From: achilles@ira.uka.de (Alf-Christian Achilles)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.german
Subject: Re: German students in the USA?
Date: 5 Oct 92 10:38:05
Organization: Universitaet Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Deutschland.
NNTP-Posting-Host: i90s8.ira.uka.de
In-reply-to: kim@i5160e.nrl.navy.mil's message of 2 Oct 92 21:48:02 GMT

>>>>> On 2 Oct 92 21:48:02 GMT, kim@i5160e.nrl.navy.mil (Ellis Kim) said:

> Hi!
> I was wondering if there are any german students in the USA or if there
> is someone who knows of any german students here in the states who might
> be willing to answer a question.

There are lots of german students in the US, just check out your local
university's foreign student office. Depending on their pricacy
policies they might give you names and addresses.

> My brother is thinking of coming over to the states to study.
> He is german. Can you give me any information on the kind of forms you 
> need to fill out in what order to fill them out and what other bureau
> cratic things there are to be considered.
> For example: Do you first apply to a university and then apply for the 
> student visa?  Or is it the other way around?  

First your brother has to get admitted to a university. When admitted
he will receive a form which he has to supply to an american embassy
or consulate to obtain the visa. There are two common types of visas for
foreign students: F-1 and J-1. Typically your brother would get a F-1
visa unless he is sponsored by the USA and/or Germany or if he is in
some kind of bilateral exchange program.

> How long does it take to
> obtain a student visa?  

Once your brother has obtained the necessary form (IAP-66 in case of a
J-1 visa) he will probably need to spent only a few hours (including
waiting time) at a consulate.
 
> If he wants to start in January, is he cutting
> it a little close timewise?  

This is not a visa issue but rather a matter of the application
deadlines of the college he wants to attend.

> Is he permitted to work while here (i cannot
> afford to pay tuition and support him at the same time)?

If I remember it correctly, it is not easy for F-1 students to get
work outside the campus. A J-1 holder, however, can get a permit for
part-time work, if the agency which administrates his program agrees.
Both can take up work on-campus (usually for a lowly pay).

> he most likely is going to want to stay in the states after finishing
> his studies.  

Immigration issues are tricky, but I can definitely warn you about the
J-1 visa in this respect, since a lot of J-1 holders are subject to the
2-year-home-residency requirement, which forces them to leave the
States for at least 2 years after completing the studies in the US.

> Is that next to impossible? I am a US citizen, does that 
> help anything?  Last i heard was that it would take 6 years to get him
> to the States if i applied for him. 

I can only refer you to
-- a foreign student advisor at a university near you. If you have
   already chosen the college then go talk to the foreign student advisor
   of that college. They have a lot of experience in these matters and
   will certainly be very helpful if your brother wants to attend their
   college.  
-- the INS
-- the IIE (Institute of International Education in NYC)
-- the newsgroup alt.visa.us
-- an immigration lawyer


> Thanks in advance for your replies.
>  
> -- 

> -- Ellis   kim@v5160.nrl.navy.mil
>    "First things first. But not necessarily in that order." - Dr. Who

You're welcome,

Alf

--
Alf-Christian Achilles       achilles@ira.uka.de ! Mail : P.O. Box 6980
Lehrstuhl Informatik fuer Ingenieure             !        7500 Karlsruhe 1
    und Naturwissenschaftler                     ! Voice: +49 721 608-4335
University of Karlsruhe, Germany                 ! FAX  : +49 721 698675


Newsgroups: soc.culture.german