Happy Schools Blog
A Comparison Chart – CPT vs OPT vs STEM OPT
So, do you want to know the difference between CPT, OPT and STEM OPT? Let’s start with the acronyms, OPT and STEM first, Ok? CPT – Curricular Practical Training OPT…
H4 to F1 Visa Interview – 9 Risk Factors to Consider Before Stamping
Why would anyone want to change from their legal status in the US from H4 to F1 Visa? I can think for following reasons for converting from H4 to F1…
What First and Last Name to Use When Registering for the GRE Test?
You decided to Register for the GRE Test. Before you know, you are about to create your account at the ETS site to Register for the GRE. The instructions ask…
9 Best GRE Prep Books 2018 – Reviews and Rankings
Looking for Best GRE Prep Books for 2018-2019? I have seen several emails from my readers asking for the best GRE Test Prep book and software. In this article, you will…
No Surname in Passport; FNU in US Visa; Life in USA is Can’t Get Any Tougher
Here is a comment from a reader. His passport doesn’t have a Surname ( or Family Name). Got FNU in US Visa. I understand that last name is very important…
How to Change the Name After GRE Registration (But Before the Test)
Scenario: You have registered for GRE or TOEFL. And you realize that you made a mistake while you created the account at ETS and Registered for the GRE. So, you…
If the Last Name Changes in the Passport, GRE Scores Becomes Invalid?
Rahul posted the following comment in the post, Blank Surname in the Passport – GRE and Admission. Here’s what he said: I am Rahul Ramachandran. As posted by many people…
Do You Have These 10 Skills to Be Successful in the Workforce & Your Life
Ok, you are studying abroad! Your dreams have come true. What’s next? How can you set yourself for success? Are you being reactive to your environment or proactive? In this article,…
Here’s How to Complete DS160 Without Last Name in the Passport
Do you want to know how to Complete DS-160 visa application form if your Last Name in your passport is Empty (or blank)? Here’s one reader’s experience (& lessons learned).…
Applying for Indian Passport – Given Name vs Surname
Students applying for passports encounter a particular kind of confusion on how to fill-out the Given Name and Surname fields in their Indian passport applications. We have already written a…
3 FAQ’s About Studying in Ireland – Admissions, Visa and Scholarships
Hello everyone. I never knew that there would be an overwhelming response to people wanting to know more about coming to Study in Ireland. Thanks for the pleasant comments in previous…
[Solution] How to Register for GRE with Multiple First and Surnames?
If you have multiple first names or multiple surnames, how to create the account and register for the GRE Test or TOEFL Test? For example My name is Arun Jxxx…
Surname Problems: Passport vs Certificates, Marksheets and Documents
A couple of more questions about missing surname in Indian passport or surname not matching with the name in certificates and documents. I have posted several articles in the same…
How to Change Name in Passport After Taking the GRE Test? (Solution)
In the series of article about the how to register for GRE, What names to use while registering for GRE and how to change the name after registering for GRE, the…
October 2018 Visa Bulletin Comes with Great News for EB2, EB3 India
Great news for applicants waiting on Green Card backlog in the October Visa Bulletin 2018 from the Filing Chart Date. Many applicants waiting for the Green Card for decades can…
EB5 Visa: The Importance of Source of Funds
If you get a chance to interact with any EB-5 visa investor, you would know the list of documents they had to provide to prove the source of funds. And…
Breaking News: USCIS Says that STEM OPT Students Can Work At Clients Sites, But Conditions Apply
USCIS announced today that F1 Visa students on STEM OPT can work at the third party client site but with conditions. The Background: The USCIS updated the website with the…
What Happens Next for STEM OPT, H1B Visa Under the Unlawful Presence Memo
You should have heard about two Memo from USCIS in the past few months that’s been discussed and looked through the lens – The Memo for Accrual of Unlawful Presence for…
7 Years of My Life After F1 Was Rejected 3 Times in 2011 and The Struggle is Real
Getting F-1 student visa would take you on a path to the U.SA. But, what happens if you don’t get the US visa? Have you wondered what happens to those…
Top 100 Universities in USA for Computer Science & Engineering with Rankings
The following table lists Top 100 Universities in USA for Computer Science (NRC Rankings) Masters (MS) in Computer Science Rankings PhD in Computer Science and Engineering Rankings NRC Computer Science…
F1 & F2 Visa Interview Experience – Fall 2018 – Hyderabad – Rejected – Alternative Energy Technology
Here’s an F1 Visa Interview Experience for Fall 2018 at U.S. Consulate in Hyderabad for Masters in Alternative Energy Technology. Read the both interview experiences and see if you can…
How Can An Average Middle Class Person Make It To The Top?
How Can an Average Middle-Class person make it to the top? Take a second to think about it. The more I think about it, I can see how deep this question…
Here’s 3 Best Books for AP and SAT US History Test Prep
What is the best book for SAT US History and AP US History Test Prep? I’m taking the SAT Subject Test – US History later this year. I wanted to…
Here’s How Your College Application is Reviewed and Admission Decision is Made
Would you consider writing a Statement of Purpose like read like this “I found out the night before the final exam about my father’s affair with a 23-year-old prostitute” and…
Impact: Day 1 CPT Universities vs New Unlawful Presence Memo
I wrote about the Day 1 CPT universities yesterday and why I think it tough times are ahead for students attending Day 1 CPT universities. What I wrote yesterday was…
60 Super Tips to Write a Powerful Statement of Purpose for Graduate School
Statement of Purpose (SOP) is the MOST important part of your Graduate School Application. As a prospective Graduate School student, you should be able to write a unique story describing…
IELTS Listening Section – Find Strategies via Trial and Error (4 Strategies to Try)
In this Part 2 of how to improve your IELTS Listening score include the following topics Importance of Mindeset IELTS Listening section strategies IELTS Active vs Passive Listening Tracking your…
6 Reasons Why Getting F1 Visa Is Only a Quarter of the Battle Won
I have been a fan of this blog since the days I was in my home country to the day I arrived in the USA to pursue my masters. However,…
Travelling to US on F1 Student Visa – List of Documents to Carry
After your F-1 Visa is approved, you would be frantically getting ready to rack and fly to the US. I was looking for a list of documents to carry with…
Low Starting Salary on OPT – Accept or Reject the Full-Time Job Offer?
As an international student on F1 visa, getting an invite for an in-person job interview is a big deal these days. After few days, you receive the phone call from…
Day 1 CPT Universities – Here’s Why I Don’t Recommend Them
You are attending a Day 1 CPT university for second Masters degree and your fiancee got H1B visa this year. And your fiancee has to attend the H1B interview. Your…
Mistakes in DS-160 Visa Application Form. How to Make Changes in DS-160?
Applicants applying for the US visa are required to submit the DS-160 online application form. For first time applicants, it may take over two hours to complete and submit the…
IELTS Listening – How to Practice to Improve Your Scores (Part 1 of 2)
Practice makes perfect. But, I was wrong when it came to IELTS Listening Test Prep. Repeatedly taking IELTS Listening practice tests did not improve the IELTS score in the listening…
IELTS Test Experience – This is How I Scored 9 in the IELTS Listening Section
I walked out of the IELTS Test. I came home and I started recollecting the answers for Listening Section. After a few minutes, I was able to recollect 38 questions…
H1B Visa 2019 Cap Count – Advanced Degree Applications Overtakes General Category
USCIS completes Random selection of H-1B Visa 2019 applications. So far everything is proceeding as expected (previous years). But, with a HUGE twist. USCIS for the first time in several…
Here’s Why F1 Visa Approvals in India Declined by 27%
You have your I-20 from few universities. And you are getting ready for F1 visa interview. But, you have one pending decision from your Dream school. Then your phone rings! It’s…
The Life of A Typical Long Distance Couple on H1B Visa & It’s Problems
I got married 5 years ago. My In-laws thought I cheated them. I’m spending every day, thinking, why did I come to the USA. I’m questioning my decision to study in…
H1B Visa 2019 Predictions – Can Applications Reach 300,000 This Year?
By now, you should have submitted all the required documentation to the Attorney to apply for H1B Visa 2019. Now, you are wondering about H1B Visa 2019 Predictions. Scouring through…
H1B Visa 2019 – New Memo, Lottery, RFE and Latest Updates
Are you applying for H1B Visa 2019 Fiscal Year? In a previous H1B Visa season with Lottery, the biggest challenge was getting selected in the H1B Visa Lottery. Since, last…
Ignore These 7 Job Search Strategies At Your Own Risk!
Warning: These Job Search Strategies for F1 Visa, F1 OPT Students, H4 Visa, even H1B Visa holders are not suited for mediocre” or “average” candidate. I just couldn’t convince her…
Here’s How Spill Over for Green Card via EB1, EB2, EB3, EB4 and EB5 Works
Have you wondered why the dates for EB2 India and EB3 India for Green Card are not moving and number of Green Card issued for EB2 India came from 23,000…
10 Tips to Get Into Top MBA Programs in USA or Europe
Most applicants decide to apply to MBA programs a year or two before the start of the program. But what if you have set eyes much in advance, say 2-3…
The New H1B Visa Memo from USCIS: Analysis, Potential Impact and FAQ’s
On Feb 22, 2018 USCIS published a new H1B Visa Memo titled “Contracts and Itineraries Requirements for H-1B Petitions Involving Third-Party Worksites”. Here’s the Press Release from USCIS about the Memo:…
21 FAQ’s About Filing Income Tax for International Students in USA
Filing taxes for international students can be a daunting task for some and for others, it can walk in the park. How do you feel about filing taxes? Do you…
How Not to Look Stupid When Communicating via Email
Last week, I realized a far more important problem that’s common and prevalent among prospective international students from India applying to study abroad. What problem is that? Lack of…
Does Your Email Have This Quality to Create a Great First Impression?
The first impression is the Best. When it comes to asking for help with a stranger or even requesting for a job interview, first impression counts. We use as primary for to…
I Increased GRE Score by 28 Points and Got Admit with Full Tuition Waiver (with Formula for Success)
Nandhini (Happy Schools Reader) wrote a comment about her American Education and Study Abroad experience at 5 Bitter Facts About Unambitious Students. Her thoughts and comments are something every student should…
F1 Visa Refused After 9 Months on 221(g). What happened Next is MIND BLOWING!
We often hear students attending F1 Visa multiple times after rejections. You will be amazed to see 6 to 7 F1 Visa rejections in a span of 6 months. Most…
I Lost My Passport With Valid USA Visa. What’s Next?
What do you do when your Passport with Valid US Visa stamp is lost while you are in the USA? That’s exactly what happened to a couple of students on…
The Role of Consultancies in the U.S. Admission Process – Student’s Speak Out
We have been covering the role of consultancies (aka agents) in U.S. College admission process. So, far we have seen a couple of experiences from readers (who were in India)…