KyleC

So I know that I am allowed on-campus employment for under 20 hours/week, and that except for OPT, I am not allowed to work off-campus.

Here is what I'm wondering:

What exactly is OPT? Who can get it?

Is there any other way to get work off-campus?

Does for example a Starbucks on Campus count as on- or off-campus employment?

I know this gets asked a lot, but I hear different stories every time and I would really like to know...

Thanks,

KyleC

Hi there,

F-1 student, studying in the US since Jan 2011 and here with an AON international student insurance.

As of late though I find myself a little dissatisfied as of what they offer and am looking for something that may be better suited for my needs (AND still of course follows Dep. of State requirements)

So does any of you international students that have been here longer than I have any recommendations as of student insurances and rates?

Sincerely,

KyleC

Hello everybody!

So I am a F-1 student since December 2010, do NOT as of yet have a SSN, nor a job, or a driver's license (don't judge me, it's expensive in Switzerland ).

I am planning to change this though, I am trying to get a driver's license this summer and will be driving with my girlfriend's car for now. (it's still hers, but she'll let me use it from time to time).

Unfortunately I do not have an auto insurance and the student's insurance that I have is absolutely GREAT but lags any kind of coverage when it comes to motorized vehicles. I would like to get insured somehow but I do not have an SSN.

So to form this all into a question:

- how can I get me some kind of (not too expensive) "driver-liability" insurance that covers me even if something happens when I drive someone else's car?

- can anyone recommend a good insurance provider for this? it should not be too expensive and only cover this part, as all the other issues (health, transportation, liability, etc.) are covered by another insurance?

Thank you for your help!

Sincerely,

KyleC

I've been in the U.S. since January now on a F-1 visa and studying at Mississippi State University.

Everything worked out just fine, but I can't help but think that I may have forgotten something, so here are my questions:

- Do I have to sign up for a local USCIS office? if yes, which one? (my university is closer to Memphis office, my official residence (not housing) is closer to New Orleans

- What can I do to get a working permit (after a year, I'm aware I can't do that before that)?

- Is there anything else I need to do or need to be aware of? Does anybody have further advice he/she would like to share?

Thank you for your support! I'm young and still new to the whole visa-life and I wanna do everything right from the beginning...

Sincerely,

KyleC

alright... will do!

Thanks for everything!

i did get it... thank you... what's my dso though?

thanks

You don't need a SSN to open a bank account in the US. You don't even have to be present in the US to open a bank account. You can be an oil sheik from Saudia Arabia, residing on your 330ft yacht anchoring in Monaco, ready to transfer 60,000,000.00 to your US bank account, right from your notebook via satellite.Banking has nothing to do with residence. It's about money and business, not immigration.You dealt with a brainless drone, somebody who dropped out of High School and couldn't find Switzerland on a map if you showed it to them.Go to another bank. If you encounter another drone, go to the bank manager and tell 'em you're ready to transfer $150K from your Swiss bank account shortly after your US account is set up.

HAHA! I definitely need to try that!

But to answer the others: I do NOT work here. I got the cell phone thing worked out (I have a family here that added me to their plan but let me pay my own bills). But I will not be able to work for a while on campus. So can I get a SS# WITHOUT working at all? if so, how?

Thank you all!

Hello everyone,

I've finally arrived in the US and tried to set up a bank account and get me a cell phone plan by ATT, and the following problem occurred:

NO SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER!

apparently, SSNs are vital to doing anything around here (MISSISSIPPI) so I was wondering how all of you other people dealt with not having one.

another question is: do i have to call my local USCIS office to sign up for anything or do I just not have to worry about any of that right now?

I appreciate any help...

KyleC

yea the consulate question is solved... i called and it's mandatory anyway...

Hello everybody,

First of all, this site is awesome it has answered most of my questions in no-time and I wanted to thank everybody that has contributed to that!

To get to the actual questions I have two:

1) how long am I allowed to be absent from the U.S. on my f-1 visa? (like for vacation and stuff). My insurance wouldn't cover me for more than 1 month at a time but I'd also like to know if there are any restrictions from the government itself.

2) I'm going to be studying at Mississippi State University and the nearest Swiss Consulate is in Atlanta. I've been thinking about registering at the Consulate, that way I could still vote in Swiss matters, but I also wonder about a few things: What are the ACTUAL benefits of me being registered at a Consulate? Would I have to show up there personally? I'm just wondering since, once I do register I kinda have to tell them every change of address and stuff, whether it would be worth it...

Thanks for your help!

Sincerely,

KyleC

I also thought of the exact same thread too. Especially when she made her comment about her aunt and their argument one week later. I don't know if he abuse story is true or not. It makes me wonder why her fiance was so mad at her. Maybe he figured out he was being used. The fact that she found someone to marry her so soon just has "scammer" written all over it. I wonder if the OP's name is Wilma?Here's the link to the suspected thread.http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/278501-divorce-after-1-month-in-uslong-sad-story/

I read this thread. It does sure sound like it is the same story. Both from the Philipines, both had the aunt, both filed an abuse claim, both found a boyfriend on chat a few weeks later, and both wanna get re-married right away again for her to stay in the U.S. .... if this isn't fishy then I don't know what is... (I love playing detective ...)

Its difficult to know what is real here as the country of origin appears to have changed overnight.. much like the initial marriage intentions...

That made me wonder too..... Is it Phillipines or Mongolia now?

As stated no, it will not work. The K1 visa ONLY allows your to adjust status with the person who petitioned you. You can marry your new bf if you want, but you will be unable to stay and adjust your status. You will have to leave the country and apply for a new visa. If you're married it will be a Cr-1 visa, if you're just engaged it's another K1. Be prepared for this new relationship to undergo a LOT of scrutiny given the circumstances surrounding your meeting.It looks VERY suspicious that you happen to meet someone else while in the US on a K1 just DAYS after arriving, and then that in the span of 2 weeks of knowing you, you're both in love enough to marry? You also stated he felt "pity for you", that's not love so him offering to adjust your status is immigration fraud (not that it matters here but it's still fraud). Not to mention it's pretty obvious from your post that you went online with the explicit purpose of meeting someone else. It took you 2 weeks to move on from someone you APPARENTLY loved enough to apply for a K1... that alone looks suspicious.** moved from "Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from Family Based Visas" to Effects of Major Family Changes on Immigration Benefits as this is a more appropriate location**

I completely agree. And it actually even is suspicious for me. I mean, if you want to get into the US so bad then try to find work or something, but don't go running into another guys arms between one full moon and another. I don't mean to be offensive but I seriously doubt that you thought the whole marriage thing through with the second guy. Plus, as stated earlier, the first case should have been a lesson to you NOT to trust other people too quickly to get into the whole bureaucracy #######. It's just gonna hurt you... (sorry this had nothing to do with the actual question itself, but I see this also as an opportunity to help one another out)

great! Thanks!

I previously submitted an ESTA application before I even had a student visa.

Now though I have a f-1 visa and a new passport. Do I still have to apply to ESTA in order to be eligible for travel or does that only concern people that travel to the US as tourists under the Visa Waiver Program?

Thank you!

KyleC

thanks... it's catch 22 btw

yea... well i got nothing to lose by asking... who knows...

to me getting a permission to work on campus? why?

I didn't think that you meant to advise me to do so....

Okay thanks to all... I will have to talk to my Advisor about it.

goodness i hate bureaucracy.... oh well... thanks!

i wasn't going to work under-the-table... i'm not gonna play with my privilege of a visa... but thank you, so if i see this right i don't have to worry about getting any permission as long as it is on-campus?

Hello everyone,

I'm sure this has been asked millions of times, still I'm asking:

What do I need to do to get permission to work with a F-1 visa? I will be starting college this January.

Thanks in advance,

KyleC

i sure will! I will even tune in Hakuna Matata in German ("es heisst, die Sorgen, bleiben dir immer feeeeeern, keiner nimmt uns die Philosophie!")

Thank you guys! Yea, it's gonna be a while till I really need to worry about it, but it took a little weight off me to kinda know what I'd have to do....

I'm just going near Bodensee (Swiss side) in two weeks, I'll think of you then lol...

Hi there,

I am a future International Student with permanent residence and citizenship in Switzerland and I just got my f-1 visa approved yesterday.

Now before I ask my questions, i need to explain a few things:

I've had plans of studying in the US for a very long time, but because I'd never been there and wanted to get a good insight, I did a foreign exchange year on a J-1 visa three years ago. During this time (in which I swore to myself not to have a girlfriend) I fell in love with this one-of-a-kind amazing woman, who went to high school with me there. I left 10 months later and I'm still with her for now 3 years and I am still pursuing my dreams of going to college in the US but NEITHER SHE NOR THE INTENTION OF MARRYING HER IS THE PRIMARY REASON I want to go to college, although I admit it gives me a nice motivational boost. So now I'm finally admitted and I'm going in a few weeks pursuing a bachelor's degree and later hopefully a master's degree.

my question now is:

- IF we're still together in a few years and still intend to get married, what would the necessary steps be for me and her if I'd like to stay in the US?

- we were/are planning on getting married in Switzerland. Would that cause any problems if for example we'd do this while on summer break and me still being on a f-1 visa and reentering the country?

I wanna state clearly here, that I am not planning on getting married anytime within the next 2-3 years, so I am aware that there's still a lot that could happen. It would still be nice though to know what lies ahead of me as I'm of the planning kind. (This whole "I'm-going-to-college-in-the-US-idea" came to me almost 5 years ago and just now came true, if that gives you a hint).

I am glad of any kind of support and advice that I could get. Maybe you have been in such (or a similar) situation yourself?

Sincerely,

Kyle (no, that's not my real name )