I am on F1 visa, currently doing second semester of a masters program. I completed my undergraduate a couple of years back. I have never been back to Nepal since I got here 7 years ago. I am planning to visit home this summer. Would like to know what my chances are of getting student visa for my masters program. Has anyone been in the same situation? If so please share you experience - what questions were asked during the interview, suggestions, advice - anything would help at this point.

Thanks much!

........i had my fren, who completed his undergrad in 6 years and went on master on his 8th year; went to Nepal; he successfully got visa stamped....
....so i would say, it all depends on ur luck....

You seemed to have finished your undergraduate in time. If you didn't transfer to too many universities, no one can stop you.

@mrbored thanks for sharing that info! im trying to be uber optimistic and staying positive ... every bit of positive anecdote helps!

You should be fine. Since you are currently on 2nd semester of Master's, they will not hold you. If you were going after Undergrad and applying for Master's, That could have been a Risk as I had few of my friends being Rejected.

They might simply ask you what have you done on your GAP between undergrad and the start of master's.
I went in 2009 Dec and applied a Visa as at the time I still had 1 more quarter to complete my Bachelor and it was 6 years at the time I was in States.
I am going this April and again I have to go to Stamping and it would be my 4th time in US Embassy !!!
Good luck !!!

@quickbrownfox: You will not have any problem. I hope you have an assistantship in your graduate program.

I did the same. The only question they might ask is what were you doing during those gap as C.. Ronaldo (oh i hate Ronaldo..lol) pointed out.

Enjoy your trip man...Nothing to worry!!!

@C..Ronaldo hey man thanks for sharing! i'm so stoked to go home! and good luck to you as well...

@collegefootballrocks thanks much for the reassurance bro! i worked as a researcher during my gap years .. hopefully that counts as a plus! anyway really appreciate you sharing!

cheers peeps!

Hi,
I got my student visa renewed in July, 2015 in Kathmandu. I want to share how my experience was. I hope this information will help others like me.

Documents I prepared for visa interview:
1. Bachelor Transcript along with my current semester GPA
2. I-20
3. Passport
4. Financial document
5. Relationship evidence
6. Scholarship letters
7. Extracurricular certificates/honors
8. Good Academic standing letter from program director
9. Visa letter from International adviser
10. Receipt of payment for visa interview
11. Visa interview appointment confirmation letter
12. Non immigrant Visa application confirmation (DS-160)
13. On campus employment letter
14. Enrolled classes printout

Please remember some of the documents I have listed is because I had already completed 2 semesters of my graduate program before I went for the visa renewal. I thought they would be helpful.

At the Visa interview, the only documents I was asked of were I-20, passport and academic transcripts. The interviewer did not look at any of the rest of my documents.

As of July, 2015
You need to pay Rs. 16800 for visa interview, Rs. 21000 as visa issuance fee if you get the visa.

Note: I almost paid the Sevis fee. But I did not have to since I was a continuing student. Say you are a continuing student when they ask if you paid sevis fee at the U.S. embassy. Also make sure and check the sevis website whether you have to pay the sevis fee or not.

Steps involved:
1. Fill out DS-160 online in U.S. embassy website
DS-160 is online form which I am sure will remain in the database forever, so fill out the information correctly to save yourself from future headaches.
2. Pay the visa interview fee
3. Fix the interview date (It was two weeks waiting period to get the interview date as of July 2015)
4. Prepare documents
5. Go to visa interview. (They do not let you enter the embassy earlier than 30 min before your appointment time.)
I waited for about 3-4 hrs before I got interviewed.

I have tried to be detailed and concise with all the information. I hope this helps whoever needs it. Good Luck.

PS As of 2014, paper I-94 is not given to travelers who travel via air or sea. I-94 can be printed online free of cost.

quick-brown fox thanks for the detailed info.

One interesting sceneraio
If i go home on Advance parole and try to get visa stamping from F1 (Masters 3rd semester / CPT wala college ) -- If denied can I come back with AP OR If approved come back with F1 visa ?