From: pradeep@eecs.cs.pdx.edu (R. Pradeep)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.indian.american
Subject: F-2 visa information
Summary: Replies I received for my net posting on F-2 visa information questions
Keywords: F-2 visa, Spouse visa,
Date: 21 Jul 92 15:48:27 GMT
Article-I.D.: pdxgate.5923

Dear friends,

Recently I had posted  questions on the net regarding F-2 information. I have
received some replies which I have appended to this posting. Hope somebody out
there find it usefull. In case somebody needs clarifications regarding this 
posting, E-mail to pradeep@eecs.ee.pdx.edu.
********************************************************************************
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 92 18:02:28 CDT
From: mjm4799@usl.edu (Menezes Michael J)
Message-Id: <9207102302.AA03359@usl.edu>
To: pradeep@eecs.ee.pdx.edu
Subject: F2 Visa

Hi Pradeep,
I'm not sure I have answers to all your questions, I"ll however tell you
what I did for my to get to the US on a F2.

>I had sent an I-20 (during november 1991) for my wife to join me on F-2 visa ,
>unfortunately the Delhi US consulate rejected her application. One of the
>possible reasons I felt was that I had showed her uncle as sponsorer and also 
>I could show my monthly income as $600 only. I also had no funding of anykind 
>from the school.
>
>I now want to again send her the I-20 for an F-2 visa. I would appreciate if
>somebody could help me with answers for the following:
>
>	1. I now have a T.A. from school which apart from taking care of my
>	   tution fees also pays $300p.m. I also earn around $600p.m. working
>	   on campus. If I send her I-20 stating I am the sponsorer would it be 
>	   accepted?

The school I attend has an estimate for total expences for a F1 student and
spouse ($14,000). So when I got the I20, I showed my assistantship, which
accounted for a total of $10,500, plus $3,500 cash in the bank. So the I20
said "Source of funds: Assistantship $10,500; Family Funds $3,500"

>	2. When my wife visited the RBI for dollar clearance ( RBI Permit), she
>	   was told that they do not give RBI clearance for spouse. 
>	   Is this true? because I was told by some of my friends here in US 
>	   that they got there wives on F-2 by showing funds in India and
>	   RBI clearance for the equivalent amount. If anybody has already 
>	   got his wife by showing funds in India and RBI clearance, I would
>	   be really grateful if you can either send a copy of the RBI clearance
> 	   letter by mail or fax it to me. Also what papers I need to send from
>	   here to obtain the RBI clearance for my wife.

I have no Idea about the RBI regulations concerning spouse. However RBI will 
clear funds for you, the balance, between total and estimate for you, can be
met by your job(s). This is just my opinion.

>	3. Anybody who had a similar experience, i.e. the F-2 was rejected the
>	   first time and subsequently got it - Would you kindly mail me the
>	   procedure you followed the first and subsequent times. 

My spouse was lucky to get her visa on the first attempt at Madras. However it's
worth multiple attempts. She may get a different Counsel the next time, and
that can make all the difference.

>	4. Any information regarding F-2 visa??????

I also did attach a letter from the director of International Student's Office
generally speaking highly about me, and recommending a favourable response
from the counsel. Cant couse any harm.


>mail address	pradeep@eecs.ee.pdx.edu
>
>Thank you in advance.

>R. Pradeep.

Wish you all the best, hope your wife get to the US soon.
Bye now
Mike
________________________________________________________________________________
Michael Menezes 			Ph: (318) 234-8105 (home)	
USL box 43408				Ph: (318) 231-6601 (office)
Lafayette				Net: michael@usl.edu
LA 70504
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 92 19:15:17 EDT
From: sbhasker@option.stern.nyu.edu (S Bhasker)
Message-Id: <9207122315.AA20908@option.stern.nyu.edu>
To: pradeep@eecs.cs.pdx.edu
Subject: Re: F-2 Visa for spouse.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.indian.american
Organization: NYU Stern School of Business
Cc: 


Pl. contact S. Gayathrinath @ (212) 791-4210.
*******************************************************************************
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 92 12:53:31 -0500
From: peeyush@iastate.edu
Message-Id: <9207131753.AA03112@iastate.edu>
To: pradeep@eecs.cs.pdx.edu
Subject: Re: F-2 Visa for spouse.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.indian.american
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Cc: 

Hi Pradeep:
My wife also had tons of problem getting F-2 visa from Delhi.  Did u check what reasons they gave your wife for visa denial.  If finacial reasons were given then u have a better situation.  I think it is v imp to have all the paperwork stating not only your financial situation but also u must present a compelling evidence of yours and your wife's socio-economic ties (such as family members living in India, if u have  a job back home it will be great).  
I know some of my friend here got f-2 visa for his wife without funding from US (RBI permit).  If u know someone from RBI it will be helpful or u must show enough bank balance.

Please donot rush. Patience is very important. (it took my wife 10 months to join, but d0 not get discouraged. if u need additional help send me an e-mail

good luck

peeyush,
*******************************************************************************
From: peeyush@iastate.edu
Message-Id: <9207141427.AA03314@iastate.edu>
To: pradeep@ursula.ee.pdx.edu
Subject: Re: F-2 Visa 
             <9207140718.AA22869@donald.ee.pdx.edu.ee.pdx.edu> 
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 92 09:27:16 CDT

dear pradeep:
tx for your mail.
i am not sure if i am answering yr questions in the exact format and i may skip some of your questions as i donot have them on screen now. pl let me know if i missed imp ones.

part 1:
I think you r on the right track on finaces, but if will be the best if you could show funding for your wife by yourself. showing relatives in US may make the case weaker. ALTHOUG I MUST CAUTION THAT EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT AND WHAT HAPPENED IN MY CASE MAY NOT WORK IN YOURS. It will be very helpful if your departmnet can issue a letter about your TA appointment and the money you r making. your pay check stubs may also be helpful. also a bank statement (US bank ) showing 5,000 + will be very helpful. (you c


an get the statement by asking yr friend to trasfer money to yr account please don't mind if I am wrong about yr financial situation.  

part 2& 3.
my wife was rejected three times and I had to struggle a lot. I wnet through congressmanm, US senators and with lot of paperwork from ISU. But at last I had to hire a lawer which costs a fortune, so pl. don't get discourage. I hope u don't have to go through this, but be prepared to face it.  Also as I mentioned earlier make sure your wife carries enough proof of yr socio-economic ties with in India.  I made this mistake first time and I didn't know much about visa stuff (took it for granted).  Does yr I-2


0 has enough time to graduate (1-2 yrs). It helps.
RBI didn't give my wife a penny, but it may be different now, but they do give permit for spouse too in case you can't show assistantship.

I hope some of these things will help. Good luck.
:) getting married is not easy and xxi wife always deserve your efforts.

peeyush
  
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Date: Tue, 14 Jul 92 09:40:08 -0700
From: ganapath@tahoe.qualcomm.com (Chinnappa Ganapathy)
Message-Id: <9207141640.AA18738@tahoe.QUALCOMM.COM>
To: pradeep@eecs.cs.pdx.edu
Subject: Re: F-2 Visa for spouse.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.indian.american
Organization: Qualcomm, Inc., San Diego, CA
Cc: 

Hi Pradeep,

I brought my wife here when I was studying.  The big difference was that
I went to India to get married and brought her back with me.  I didn't
have any problem with the visa.  I was on a T.A. that paid my tuition 
and about $600 a month.  I think what you should do is sponsor her
yourself and show your entire income.  Don't give the consulate any
more information than they ask for.  That's my rule of thumb when dealing
with any government organization here or back in India.  Make them ask 
for any information they have.  Always be prepared to give it to them 
on the spot, but don't volunteer it.  If you can get statements as to 
your income, that should do.  Don't explain that part of it goes for 
tuition.  I'm assuming here that technically the fees are paid out of
your gross income.  At least that's how it was with me.

All the best.  Send me mail if you have any questions that you think I
can answer.

Chinna
-- 
Chinnappa Ganapathy    | "Being able to laugh and make people laugh is not
ganapath@qualcomm.com  |    the be all and end all of being human" - Guinan
QUALCO/\/\/\/\         |
                       | "Yes.  But there's nothing more uniquely human" - Data
********************************************************************************
From: ganapath@tahoe.Qualcomm.COM (Chinnappa Ganapathy)
Message-Id: <9207141731.AA19249@tahoe.QUALCOMM.COM>
To: pradeep@ursula.ee.pdx.edu
Subject: Re:  F-2 Visa



	1. You had mentioned that you had gone to India and got your wife with you.
	   Did you both go to the American Consulate for visa or just your wife.
	   Which city did you go for visa?

I had to get my visa too since it had expired.  So we both went.
It was in Madras.


	2. What documents did your wife or both of you had taken to the American 
	   Consulate? (Like financial, School documents etc.)

I took a letter from my advisor stating that I had to take further courses to 
complete my studies.  That was for me.  I also took a financial statement from
the department stating how much I was earning (gross).


	3. My situation (hopefully by september 1992) by the time I send her I-20
	   would hopefully be like given below:
		a. I will most likely have T.A. which will pay my entire tution fees
		   (of approx $1800 per quarter) and about $300p.m.
		b. I earn around $600p.m. on campus. This can be substantiated with
		   pay stubs from the Oregon board of higher education.
		c. I have a time deposit(fixed deposit) of $6000 valid for 6 months
		   upto dec. 1992. I will possible be able to show about $8,500 as
		   savings balance. (Pssst : I will be borrowing the money)
	   With the above situation what is your personel opinion about chances of
	   my wife getting her visa. Also is my situation anywhere close to what you 
	   would have had?

I think your position is better than mine was!  It shouldn't be a problem.  They
usually don't create a problem if you can show you can support her.  That's
pretty much the only criterion for F-2 visas, as far as I know.  You have no
problem on that front.


	4. Also let me know if the above financial position would suffice or would I 
	   need to show any additional finances from US or India. (Your personel
	   opinion please)

As I mentioned above, I think you should have no problem with that amount.


	5. Do you know if RBI gives RBI permit for dollar clearance towards spouse
	   expenses. 

I don't think they do.  I tried for it, just in case, and they told my wife that
they don't.


	I am sorry to be bothering you but I hope you can understand my anxiety
	to get my wife. 

This is no bother at all.  If I can be of any further help let me know.  I think
I understand your situation fully.


	Thanks once again
	Pradeep.

Don't hesitate to ask further questions.

Chinna
********************************************************************************
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 92 12:48:25 CDT
From: kumar@ra.csc.ti.com (Sundeep Kumar)
Message-Id: <9207151748.AA15385@ra.csc.ti.com>
To: pradeep@eecs.ee.pdx.edu
Subject: Spouse Visa.


If you have a TA it is very easy to get your spouse over. I suggest you
send another I-20 and ask your wife to apply again. Also, as I understand it
in India the rupee is convertible so Any bank will give you $$ at a sufficiently
hiked up rate (Rs 35/-). Canara Bank does this and I know. Also, RBI permit
doesnt really mean much any more and I would be surprised if the US Consulate
still insists on RBI. Any bank "agreement" to give you $$ is ok since this
is perfectly legal under the present set up.
********************************************************************************
From: peeyush@iastate.edu
Message-Id: <9207151936.AA08682@iastate.edu>
To: pradeep@ursula.ee.pdx.edu
Subject: Re: F-2 Visa 
             <9207141628.AA23543@donald.ee.pdx.edu.ee.pdx.edu> 
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 92 14:36:43 CDT

dear pradeep:
regarding yr queries about F-2 visa.
Usually second time refusal is very dangerous. as the consulate doesnot let yor apply in person for two yrs, although they granted another (third)einterview to my wife because US congressman and senators wrote to them.
supporting documents yr wife needs with yr I-20 are:
1) bank statement for more then enough fuding/savings
2) marriage certificate
3) try to list yr/family property, shares if any, investments which  will prove yr strong socio-economic ties with India. same applies to yr wife too.  Also if u have/had a job in India it will be v helpfu. Also write a letter to consulate stating yr specific plans after going beck to India even if u r planning to stay in this country. same goes with yr wife too. Ihope this helps in terms of socio-economic ties. more # of family members in India also helps.
4) I spent close t $2,000 on lawer, but I will recommend it u only when u feel it is v necessary and u have exhauster other options.
5) my wife carried all the paper in her 2nd , 3rd and 4th interview as I mentioned before. It is upto yr wife or yr letter to convice consulate about the paper works.
6) 5 dats, 2 months and 6 months were the respective intervals in my wife's interview.
0 0
7) friend of mine who got his wife on RBI permit lives in ames and his email is mahipal@iastate.edu.
8) DONOT RUSH FOR THE SECOND TIME. Be prepared with all the paper work.
If I missed something then let me know. Once again I must caution u that every case is different, what happened with mne and what worked for me may not be the same for u, but these things do help.
GOOD LUCK

peeyush