Page 22 - Zoni Voice

By: Kamila Heredia – Student
Student Content Zoni language Centers

F1 Visas and Their Popularity Amid

Tourist Appointment Delays

In light of the ongoing delays in obtaining tourist U.S. embassy evaluates applicants based on specific
appointments, many individuals have turned to parameters, including the applicant’s profile, the
applying for F1 visas without a full understanding purpose of their trip, and their economic and social
of the visa requirements. Unfortunately, this trend ties to their home country. During the embassy or
has given rise to various processors, agencies, and consulate interview, the consular officer conducts
institutions aiming to capitalize on the situation, an oral assessment to ascertain the applicant’s
often to the detriment of the applicants themselves. circumstances regarding the trip’s purpose and visa
It is crucial to consider that an F1 visa is primarily type.
intended for academic purposes, and lacking the
necessary qualifications can make it challenging for What Could My Friend Have Qualified For?
the consulate to approve your application.
My friend later explored whether she might have
So, what exactly is an F1 student visa? qualified for an M1 visa, designed for individuals
pursuing non-academic vocational studies, such as
The F-1 Visa, also known as the Academic Student cosmetology, fine arts, flight school, and culinary
Visa, allows you to enter the United States as a arts. This could have been a more suitable option
full-time student at an accredited educational for her given her lifelong vocation in the beauty
institution, including colleges, universities, industry. However, her economic situation was
seminaries, conservatories, academic high schools, unclear, and the decision to apply for an M1 visa or
elementary schools, or language training programs. wait for a tourist appointment would have required
careful consideration.
What does this mean?
In conclusion, it is crucial to exercise caution when
If you’ve never pursued higher education and lack dealing with individuals who claim to guarantee
an academic background, obtaining an F1 visa visa approvals through their supposed diligence, as
can be quite challenging, as one of my friends many of them engage in fraudulent practices. Some
discovered. At the age of 42, with only a secondary even offer to complete your DS160 application,
school education, she sought to expedite her travel which is an unethical practice. These individuals
plans to the United States by following an advisor’s may make promises of success to lure unsuspecting
recommendation to apply for an F1 student visa. applicants, often showcasing one of the fortunate
Despite her limited educational qualifications, she candidates who obtained a visa in their marketing
decided to enroll in a 4-week English language materials, all in an attempt to attract more clients
course, which incurred a total cost of $2,038 ($170 (or victims). It’s important to recognize that these
for registration, $1,820 for the course, and $48 for individuals have already received payment for their
materials). This amount did not include the visa services, so whether or not your visa is approved,
application and processing fees. In addition to these they face little to no consequences. Therefore,
expenses, she also paid a $400 consultancy fee to always seek accurate information and guidance
the advisor. Unfortunately, her visa application was from reputable sources when navigating the
ultimately denied, leaving her feeling perplexed complex process of obtaining a U.S. visa.
and disheartened.

Upon discussing her situation with me, she
realized the significant differences between our
profiles. I am a finance professional with a degree
from Javeriana University and a specialization in
Management from Jorge Tadeo Lozano University.
Additionally, I had been actively studying English
for a year and had professional experience as a
financial advisor at Banco de Occidente. These
qualifications made me eligible for an F1 visa, while
her lack of academic background and relevant ties
to her home country worked against her.

To help you navigate the visa application process
more effectively, it’s essential to understand that the

22 © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2023-2024 | ZONI®