F1 Visa Rejected for Second Masters Degree – Need Answers
Do you have a Masters Degree?
Are you planning to study a second Masters Degree in the US?
Then get ready to answer “Why do you want to study a second Masters Degree in the USA?”
If your answer is not convincing enough to the visa officer, then your F1 Visa would likely be Rejected!
That’s what happened with this student’s F1 Visa Interview.
F1 Visa Rejected Second Masters Degree
I received this email from a reader who sent her F1 Visa Interview Experience for a second Masters degree.
I got F1 visa rejection for second masters degree. I have already completed my M.Sc. in Biotechnology and have applied for MS Biochemistry.
The VO asked me why do you want to do MS again?
I explained that Biochemistry is a concentrated field and specialized subject. While Biotechnology was applied and wide subject. So I want to add core set of Biochemistry skills to my knowledge.
VO: Can you be more specific? How will second masters degree help you?
I said I want to work as Sr. Research Scientist.
But he wasn’t convinced.
Please help me what can I do or what should I have to improve in this case?
Possible Reasons for F1 Visa Rejection
Looks like your answers weren’t convincing enough to the Visa Officer to approve your F1 Visa.
And I think anyone reading your answer would agree. Right?
From what you have written in the email, you should have given a clear cut answer.
Look at the choice of words:
- Concentrated field
- Wide subject
- Applied subject
- Add Core Skills
Those words don’t necessarily convey your true intentions. And not strong enough to convince the Visa Office to approve the F1 Visa for second masters.
I have said several time before about the same question.
If you are applying for a second Masters degree, you should expect this question:
Why do you want to second another Masters Degree?
Unless, you have well prepared and rehearsed answers, you are making it easy for the VO to reject your student F1 Visa.
Here’s an email from F1 Visa applicant with another layer of complexity in addition to Second Masters Degree.
For an unprepared applicant, tackling the answers to “Why do you want to study Masters again?” is a challenge.
Now, add another scenario: Applied to just one university!
- second masters-already having a masters degree from India and applied for masters again for the USA.
- applied to one university but
- have work experience of 3 years and 11 months
Why Second Masters in the USA?
We all know that 2+2 = 4.
But, there’s no magic formula or format to answer this question.
In fact, you don’t a formula at all.
The answer to this question is actually within yourself. You have to take a piece of paper and a pen.
Find a place to sit and write down the answers.
You decided to Study in the USA.
You decided to study a second masters degree.
You are spending so much money to study.
You can’t expect another person to write an answer for you.
You are the lead character in your movie. So, think to find the real reason and motivation to study in the USA.
And speak up that answer.
I have done my masters in computer networks in Australis and now i am planning for double masters at University of north texas for masters in computers and information sciences. please help me out in this.
thanks in advance
Hi Sir, How difficult it will be for me to get an F1 visa or overcome a 214(b) refusal? The truth is that I completed my B. Tech in 2020 and always had this passion to pursue a master’s in Video Game Development from the US. But, after graduation, I lost my job due to covid and not to waste any further time, I enrolled in an M.Tech in I.T. at a local Tier 3 college. I would be completing it in 2022 by the end of June. I still want to pursue a Master’s in the US for game development as there are no colleges that offer proper game courses in India. I am preparing for GRE, TOEFL and also have my Portfolio ready for games. I know due to this Covid, I am pursuing a master’s right now and I know it will be very difficult to get an F1 for fall 2022. Please, can Someone provide me some tips to ace the F1 visa interview? despite having a master’s degree. I wanted to study game development from my childhood. I need some tips as I am having too much anxiety reading so many interview rejection stories on the internet for a second master’s in the USA. Trust me, I have no immigration intent as I am the only child of my parents and we have our own house here with 3 family members.
Hi All, I was going through this blog and see situations similar to me so wanted to ask a couple of questions. I was in the US till 2019 and came back to India after applying for opt. The reason I had to come back is that my 60 days grace period was about to end and if I apply for another master’s then my opt application will be canceled. But I forgot that USCIS is aware of my grace period and they will give their decision before the deadline. As soon as I came to India my OPT was approved. Then I have decided to move back and my visa was canceled at the port of entry because they found other students from my college doing odd jobs while on F1 (They were on a previous flight). My family is settled in the USA I had enough funds to support myself without working. But that doesn’t matter to VO because he only believes what he sees in my history. Now I am actually planning for Second Masters but the main two questions that are bothering me 1) Why second masters & 2) Visa was canceled and what answer should I give to VO? Can anyone help me with these questions? Also, my visa was canceled in 2019 December It is almost one year). I could not find any job in the last one year due to Covid 19. Prior to that, I had 11 years of work experience in India and officially about 6 months in the USA. And, I have been in the USA for 4.5 years. Any suggestions or inputs will be a great help.
Thanks,
Raj
You have a complicated scenario. Talk to ArgoVisa Officers. https://www.happyschools.com/interview-mandy-argo-visa/
Hi what was your answer had the VO asked you about the second masters?
Hi all,
I’m currently enrolled in a US university for a Ph.D. course (Ending Aug 2021) and my visa with Master’s degree (Got in First attempt for 5 years) is expiring in this November, 2019. I’m planning to go to India July for a 3 week emergency situation. Here are my questions:
1. Do I need to go for stamping compulsory as my visa is valid for less than 6 months?
2. Do I need to go for stamping only after current visa gets expired? How soon can I go for stamping before the expiring of the current one?
3. Will I face any issues at port of entry as my visa will be valid for only 4 months when I come back?
4. I’m considering travelling to Canada (I have visit visa) to get F1 visa stamped before going to India. Is it better to go in India or Canada?
What kind of questions should I expect at the Interview? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Hi All,
I got approval for my second masters’ in USA.
Luckily he did not ask anything about “why I am going for second masters”.
I scored 326 in GRE, which impressed him I guess.But prepared heavily for the interview.
Just sharing my experience. Infact I read all the blogs about getting visa for second masters in the web.If you are plain lucky, there wont be any questions.Even if he asks, if you have a convincing answer and can say it with confidence, you will get it.All the best
Hi what was your answer had the VO asked you about the second masters?
I framed my answer saying that after my first master’s I worked in new field and got interested in it and to pursue a successful career in this new field, I realized that I needed a master’s degree. Even though it was not accurate, it would have worked. How does he know, to be honest.
Hi Anoop,
I am also going to attend F1 interview for my second masters. Does your university offer day 1 cpt? What questions were asked in your interview and which consulate ?
Hi Sam…Could you help me with your Visa Interview Experience…As I am also planning for my second masters….Thank you
Hey Sam, u got u r visa approved, plz let me know as I m in the same boat
Hi,
Was your second masters in the same subject as your first one?
If the vo asks why you are doing second masters what will be the best answer given to it!( Double masters in computer science)
Iam in the same boat
Ur ans wil help!
Hi Nishu….Did you get any blogs or articles helping on this? Also did your University asked same question while applying….Did your SOP has justification for it? Kindly help.. 🙂
hey Nishu, Did you get a visa for a second master’s? pls share your experience and answer for that
HI Anoop…Could you please help me such Blog Links…it will give me better Idea over it. Also could you please tell me how was your Visa Interview in detail…..Thank you
Hi Pratiksha have you attended the interview?? IF yes what was your status>? please let us know
Hi,
I am doing my second master (CPT), it was terminated and I had to receive a new I20 and do re-entry. Usually for student visa the I94 says D/S, but I received a date and the officers mentioned I should do a re-entry on/before the date mentioned. My visa is expiring in 6 months. I am not sure what to do? Has anyone faced this issue. What do you advice? Re-entering/ Leaving is my only option or file for extension which I think is too late for me to do. Appreciate any advice
Did you problem Solved ??
hi,
I have done my first masters in Electrical engineering from the University of Bridgeport. My OPT is over and currently doing second masters in Computer Science from Harrisburg University. I have traveled to India several times (once during the first masters, once on OPT and once on Second masters CPT), fortunately, had no issues while re-entering into the US.
now my F-1 visa is expired which was on first masters. I am planning to visit India in February and I understand that I will have to give a Visa interview. I am really tensed as in what would be the consequences of appearing for an F-1 visa interview on a second master.
Please advise.
If you are doing second Masters just to stay in status, continuing the same job from OPT for CPT means, it’s gray area. Good luck with your second F1 Visa interview. Expect lot of questions. Please do come back here to share how it went. Consult with your Attorney as well.
Hi Gouri,
Can you let us know how things turned out for you? Did you get your F-1 visa?
Hi, I am planning to travel back home this winter and I’m worried I will not be able to re enter the US or be questioned heavily. I got my masters in the US (F1) then OPT then I am again enrolled in a university to pursue my MBA (same F1 visa from previous school), while on CPT. I read so many posts on people saying don’t leave the country while on 2nd masters CPT, but I see that you made it back! Could you provide more details on what documents you had in hand with you and what questions were asked at immigration? Much appreciated. Thank you.
Hello Gouri.
I am currently in a similar situation and on CPT at HU. Can you share your experience on getting a second F1 stamp?
Thank you.
Hi ,
Could you share your experience. I am in same situation.
can you share your experience, what are you up too?
Hi! I did a Masters in non STEM subject. I graduated with MS in 2015 and worked for a year on OPT. I did not get an H1B. My F-1 visa stamp says it is valid till 2018. If I decide to do PhD would I have to apply for F-1 visa again.
Hi. I appeared for f1 visa on 8th dec but they reject me
. And i am going to second time on 21 dec.. the que she asked me why r u going to do again masters ? And my ans is-
I did my one master in urban planning amd now i am going to do masters in transportation..
Please help me that how i convince them for getting visa ?
Hi All,
I have completed my masters in an accredited non profit university (which meets all the criteria for the student to be eligible for masters quota at the time of H1b application). However H1 did not go through and I had to join Harrisburg university for second masters. I wanted to understand if I will continue to be eligible under masters quota when I file for H1 on April 2016 as I have a degree from an accredited non profit university.
Thanks
Yes, you would be eligible for Advanced Degree Cap.
Same problem
Hello Everyone,
I have already done my MBA in retail management from India and have applied again for MBA in IT in USA, what can be a best possible answer to convince VO to approve my student visa.
Also, does age factor matters in this? Please guide soon.
It will be a challenge and you need to have an convincing answer. If VO gets the feeling that your MBA in USA is means for you to just enter USA, then you could get rejection under 214(b).
Mine situation is same like you people.I have completed MCA and now m going for MS in Information quality program.Now m worried about the main question “WHY YOU WANT TO GO FOR ANOTHER MASTER DEGREE?” Please help me.
I hope you somehow come across this reply after all these years. I did finish my MCA and now after almost close to 2 years of job trying to go for MS in Germany. Did you manage to get the visa? Hoping to get some reply.
Hi All,
I am going through this blog since a month ,and it is very useful .
My profile:
masters in MIS in USA,came back to India before my opt got completed.
working in Information systems.
now iam planning to do MBA .got admitted to the same univ as previous masters and other.
have my interview on may 3rd.
Though am prep with the Q on why double masters…..dont know the exact way to convince them…any suggestions would be appreciated…..
Guys wish me good luck too!!!!!!!!
hi..on the same boat.. how did things turn out for you?
Hey Priya, how did things turn out for you? Did you go through your interview already?
Hi,
Please let us know if any one got the visa who has done masters already. Mine is rejected twice have done MCA going for MS in CS.
same is mine case 🙁 i got rejected thrice !!!!
Hi , Am in same boat . Am a Ap guy , I heard that chennai visa consulate will give f1 visa for dual masters . Am a mca student , I want to do masters in computer science. but my visa is rejected for first time in chennai because of dual masters . Can u tell me the proper answer to get visa and which visa consulate(hyd / chennai) is best for interview .
hey guys…
i hav done mba…. i got admtd to MS Info Tech & Magmt…. if he asks why again masters after ur mba ? i hav my visa interview on 20th of dec so pls do rply as early as possible
please help me how can i convince him…?
hi,
just wanted to know how did ur visa interview go? i m also going for a second master’s.
hi bro…. i am in the same case….. did u get ur visa… wat r u doing now.. please share some experience.
Dear friends,
I am also having same problem.I have done MCA.now I want to do MS in computer science.I am going to attend ambassy in november 2011,please any one can give me proper answer.
hai boss, r u got the visa. Am also in same problem boss at present . can u give some suggestions to me , my mail id is [email protected]
Is it the same if you apply for a second Bachelor Degree?
Here is my situation. I did a BA in Marketing in UK( 08) n now want to move in Insurance. My uncle n father have a Insurance company back home, n i intend to go work with them after.I have only applied and got accepted to one university. But the thing is that i originally applied for an MBA n was denied and advised by the Uni to do a 2nd BA instead. I am married n livin in the UK n my father is sponsoring me.
What do you think of my profile? What problems could i encounter?
Hi this is jagadeesh I also completed my Msc chemistry and looking for MS chemistry again in Ms. So, to get the visa i need to convince the VO.
How it would be if I say like this ? plz replay me whether VO got convinced with this explanation or not.
I will explain like this, " sir, The Msc which i did now is completely theoritical and I don't have even a single project in my Msc. Now a days this type of theoritical degrees without practical experience are given last preference. Thats why I decided to do MS again in US where Graduates main objective is to do research".
or
Another possible explanation would be like this, " sir, I am a Bsc student with three years degree . With this three years degree I am not eligible for the MS in US. More over, the eligibility requirement for a three year Bsc student to do MS is Bsc+ Msc. So in order to fulfill the eligibility i did my Msc here. Now i am eligible to do MS in US.
PLz replay me does this explanations would convince the VO or not plz…………..
Somewhat ok…
can you please tell me if you got ur visa… if yes… how did you convince him
Did u get the visa?
Please can anyone give me further guidance?
@machbio : Thanq.. This sounds great!! 🙂
@prashanthi..
you can mention that you have been working in some company.. and the company wants me to upgrade my skills and they are not willing to pay for my study cost.. so i am going on my own to study…
Can you send me some suggestions or links for proper answers?
Hi all,
Even i have completed my Msc here and am planning for MS 2011 intake. SO will i also face the same prob?!! How should i convince the VO? I want to apply for MS in Microbiology and shift to clinical research after going there. Will it be a prob?!!
In the US, it is very common for people to change fields. Why dont you tell the VO that in this tough economy, you need to retrain in order to be more competitive. That is very easy to believe.
@SS
Yeah it is!! Thnq 🙂
@prashanthi : could you please share the experience you had with VO for the second masters degree…..
Can u plz say me about second master regarding interview part.