Hi everyone,
Below is an example the steps taken by an IMG to secure a B1/B2 visa for internship and elective rotations in the US.
If you need help securing an Authorization Letter and Letter of Enrollment contact me at your earliest convenience.
Best - Victor
B1/B2 Visa Experience.
Facebook: By Mohamed Othman in Egyptians for US residency and research
B1 Visa Experience. * I applied for B1/B2 visa to do an externship rotation. * I will post my whole experience with the details as much as I can hoping that help you isA . ( How to apply for the visa interview) * (((My interview date was August 29th, and I scheduled for it mid July ))) *you should start applying for the visa appointment as early as you can. At least 3-4 month before your externship date, as you may not find an appointment before one month or more from the day you start calling the embassy for scheduling the interview, Plus you may get into more administrative process which takes from 1 week up to months with an average of 4-6 weeks ( I will talk in details about this point later isA ) . So try to be on the safe side
*The first thing you must do is paying 140$(850 LE) in any CIB bank branch. They will give you receipt (The CIB bank receipt is very important in the whole following steps) * Once you have the receipt and the valid passport, you can now call the US embassy to schedule for the interview on Landline 090070600 or on 2100(from only Vodafone mobile) * you will listen first to recorded message welcoming you, then you will select for tourist visa . * They will take to the representative, he/she will ask you for your Name as written in your passport in English, Passport number, passport issue and expiration date, birth date and of course the number of the CIB receipt and he will make sure that you are calling for Tourist visa..
*Then he will tell you the first available date for the interview, if you are okay with that, he will tell you your interview date, time and your appointment number, he will also tell you the required papers to bring with you on the interview date- in case you don't know them -finally he will be happy to listen to you if you have further questions. * As I called them from mobile on 2100, they sent me text message on my mobile with the previous details, and the link for the Ds-160( I will take about it later isA don't worry J ). * If the date of the interview is too late for you, I knew people who kept calling them again and again, to find if there are new available dates , and they found ( as there are people who cancel their appointments) *If you change your passport for any reason- After scheduling for the interview- ( like job description change or bdal fa2ed,or anything else), don't worry( as long as you didn't change the spelling of your English name) , call them again, inform them with new passport number and dates to be edited on their system, and your appointment will not be changed don't worry. (Documents you need for the interview) * After I scheduled for the interview, I started preparing the documents needed for the interview. *The papers that I took with me for the interview are: 1-Enrollment letter from the place you will do the externship in. For those who will apply with FMG Portal, they will write in your enrollment letter that the purpose of this training is to acclimatize you for the American system to apply for a medical residency position. For me I found that will not be the best thing in my interview (that's what I believed, so I asked them to edit it into (the purpose of the training is to gain more clinical experience in the selected specialty). 2- A letter from my hospital stating that I'm a medical intern in …hospital, and my internship is from…to …. Which is mandatory to get the license to practice medicine and without it I can't get the license, and that they are agree to travel to USA to do training , and that it will not affect my internship year .
3-Bank statement : *That covers your travel expenses while you are in the states , many people told me that at least 1000$/m . But actually I don't know, but of course the more money the better. *It can be your father, mother, brother, and uncle bank statement. * I got it stamped from the central bank of Egypt after I got it from the local bank branch (Actually I don't know whether it's important or not, but one of my friends who travelled to Europe has done the same, and told me that it was mandatory for him, at the same time others travelled without stamping it from the Central Bank , any way I did it and it costs10LE/paper ). *** my account was new, it was only 3 weeks ago on the day of the interview, but they said nothing( as he didn't look at my documents, he just asked if I have it , and I gave it to him , but he didn't take a look at it, like he was just checking if I have one or not.( but the best is to be 6 month ago….)
4-Proberty , car, or any other non movable belongs you have in your name. For car , just translate the car license it's enough I believe.
5-Address in the states that I will stay in during the externship. * I did the search online , and find a place that is good, I contacted the person he told me that he only accept cash upon arrival, I took the address, and took the print of the address on Google maps with me , and try to memorize the address in case the office asked you. *** He didn't even ask .
6-Photographs for the Us visa: It is very important to bring the correct photo on the day of your interview. If it is not correct, you will have to reschedule your interview by calling 090070600, resulting in a delay of your travel.
· Photo size must be 5 x 5 cm (2" x 2"). Photo must be original, taken within the past 6 months, and show current appearance.
· Photo must be color. Background must be plain white.
· Photo must be in sharp focus, and correctly exposed (not too dark or too light).
· Photo must be taken from a straight frontal view, showing full face including both ears.
· Facial dimensions must be between 2.5 cm and 3.5 cm from the top of the head to the bottom of the chin.
· Photo cannot be digitally altered. Scanning old photos to insert a white background is not acceptable.
· Photo should show normal street attire:
· Uniforms should not be worn except for religious attire that is worn daily.
· Hats/headgear obscuring the hair or hairline are not allowed. Headgear worn for religious purposes is acceptable provided that the face is uncovered.
· Dark or non-prescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable. Prescription glasses, hearing devices, wigs or similar articles, should be shown if normally worn.
مواصفات الصورة : * صورة ملونة ذات خلفية بيضاء مقاس 5cm x 5cm حديثة مأخوذه خلال ستة اشهر على الاكثر لكل شخص مسافر مهما كان عمره وتكون الصورة غير معدلة او عمل عليها اي عمليات فلترة ببرامج الكومبيوتر او اي تصفية كانت !! ( معروفة لدى جميع معامل التصوير اذكر لهم صورة فيزة سفارة امريكا ) .... عند اخذ الصورة يرجى مراعات الخطوات والشروط التالية : الخطوات/ عمل مسح ضوئي للصورة بجهاز الماسح الضوئي ( Scanner ) او طلب الصورة من المصور على CD شروط الصورة بعد الماسح الضوئي او الماخوذة على CD من المصور / * تكون الصورة على هيئة صورة jpg ) JPEG ) * يكون الحجم للوضوح بين 600×600 و 1200×1200 Pixels
*
http://travel.state.gov/visa/visaphotoreq/photocomptemplate/photocomptemplate_5330.html ( This is a link from the official embassy website regarding the photo requirements)
and this (
http://travel.state.gov/visa/visaphotoreq/photoexamples/photoexamples_5331.html) ( معظم الاستديوهات المشهورة بيبقوا عارفينها., أنا عن نفسي خدت نسخة من الخصائص بتاعة الصورة معايا _اللي أنا كاتبها فوق ده_وأنا رايح الاستديو ولقيتهم عارفينها)
7-Confirmation page after filling the Ds-160 form: This form is an online form that you have to fill and after filling it a confirmation page will appear ;you have to print it and take it with you to the interview. If you during filling the form don't have a printer, don't worry there is an option that email it to then you print it any time later( Many people advise me to print it with color laser printer , as this page has a barcode which has to be well printed to be recognized from the embassy computer, however I saw a lot of people there in the embassy printed it in black& white, but the laser printer is better) in the embassy they will ask you to write on this confirmation page the following information : your father name in English, Your mother name in English, Your name in English like written in your passport , and any travelling history for you . It's a long form actually, but it's easy don't worry, you need to have all the information beside you during filling this application (passport, previous passports, your father and mother names in English, your education, address you will stay in the states, the purpose of the visit, type of visa (here you will choose Tourist (B1/B2) then choose either B1, B2 or B1/B2, your digital visa photo, etc…
. All you need is just to be ready with all the documents you have and even if you find anything difficult during filling the form , don't worry as you can save every step you do ( like games J ) and return to it again whenever you are ready. And this is a great video that will explain each step with details in the Ds-160 filling process, I was worried before filling the DS-160 form, but after watching this video it became very easy(
) *This link is FAQs regarding the Ds-160 form from the Us embassy official site (
http://travel.state.gov/visa/forms/forms_4401.html ) read it then watch the above video and isA you will be well oriented with the Ds-160 form. 8- The CIB bank Receipt (don't forget it ). 9- And of course don't forget your PASSPORT
10-Others: * Details of the externship address , specialty, name of the doctor you will do the externship with, print out of the email stating that FMG Portal don't ask for specific type of visa , and that it accepts any valid visa. *Copy of a page form US visa website stating that B1 is type of visa for unpaid training in the states. (
http://travel.state.gov/pdf/BusinessVisa.pdf )
11- It's all about how you can proof that you will return to Egypt. Any ties to Egypt you have to bring it with you If you're married and your wife is in Egypt it's one of the strongest tie, Job, Very good Bank statement, family ties, whatever you feel as a good reason that will convince them in the embassy that you will come back to Egypt .As most people who got rejection the cause was(( not enough ties to the home country ).
12- DHL fees about 60-90 LE I think. ##((( All papers must be in English( however others say it's not obligatory as they have translators in the embassy , but I think English is very important ) There are many translators listed on the- Us embassy in Cairo -website and this is the link (
http://62.140.73.207/consular/acslist3.htm ) I did mine in NADOURY & NAHAS Attorneys at Law, Legal Consultants & Translators 7 Lazoughly St. Isis Building Suite 35, Garden city. They finish them in one day, each paper cost me about 50-60 LE/ paper,….however I asked them( the translating office) whether it's mandatory to translate it through an official translators who are listed on the embassy website, they told me((( NO))). ##((( you don't have to bring travel insurance with you, or do any flight reservation before getting the visa))) *** In the embassy they only saw( Confirmation page, photos,passport, CIB receipt, bank statement, enrollment letter.
(The interview day )
* My interview appointment was at 9:00 am and they told me that I have to be there at 8:00 am. * I went there early at 6:45 am( 2olt e7tayty ya3ni le ay zarf
) ( I thought it was too early ) but once I arrived I found a lot of people there , they were in a long line waiting to enter the embassy. *You will take your turn in this line till you reach the gate , there you will find a friendly man who will ask you to show the confirmation letter , photos and passport, then he will check if your name is with him , or not, then you will be permitted to enter the embassy. *during getting into the embassy you will go through security check, they will take your mobile, flash memory, any electronics with you , and give you a number to be able to get them again after finishing the interview. *Now you are in the embassy, but still didn't reach the place of the interview, you will pass through another gate, where he will see your confirmation page, photos and CIB receipt. And give you a number.
Then they will call your number, this is not for the interview it just to take your finger prints, then they will call your number again, that's your interview.( take a deep breath , be confident w twkkal 3la Allah it will be very easy isA J ) He will ask you why you are going to the states, then will ask for the enrollment " invitation" letter. He will ask about your date of graduation( as in my case he thought I'm still a student as my graduation year is the end of my internship year, anyway it's not a big deal, just tell him what the hospital or faculty letter says) He will also ask for how long will you stay there. If you have a bank statement. then your travelling history ( at least in my case) *** Don't worry , most of the time he didn't even look at the papers, all the time he was typing on the Pc in front of him.and the whole interview was less than 2 min. *** In my case he was so rude, and some time I didn't hear or understand him well, so he started to shout and say, how come you're going to see patients and you can't understand English…At that point I told my self okaaaay
no hope 5las, rejected rejected ya3ni .but actually el7amdlelah it went well.( So always be confident ) He gave me a paper with a number to follow my visa status online. * Just to know, there are 4 ends for that interview: 1- Accepted without further administrative process…and that happens a lot. 2-Rejected at once, isA m7adesh ye7salo keda 3- Accepted after going through further administrative process.( like in my case) 4-Rejected after going through further administrative process( which is very raaaaaaaaare, they say that not me.) *** What is the administrative process.. .It's like a further security check , I don't know actually is it randomized process or not. it takes 1 week up to months,( but most of the cases resolve in 4-6 weeks, it was written like that in the paper they gave to me ) * In my case they it took exactly 4 weeks. There is a link where you can check your visa status on a daily basis, but not before 1 week from your interview date. * After you find that your visa was accepted, go to the nearest DHL branch , take with you your case number( the number you was following your status with, Actually hatkoon hfazto men kotr mabtektebo kol yom
) and in DHL they know exactly what to do , so don't worry. In DHL they told me it will take 7-10 days work to get the passport back to me ( as I remember). But it came back to me after 3 days. **** During checking your visa status online, don't expect ((congratulation you have got the visa..or something like that,,, they told me that now I can send them the passport via DHL and if there is((( no problem J))) , they will send it back to me with the visa stamped on it…so don't worry from that silly msg J ). ** Finally in the airport entry, don't worry at all, once you get it from the embassy it will be okay isA J. As before my travelling I heard a lot about that externship is not accepted on B! visa and that I have to tell them I will do observership only, as there is a chance that they send me back again to Egypt..Actually walahy it is easier than that, he didn't ask me in the airport why I'm coming aslan, Yes I went to the Home land security department, which Dr Mohamed Salah has talked about it before, but nothing scary, just relax and enjoying your arrival. (((( The aim of my detailed experience is not to make you feel like it's a hard thing to do,, I just wanted to share everything that I passed through ,may that help others isA,, but walahy it's a very easy process, just do everything well w twkkal 3la Allah, and don't worry at all )))) GOOD LUCK EVERY BODY ISA Your Brother, Mohamed Othman.
