Apply for F1 an B2 visa at the same time for Chinese students?

[Song Hanlin]

Hi there,

I am a Chinese student studying in Scotland. I have been admitted to a master's program in the U.S starting this fall. However, I plan to visit my friends in May, which is much earlier than the start of the program (should be in August / September). Therefore I need to apply for two visas (B2 and F1).

My question is, is it possible for me to apply the two visa at the same time? Because I will have to go to the embassy in London from Glasgow. (There is no embassy in Scotland!) Travelling to London is time and money consuming for me. Are there any problems by doing so? i.e. the validity of my B2 visa

Thank you very much!

[bakstol]

You can have both the F1 and B visas only in certain special circumstances. You can apply for the B visa first and the F1 next. The F1 visa will cancel the B visa but only from its start date. So if you you start school let's say in September and the B visa expires in December, then the B visa will no longer be valid in September. You should ask the university.