对F2有用的好文章（包括签证，考试，申请，转身份）转载

piscesstarUID: 149992

I know f2-f1 visa details to some extend though I didn't apply for. I think I
should post this, hope it will be much helpful for similiar F2-F1 visa
application for others.  

1. F2-F1 visa application:  
a) The most reliable way is to ask the future school's international office to
mail everything to INS for you. They have common envelops and methods to let
INS give you the approval. They generally say I cannot gurantee but just ask
them if they can apply and mail it for you. After that, you should email or
go to their office frequently to make sure that they indeed is dealing with
your cases hardly. Don't be shy or frustrate to push them. Anway, you are
their future students.

b) Besides I-20 marriage certificate etc, most important and necessary
materials are: F1's formal transcript, bank letter, 4 months bank statements.
The bank statement and transcript are very important! Perhaps the
international office may refuse to accept all your prepared materials, but
just bring them and make it work that international office accept 4 months
bank statements and transcripts finally!Otherwise, finally the INS may ask
you to supply the documents again and waste your own time.  

c) Talk with your future department to make sure under the worst case, they
can still gave you the same offer and delay your enrollment time. American's
family conception is very strong. F1 can accompany F2 to do all of the above
and talk with everyone. F1 and F2 go together to talk with director instead if
you don't want to go by yourself. Don't be shy, just tell them your visa
problems, and you and internatinal office need time to transfer.

d) In general, INS may got your check firstly though they may not mail you the
confirmation. Just keep contacting international office to know all
informations. If it is necessary, can ask someone with fluent english to call
INS and ask about the status. She/he can just say" ** asked me to on behalf of
herself/himself", then everything is ok. The best way is to ask the
international house/community in the univ to call for you and on behalf of
you. This is suitful for other cases, including insurance, SSN, argue, etc..
There must be such service offices inside your future univ.

2. F2 application for school:
Be sure to apply for the F1's univ as well though it may be a very good one
and may have less oppotunity to apply for. If it is a too good one, just
apply for your BS's background major. State in your PS that your husband/wife
is in the same univ. Don't forget to talk with the director of the major you
applied and your F1 is a student as well. There is no any mistake and shame
that you tell them you have family conception and want to stay together. If
you take english exams inside usa, also state it clearly in your PS and the
forms where ask about your exam score, like: "GRE:----****", you should write
"GRE:---****(tested July/2004 in **state, USA)". The requirement for you will
be different from those guys tested inside china. If you don't state this,
they will treat you the same as tested in china. (I tested in china, I know
how high my score can be. But my friend tested here, at least it can match
american students' own scores.) Be sure, TALK is very important. Don't be shy,
all chinese students' english is bad compared with americans. They don't
care about your accent or slowness though it is hard for them to talk with
you, just make yourself clear is enough. Talk with anyone you thing may help
including professors. Read their papers before talking though it may be
somewhat not easily understanding. Don't worry, just know what it is saying
generally. You can tell the prof, I read your paper*** though I cannot fully
understand it now. Anyway, you will be a student, if you know everything,
you will needn't study and follow the prof at all!

I ever participated the whole procedure how my advisor get his new student
from several candidates. All are americans, and excellent somewhat. Those
candidates are different. I can say, none of them fully understand reasearch
currently since they will need to study. Just one guy say he ever read one
of my advisor's paper, talked a little about it. Then he got good impression
first. They are interviewed at different days. All of them would be led to
visit the lab. Someone expressed great interest in visiting the lab. This
means, they watch or pretend to watch what my advisor show them carefully, ask
small questions about what my advisor is showing, though silly or not silly,
small or not small, just questions! The prof will not care how silly your
question will be, just ASK means you HAVE INTEREST! If you are asked to talk
with current students, be sure to smile frequently. If anyone ask you" do
you have any questions", never say no. You can ask "how many years for my
study generally", "how many students do you have currently", "how is the life
here", "how is the location like", "is their any social activities inside
campus", blahblahblah... Don't talke about the research too much unless you
are very confident in what you are saying!!  You can say "My background in
** is not so strong current, but I am strong in relate ***, I am a quick
learner...I have interest in your ***, it is very interesting."Emphasis on
your interest as well. If you were asked about future career, don't state
faculy or industry, just state research! Those americans always ask those
questions. Not to my surprise, my advisor's finally rank for those guys is:
guys who read a paper and talked about it, and visit the lab carefully rank
higher, while those who have no full feelings on face or no question rank
lower. I think this conclusion works for job hunting as well though I don't
go to that step.

3. Application for F2 visa in china: What the visa office wants to demonstrate
is just: your marriage is not a fake one or a short one or a no love one! If
short, tell them you were engaged before marriage. Show more your LIFE
pictures instead of wedding ones. Especially photos with parents and a huge
family! Photos should taken in different season and years. I have two
classmates, both MS, good univ, love and know for many years, while not so
many pictures, took many clothes one day and go to hangzhou, take pictures
with different season's clothes. hahaha. During interview, should wear
FORMAL clothes. For boys, wear your most expensive tie-clip
(ling3-dai4-jia1). Visa officer may tell persons by this. This is a small
tricky. Worked well for two of my male classmates.  Go to apply near
chinese holidays, especially spring festival.. since you can have reasonal
vocation time then. F1 to F2's letter can say you'd like to accompany F2 for
travel.

4. Others:
Every one is equal, right? Human beings have equal rights, though sometimes
someone may be treated unequally, while who have rights to look others
unequal? Just borned better, educated better, earned better, what else?
Many of my friends have F2 or are F2, cannot understand why F1 and F2 are not
equal. I have many friends in china or here. Some are F2, while they have
better chance and jobs in china, but they have to give up to accompany their
beloved to come here. To struggle for a better future for they two commonly.
There is no which one in better than another inside one family. The best
family among my friends are always, treat everyone equally and love each one
truely for ever. If most of them don't love you so much, they will never
come here. My best friend just chose throw away her BF and stay in china
after she trained by company and traveled here twice and had a look at so
called american life. Always see bbs here talked about this issue,
ridiculous and shamed on those who feel so good for themselves though others
look them as ... Note: Don't look at me. I have no relationship with any
popular keywords bbs here, such as pretty or not pretty, young or not young,
F2 or mover, loser or coward,...BBS is always a funny place, don't always take
your magnifying glass everywhere you go and use it to look at others!