students is that it’s tough to find part-time, on-camp jobs or assistantship positions. But, is it really true? Is it impossible to get any part-time…
How to Get FICA Tax Refund for F1, OPT & STEM OPT
Students on CPT, OPT, STEM OPT are exempt from FICA Taxes (Social Security and Medicare Taxes). In other words, you don’t have to pay FICA taxes on your paycheck. Some…
FICA Taxes Refund Timeline – 6 Months & More
Have you applied for a FICA tax refund with IRS? Then you are probably want to know the FICA Tax refund timeline and process. I remember some F1, OPT students…
Bill S386 Status, Latest Updates and News – Blocked by 4th Senator Now
Senate Bill S386 – Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019 is co-sponsored by Senator Mike Lee and Senator Kamala Harris. Sponsors are trying to get this bill S386 voted…
New SEVP Policy: Direct Relationship Between Employment and Area of Study to be Determined by DSO
On Sept. 30, 2019, SEVP published new policy guidance – “Practical Training: Determining a Direct Relationship Between Employment and a Student’s Major Area of Study.” This new SEVP policy was…
How to Get Graduate Research Assistantship? 50% Perseverance, 30% University Specific and 20% Luck!
I’m part of the former, a Graduate Student in Civil Engineering at Iowa State University. I’ve been going through this blog, and while it’s a treasure chest of info, I…
Which is Better – Research Assistantship vs Teaching Assistantship?
So, do you want to know which is better? Which is better: Teaching Assistantship, Research Assistantship, or Graduate Assistantship? Before we look into this, make sure you have read the…
#1 Reason to Use MPower Financing International Student Loans and Reviews
Did you know International students can get no cosigner loan from MPower Financing? There were no private loan providers like Mpower Financing when I came to study in the US….
How to Get Financial Aid From the Professor in the USA in Your Grad School?
If you like to get a Research Assistant and some cases Teaching Assistant position, then you have to work with professors and help them with their research. Some of the…
Types of Financial Aid – Assistantships, Fellowships, Scholarships vs Grants
Let start with a few simple questions. What’s the difference between Financial Aid and Scholarship? What’s the difference between Fellowships and Scholarship and a Grant? You probably don’t know the…
Top 10 Tweets About S386 Bill – Green Card Country Cap Removal
The S386 Bill: Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019 – aka Country Cap Removal for Employment-Based Green Card Bill. Senator from Georgia David Perdue blocked this bill S386. The…
Use These 20 Questions as a Guide to Plan Your H4 to F1 Visa Conversion
Are you looking for an optimal Path for H4 to F1 Visa to a Career in the USA? For some, the path would be smooth and straight forward. For others,…
Buying a Home While on OPT or H1B Visa – Analysis & the Math
Should you buy a home while you are on H1B Visa? Should you buy a home while you are on F1 Visa – OPT or STEM OPT? When it comes…
Here’s My Experience with Refinancing Student Loan with Prodigy Finance [Video]
I spoke with Chandu; he recently refinanced his student loan with Prodigy Finance. His student loan interest rate from India = 13% The interest rate with Prodigy Finance After Refinance…
EB5 Visa India – Retrogression, Backlog for India. 8+ Years Waiting Times
EB5 China is Backlogged. EB5 Vietnam is Backlogged. EB5 India is also retrogressed. And it doesn’t stop with India. Brazil, Taiwan, and South Korea could be next. Current wait time for…
EB5 Visa Investments: Direct, Direct Pooled vs Regional Center
Given a choice, would you prefer to invest in own business over Direct Pooled or a Regional Center Project? Of course, you would say yes. Who wouldn’t want to invest the hard-earned money…
Can $500,000 Investment be Any Type of EB5 Projects?
Question from EB5 Visa Newbie – Can an EB5 Investor invest in any EB5 Visa Projects? And are there any restrictions on types of business that qualify for EB5 Visa? Good…
EB5 Visa Investment – $500,000 or $1,000,000? (or $900,000 or 1.8 Million)
As of now (at this time of writing), EB-5 Visa Investment Amount is at $500,000 or $1,000,000. But, how to find if a specific EB5 project qualifies for $500,000 or…
How H1B Visa and H4 Visa Workers Can Afford $500,000 for EB5 Visa?
Have you wondered how someone on H1B Visa and H4 Visa could afford $500,000 + Admin Fee + Attorney Fee, which add up to $575,000? The minimum investment amount is $500,000…
20 FAQ’s – EB5 Visa for H1B Visa Holders
On a Friday night, you meet with friends for a drink and dinner. You start talking about EB3, EB2 and never moving Priority Date. One of your friends casually mentions…
Glossary of EB5 Visa Terms – Pay attention to Financial Terms
A typical EB5 Investor would run into most of the terms listed below if not all as part of the EB5 project due diligence process. The Regional Center – An EB-5…
EB5 Visa Process for US Green Card – I-526, I-485 and I-829
In this article, you can learn about how to get U.S. Green Card via EB5 Visa along with the steps and stages of the EB5 Visa application process along with…
Myth 4 – Don’t Study Bachelors Degree in the USA (Come for Masters Degree)
Have you read the previous three myths about Studying in the USA? If you you can find th elinks at end of this article. Are you ready to dive into…
3 Ways to Expedite Your OPT or H4 EAD Application with USCIS (with Case Study)
You want to know how to expedite EAD or OPT card from USCIS? By the end of this article, you will learn the following OPT Timeline with expedite request How…
OMG! U.S. Plans to Add Country Cap to H1B Visa for Indians – 10% to 15% of Annual Cap
. The U.S. government plans to restrict (or limit) the number of H-1B Visas issued per year to 10% to 15% of Annual Cap. Looks like Indian officials were…
The Cost of MS in the USA – Masters Degree
Are you planning to study a Masters Degree in the USA and you want to know the cost of studying Masters (MS) in the USA? Add all the expenses for…
How Much Does it Cost for WES Transcripts Evaluation?
Have you ever wondered why Universities require the Transcripts Evaluation or what is the cost of Transcripts Evaluation? You have come to the right place. What you’ll learn here. Types…
4 Options to Pay US University Tuition Fees
Once, your F1 Visa is approved, you are going to start thinking the folowing. How to Pay the College Tution Fees? How to take the money with you for Living…
What is a Credit Hour & How Tuition Fees are Calculated from The Credit Hour?
What the heck a Credit Hour? Why do Universities list the tuition fees in relation to the Credit Hour? How many Courses should I study to complete Bachelors or Masters…
College Tuition Fees: In State vs Out Of State Fees
Want to learn the differences between in-state and out-of-state tuition at state public universities? You have come to the right place. Here’s what you will learn in this article: The difference…
The Breakdown: Tuition Fees + Living Expenses vs I-20 (9 and 12 Months)
My I-20 mentions that the total cost for the Masters is $35000 for 12 months. And the tuition fee is $22,000. I’m having a hard time to wrap my head…
Master’s Degree – Thesis or Non-Thesis – Which is Better?
A master’s degree at U.S. universities takes one to two years to complete depending on your degree plan. Let me qualify the above statement again. Most Masters Degree would take…
Court Issued Nationwide Preliminary Injunction for Unlawful Presence Memo. What Does That Mean?
Nationwide Preliminary Injunction for Unlawful Presence Memo! What does that even mean? What about the word Enjoins in the following statement? “The motion is GRANTED in that the Court hereby…
Prodigy Finance Review – Refinance F1 Student Visa Loan to Save Money
Can you save money by refinancing your International student education loan by refinancing with Prodigy Finance? So, let’s find out. Shall we? If I were to refinance my education loan…
H1B Visa 2020 – Lottery Results, Receipt Number Tracker
Have you applied for H1B Visa in April 2019 and waiting for the Lottery Results? Please update your current H1B Visa Application and Status by submitting the form below. If…
Next Steps After After H1B Visa Lottery Selection – Sleepless Nights to Receipt Numbers
USCIS announced they had completed random selection of H1B Visa applications. Also, they announced, 201,011 H1B Visa 2020 applications were received. Are you a first time H1B Visa applicant? Let…
F1 Visa for PhD Rejected After Lost Passport & 3 Years Into PhD
Three unique things about this F1 Visa Interview for a Ph.D. stands out. F1 Visa Denied for Ph.D. Don’t Take US Visa Interview for granted The student has only one…
Is H4 EAD Saved? DHS Asks The Court to Dismiss the Lawsuit Filed by Save Jobs USA
Great News for H4 EAD Spouses! DHS is arguing that Save Jobs lacks standing to challenge DHS about implementing H4 EAD. And DHS is requesting the court to dismiss the lawsuit….
F1 Visa Interview Experience – Fall 2019 – Review, Analysis and Lessons Learned
Here’s an F-1 Visa Interview Fall 2019 – Rejection experience, where you can learn several lessons to help you with your F1 Visa interview and avoid rejection. What’s Included in this…
OMG! H1B Visa Filing Fees Can Vary From $3,000 to $10,000
Do you want to know the H1B Visa Filing Fees? There’re various fees that USCIS requires as part of the H1B Visa application. Let’s start with two examples. Example H1B…
H1B Visa RFE’s – Top 10 Reasons Why RFE’s Were Issued by USCIS
62.3% of H1B Visa applications issued RFE were approved for FY 2018. In other words: About 38 H1B Visa Petitions were Denied for every 100 after RFE’s were issued. What…
H1B Visa Premium Processing Available for FY 2020 Season in Two Phase. But, What About Approval Chances?
Premium Processing dates for H1B Visa FY 2020 to be offered in two phases, USCIS announced on Mar 19, 2019. The Bottomline: H1B Visa 2020 Premium Processing will not be closed for…
These Advanced Degree H1B Visa Cap Count Statistics Will Blow your Mind Away – 2020 – 2019
Have you seen the total H1B Visa Cap Count and Petitions filed under the Advanced Cap for last few years? Do you want to know how many F1 Students changed…
Do You Want to Know H1B Visa 2020 Probability in the H1B Visa Lottery?
Do you want to know your H1B Visa 2020 probability? I’m sure you have heard about the reversal of H1B Visa Lottery order for H1B 2020 fiscal year. How does…
H1B Visa 2020 – USCIS Received 201,011 Application. Lottery Completed [Apr 11, 2019]
Are you applying for H1B Visa 2020 (April 1, 2019)? If your answer is Yes! You have two Important milestones to reach. Getting Selected in the H1B Visa Lottery Getting H1B…
How to Refinance Your International Student Loan Without Cosigner with Prodigy Finance
Have you wondered how to get an International student loan without cosigner in the USA? Do you want to know in less than 15 minutes, if you can refinance your…
Myth 2: Scholarships Are Not Given to F1 Visa – International Students
When I came to the US to study bachelors degree, as an International student, I did not bring a ton of money with me. I had enough funds to cover…
Day 1 CPT Students, Have You Accrued Unlawful Presence & Do You Have to Depart the USA?
Here’s a look at various scenarios and solutions, and discussed. Certain students on F1 Visa can potentially face 3 years ban starting Feb 5, 2019, due to the unlawful presence memo…
Indian Students Attending A Fake University Setup By the Government Arrested at 4 AM
ICE Raided and Arrested Students Attending – The University of Farmington, Michigan. This is like an Action/Thriller Story. Remember the University of Northern New Jersey? Quick Summary: While, the news…
F1 Visa Rejected Twice for Bachelors Degree – I’ve Got No Options Other Than To Die
I’ve been rejected twice by the US Consulate at New Delhi for Spring. I wanted to pursue B.S. in Computer Science. I got admission with a scholarship worth $10,375 per…