Considering studying abroad to be closer to SO

[Lovebee]

So, I'm studying here in the UK, and I have two more years of my course to do. This is my second degree. I'm not enjoying it as much as I used to, and people keep telling me to stick with it because I'll regret it if I don't. They also say the qualification will be useful.

Well, it won't be THAT useful when I move to being with my SO, and I'll have to do further courses and exams to be licensed to work over in the USA.

I'm considering dropping out of my course here and enrolling in a school over in Seattle where I can get a vocational diploma in a little under a year. I'd then be just two hours' drive away from my SO, and would finish with a qualification that is instantly recognised in his state. I feel like my current degree is wasting time that could be better spent so that we're closer to being well set up in life when I finish studying.

How long does it take to get a student visa? Has anybody been denied a student visa?

[alittlemind]

This is what I am currently in the process of doing. I hope to be with my SO by January. Same reasons as you, I hope to get my degree and qualifications faster, and be all set up to live in the US when I graduate. Let me tell you, it is not an easy process (at least not for me it isn't). To my knowledge, receiving a student visa does not take very long. It's just the whole process of applying, getting accepted, making sure you have all your papers you need, etc. The school I am looking to attend also have a phone number and an e-mail, and they've been very helpful. Maybe you can look for something of that sort and contact them? I'm sure they'd be able to answer your questions far better than I can. Good luck!

[Ejoriah]

In my experience, getting the visa itself did not take long. However the whole process can be lengthy. First you need to apply to the school and get accepted. Requirements vary from school to school, but typically you will need transcripts and proof that you can financially support yourself on your own for a full year. Once they accept you you can start with the visa procedure. For me it was a question of filling out an application online, paying a fee, and scheduling an interview with the US embassy in my country. There is an interview where they make sure you're not trying to immigrate to the country, and you should be getting your visa right after that.

It might be slightly different if you're from the UK, and depending on where you apply, so you may want to get in touch with the university ASAP.

[Tooki]

I'm only doing study abroad/exchange for one semester, but my visa got approved in about 3 working days (It's a European country though so it will be a different experience for you.)

As Ejorah said, it won't be the visa itself but it will be the entire process that will take a lengthy amount of time. From handing in my application until having everything arranged, it look me about 6 months in total. You'll probably be waiting the longest for a formal acceptance from the school in question.

[Lovebee]

Thanks guys. I've been in touch with the school I have in mind and they have been pretty helpful. Now just to make the ultimate decision about whether or not I'm going to go for it...

[Moon]

I have a vocational diploma in the US, trust me, it's not nearly validated as much as a degree. Your salary will definitely be less, and your colleagues with actual degrees will not take you as seriously as those who have the degree. Also, those VoTech programs are very expensive, you'll need to get loans, unless you have the funds to pay the school directly. I'm not being negative, but want you to know about this, in case you didn't. My one year program was almost 20 years ago, and then it cost $25,000. Good luck though, I hope it works out for you.

[silvermoonfairy3]

I second Moon on vocational degrees. There is an unfortunate bit of stigma attached to vocational schooling in the US, as "less" than university schooling. I don't know what field you're in, but as Moon said, it will likely affect your pay, and perception by colleagues. (Depending on the field and level of competition, it may also affect losing out on jobs to people with university degrees. The US job market is very competitive overall, and it's a good idea to give yourself as many advantages over other applicants as possible.)

Not that it's not doable, just something to be aware of with the way the US works.

Also, I have no idea if student visas are currently impacted with the US government shutdown, but if they are, that will add some processing time even once the government stops throwing tantrums and reopens.

[Moon]

I second Moon on vocational degrees. There is an unfortunate bit of stigma attached to vocational schooling in the US, as "less" than university schooling. I don't know what field you're in, but as Moon said, it will likely affect your pay, and perception by colleagues. (Depending on the field and level of competition, it may also affect losing out on jobs to people with university degrees. The US job market is very competitive overall, and it's a good idea to give yourself as many advantages over other applicants as possible.)

Not that it's not doable, just something to be aware of with the way the US works.

Also, I have no idea if student visas are currently impacted with the US government shutdown, but if they are, that will add some processing time even once the government stops throwing tantrums and reopens.

Oh yeah! Good point about the shutdown possibly affecting visas. OP, your visa might take longer than expected, our government's dysfunction is showing.

[lyonsgirl]

Oh yeah! Good point about the shutdown possibly affecting visas. OP, your visa might take longer than expected, our government's dysfunction is showing.

I know this isn't visa, but I know that new social security cards aren't being issued right now due to the shut down, so I imagine visas are the same.

[nicole]

I think it depends in what field the OP is in. For example, I have a Bachelors degree from an English University which is usually considered "Better" as in, whilst my GPA isn't too great in England, once translated it is pretty high by US Standards. (Not ragging on US colleges by the way, US college is HARD. I just mean the grade conversion rate works in our favour most times.) However, I need a very specific Associates degree to do the job I want, even though I covered what the job entails in my Bachelor's. The OP said they already have a degree which should rule in their favor.

As for the student visa, once the school has accepted you, and get their end of the paperwork done and sent it to you, you usually don't go to the embassy until around a month before your semester starts, then you get the visa within a week or so. Student visas don't usually have a risk of being denied if you have all the paperwork with you- you don't get asked nearly as many questions, just where you're studying and what for. The main risk is not getting accepted onto the course, which is the school's job, not USCIS.

[Lovebee]

I checked the London Embassy, and they are still processing visas during shutdown.

My situation with the degree vs diploma thing is a bit complicated. I'm studying physiotherapy, but my chances of being licensed in the US with a UK PT degree are slim to none without further courses (expensive and time-consuming). There's also the question of how many employers will be interested in a UK trained physio vs the US trained Doctors of Physical Therapy - even though our knowledge-level will likely be the same. I'm looking at doing a diploma in massage, where I could quickly set up shop as a self-employed Licensed Massage Practitioner (and my future plans involve being the owner and manager of a therapy clinic rather than actually practising myself too much).

I realise that a degree looks better, but I do already have a decent one in English Lit., and this diploma is more of a means to an employment ends. Plus I have the benefit of over a year's worth of physio training already which gives me a decent knowledge-base in biomechanics, anatomy, physiology and pathology, and might give me an edge over the run-of-the-mill massage therapists. Ultimately I want a profession where I can have a high degree of autonomy, but I don't want to spend the next five years getting there.

It looks like the diploma is around $10k-$15 depending on where I go, and I can afford to do it. It would put me in a position to start earning sooner than my PT degree. To finish my PT degree here in London is, interesting, about the same cost when I factor in rents, bills, and flights to visit my SO for the next two years.

Dilemma!

[Lovebee]

I think it depends in what field the OP is in. For example, I have a Bachelors degree from an English University which is usually considered "Better" as in, whilst my GPA isn't too great in England, once translated it is pretty high by US Standards. (Not ragging on US colleges by the way, US college is HARD. I just mean the grade conversion rate works in our favour most times.) However, I need a very specific Associates degree to do the job I want, even though I covered what the job entails in my Bachelor's. The OP said they already have a degree which should rule in their favor.

Thanks for this post, nicole, I wasn't aware of the grade conversion working out like that. Good to know.

[Moon]

That is a dilemma! Just be careful of your school choice, here in the US many VoTech's are for profit schools, meaning they accept everyone and the education is shit, it's all about collecting non-refundable tuition. Make sure you read their reviews carefully on a neutral site. Not sure if you have this kind of thing in the UK, so just a little warning

[Lovebee]

Thanks Moon. I'm trawling through a lot of forums and review sites these days, hopefully I'm getting a reasonably balanced picture...

[silvermoonfairy3]

I'm looking at doing a diploma in massage, where I could quickly set up shop as a self-employed Licensed Massage Practitioner (and my future plans involve being the owner and manager of a therapy clinic rather than actually practising myself too much).

Okay. That's a bit different than some of the other vocational degrees. However, for actual work-visas/not student visas, there are often different hurdles, and I *think* being self-employed and setting up a business require ability to show you have money to invest in doing so/can support yourself. I'm not 100% sure on that because a lot of work stuff here is complicated, but something to be aware of.

I realise that a degree looks better, but I do already have a decent one in English Lit., and this diploma is more of a means to an employment ends.

If you're trying to do massage/PT, they won't care about an English degree. If you want to do something more general like marketing or office assistant work, then basically 'any degree' works a little better.

Plus I have the benefit of over a year's worth of physio training already which gives me a decent knowledge-base in biomechanics, anatomy, physiology and pathology, and might give me an edge over the run-of-the-mill massage therapists.

True, you'll be able to work that into interviews for massage places or whatnot, though you may have to be careful about not making it look like you bailed for the voke diploma because you couldn't handle the 'harder' degree or something. (Yes, employers really think things like that.)

It looks like the diploma is around $10k-$15 depending on where I go, and I can afford to do it. It would put me in a position to start earning sooner than my PT degree. To finish my PT degree here in London is, interesting, about the same cost when I factor in rents, bills, and flights to visit my SO for the next two years.

I'm confused, the cost of the diploma here is about the same as the cost of the degree there and your bills/rent/flights?

If so, how are you planning to make up the difference once you add in rent/bills here? I don't know where you'd be planning on living.. Some parts of the US would have much lower costs of living than London, but some would be on par or higher.