F-1 visa stamping for PhD from India when both parents are in the U.S. — any experiences?
I’m asking on behalf of someone who is considering F-1 visa stamping in India for a PhD program in the U.S. The person finished undergraduate program in the US and has been admitted to a reputed U.S. PhD program (not and Ivy League). But both parents are currently in the U.S. on H-1B/H-4 status. The concern is whether this could create issues during the F-1 visa interview, especially around proving nonimmigrant intent/ties to India.
Has anyone been in a similar situation of going for F-1 stamping for a PhD while parents were already in the U.S.? What was your interview experience like? Were you asked about your parents’ status or long-term plans? I’d really appreciate any experiences or practical insights. Not looking for legal advice, just trying to understand how others handled similar situations.
I understand that change of status from within the U.S. may be an option, and that is something being considered. However, because PhD students often need to travel internationally for conferences, research, family reasons, and other academic/professional obligations, F-1 visa stamping may be more practical in the long run. So I’m specifically interested in hearing from people who chose or considered visa stamping in a similar situation.