f1 visa for community college
F1 Visa

Simple Trick to Get F1 Visa for a Community College in USA

Is it possible to get F1 Visa for community college?

Yes you can. But, there’s a trick to that.  I will explain that with two examples.

In this article, you can read two F1 Visa interview experience for Community College. Then, you can read why one student got F1 visa, and other got rejected.

F1 Visa for Community College – Rejected

I was denied my F1 visa during my first interview at the New Delhi consulate. Here’s my background:

I am a high school graduate, and I was accepted into Foothill College (2-year transfer community college) in California. The Visa Officer, during my interview, asked me two questions about the college. Here’re the questions and answers:

1) How did you hear about Foothill?

The college was mentioned during a college spotlight at school by my college counsellor.

2) Why Foothill College?

The fees are comparatively more economical as compared to the other college I was accepted into(i.e., Florida Inst. Of Tech.). Another reason is that Foothill has an excellent transfer program to the University of California schools.

3) Do you have anybody in the U.S?

No.

After the third question, visa officer denied my visa stating that he found me to be a non-credible student and issued me the 214(b).

I didn’t have the chance to present any of my academic records or any other documents. I am planning to reapply again very soon, and I need suggestions as to what I could do different/correct this time.

There aren’t a lot of changes I can make with my application itself, so I depend solely on my interview itself. I look forward to your suggestions.


 

F1 Visa for Community College – Approved

Here’s another student who got his F1 Visa sharing his experience.

I have received five years F1 visa for a community college (Pierce College) in Los Angeles. Here’s how?

I applied in January, but I got rejected.

Reason. I could not convince the VO why I am selecting a community college over a university. They need a solid proof.

I applied again in July of the same year, and I got my visa.

I took the course curriculum with me telling them what’s the main reason for community college and what exactly am gonna do. Same classes at university were at community college but at four times the price of community college.

So, I explained the VO why should I pay more for same classes when I can cover them at much affordable price plus how flexible is a community college.

I got my visa and I am typing this sitting from LA. I did some mistakes but not I am on track again. I am transferring to UCLA, and I would recommend everybody “stay honest to yourself” and “Be confident” good wishes from LA.


Visa officers expect students were going to community college to tell them their plans to transfer to 4-year college. You have to make this argument to get F1 Visa for attending the community college.   If you can’t convince your visa officer, then you can’t get the visa.

Now, you know the trick. It’s time to save some money by studying first two years in a community college and then transfer to the 4-year university.

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32 Comments

  1. So, I should tell the Visa Officer that I want to transfer to a four year college in the US after I’m done with the two year community college?

  2. Hello, I have my niece that residing in VA right now. She have f1 visa and planning to move here in Hawaii and study in community college here. Is their any possible she can study in community college and at the same time to work for her tuition as part time? Or does she need any other visa to change to do that? Pl reply. Thank you

    1. Transfer to Community College is possible and can work on-campus job for up to 20 hours per week.

  3. Applying for a Community College doesn’t mean your visa is already rejected ,,The most important Thing is be clear on your plans to Transfer to a 4 years University

  4. I was asked why I want to start over again in the US for associates degree even I have 1 year left for BA here in my country (Cambodia) and I get a opportunity to study there so how can I asnswered the right one ? I have been rejected 1 time already

  5. Hello. Im an international student now at Community Collage of Philadelphia. But when I first came to Us i was at Templw University which also i had the F1 visa from Temple university. But now i want to go for vacation on winter break but my visa has expired since 2016. What are the chances that they will renew my visa?

  6. Hello! I have a BSC (Computer Science) here in Nigeria, but due to poor facilities in our universities and poor practical approach, I am not satisfied with the knowledge I gained during my undergraduate studies. Therefore, I want to start afresh by going through a community college in the United States because I want to be expert in my field. My question is, I want to study Cyber Security in a US college and I already have a BSC (Computer Science) which is obviously related to the course I am going for. I have a strong feeling that this will raise questions at the embassy! So please, how do I convince the consular. And again will it be advisable for me to just ignore my undergraduate degree during my application? again my age will be another factor that has to be considered if my degree is ignored. Please I need a concrete advise.

    1. Hi, are you on face book? Please follow It’sJanet Rangi and you’ll get all the clarification you need. All the best

  7. I really need help with this because I am a high school student (12th grade) from India, I plan to apply to community colleges but I’m confused like whether I should tell the visa officer about my transfer to other university plans or not like you’ve written even in the first case which got rejected, he told about his transfer plans then why did he get rejected? What if the VO asks me why not study in India. Kindly reply please!

  8. I’m on a visitor visa in USA and staying with my son, can I get a admission to a community College and apply for change of status from B2 to F1 staying in USA. Is it accepted.

    1. yes, it s accepted but risk involved.
      I heard B1 expires when you apply for F1. If u rejected for F1- when you are returning they may issue overstay on B1 visa.
      Don’t take my advice as professional- i’m also a student in India who’s planning for F1
      also heard, there’s is high rejection rate if u apply for B1 & visited USA just few months back & apply for transfer to F1

  9. I was rejected after 2
    the first wasnt a fair interview
    2nd was long nd serious
    i just finished high school nd der he was asking me what i studied like i was a graduate going for masters ,he then asked why an assoicate degree instead of a bachelor degree.pls help me out

  10. I was asked why i choose an associate degree instead of a bachelor degree…pls help me as i would reapply soon for the 3rd attempt

  11. pls i am 24years old….and im applyin for F1 visa how do i explain to my VO that i have not attented a college since after high school?

  12. hi. my name is Kayode a student apply for a community college in us and am in Nigeria. my visa got rejected just by asking me two question.
    vo. why are you going to the us. and why go for an associate degree and not Bsc. and she just told me she can’t approve my visa, I was surprise cause I could not make any case not asking about my document. anything and just reject under section 214(b) . please can you tell me where I go wrong.

  13. Hi, pls need help, have plans of submitting document to a US base community college…Due to the fact that i m working in Dubai and my residence visa indicates that I’m an ordinary labourer .A friend of mine advice me to go back to my home country and apply from there and immediately fire in for a new passport that with such visa on my passport the VO might think I’m seeking a way out to secure a space in US soil…Pls I need help from this forum wat is the best alternative for me ???? Plssssss help !!!!!!

  14. How Can I convince the visa officer that i am gonna complete undergradute degree with 4 years???

  15. I’m an African currently working in Dubai as a warehouse assistant just got my admission into Kirwood community college to study agriculture…Have a lot of discouragments from friends that my visa application is going to be reject because I applied via a community college…Pls I need help I’m already discourage.

  16. i didn’t understand that after two years of study on the community college again we should study 4years or not for bachlore?

    1. Hello Ashok Shrestha,
      The student complete First 2 years in Community College and then transfer to the four-year university for completion of remaining last two years as Undergraduate Study is of 4 Years. Studying in Community College can have infinite advantages like Cost, small student-teacher ratio and etc.

  17. I still reading all at this web site. It’s very helpful. About depoiments, look like similar cases in Brazil with people that I know them. In my case, the VO was pretty calm and asked me a lot of questions as : why I choose that school; how much was my salary; what I was doing in my job and how I would take care myself leaving a work in Brazil. After answered all careful and the truth, the VO still typing her computer and asked about my trips in US and asked me to show papers from the bank. Around 15 minutes of interview she approved my visa but repeated again about that I cannot work and for me take care about jobs won’t allowed for F1 visa. It was such tension but all the truth and happy that I got my F1. In the another way, my family got denied tourism visa while interview it was less than 3 minutes. Hope all of us in all way get success and hapines for study and can be abroad!

  18. I was also rejected and i’m reapplying.
    The last question was “how much do you get payed on your job?”
    Can my University follow up with the embassy? do you know if that’s going to help or make things worst? They are willing to do that.

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