Calorific

Hello there, I will be heading for the embassy in less than a week. I am using my brother's bank statement as cover for supporting my wife and little man when I am in the US. Do you think I need a reference letter from the bank in addition to the bank statement of my brother that I have to present to the interviewing officer at the embassy? Secondly, when in the US, do you think I can get by with my family with a meager RA funding of about $2000/month considering the costs of medical insurance and living (estimated) of approx. $8500 per annum without other substantial financial support? Are there ways of getting around this when one's spouse will be on an F-2 visa? My school says they do not issue J-1 visas except one gets a funding from their home country.

Thank you, guys!

My admission letter says nothing about the length of my program.

This is just a new development: So I booked my appointment ahead of the arrival of the I-20 haven received the I-20 SEVIS ID in a separate secured email last week. The max length of time for completing the PhD on the I-20 that was scanned to me is 72 months. Meanwhile, on my DS 160, I had fixed 5 years (= 60 months) as my expected length of stay in the US. Haven booked my appointment already, I hope that this would not be misconstrued by the consular officer on the date of the interview and used as a reason against me?

I am a level 5 sorcerer. I eat witches and wizards for lunch. Call me the Darth Vader of Engineering!

Thanks for the useful advice, Mister Fuzzy! :-)

Hello there, I have been trying to secure my I-20 from my uni for a while now. The school has so far refused to issue the I-20 because my wife and child's passports aren't ready yet (I intend to travel with them). I expect the t passports to be out before the end of this week though. The next available slot for appointment at the US embassy in my country for F-1 students is July 16 as of today when I checked online and I am a bit worried that it might be too late by the time the I-20 arrives and I start processing my embassy appointment (my RA offer would be void if I can't attend orientation on Aug 13). School officially resumes on Aug 25. In order to complete the DS-160 form, I would need the SEVIS-ID which I assume comes with the I-20. My question: do you think it would be appropriate to ask for the I-20 from the school at this point before the I-20 actually arrives? I am just trying to see if I could save time one way or another. Thank you!

Hey, I will be attending UTD in the fall with my wife and kid. I will need advice on what area in Dallas I can get a good private housing that is moderately affordable?

Thank you!

Hi guys, So I recently received a full tuition waiver at a school in Dallas plus a stipend of $1,650. I would like to know if this stipend would mean remission of taxes to the US Government and how much I can expect to remit out of the $1,650 monthly. Also, does anyone think I can get by with this amount in a city like Dallas? Pardon my ignorance about living costs in US cities. I am only an international applicant and would like to make an informed decision. Thank you! PS: The offer is valid from Fall 2014 through spring 2015 with conditions for renewal of maintaining a GPA of 3.6 and passing PhD qualifying exams. Is this normal please?

I just emailed the page link to myself, scrolled down and realized tinkerbell did the same. Jesus, great post!

Hiya, so I interviewed with a POI last tuesday who got very upbeat about me: he promised full funding in the form of a TA/RA or both and told me I should hear back officially within a week. Well, it's two days over a week as I write yet no word from the POI. Just wondering when it might be considered appropriate to get in touch with the POI.

Thank you, VioletAyame. I've been interviewed already. It went well, thanks!

Thank you, VioletAyame. I've been interviewed already. It went well, thanks!

Hey Ishan, I mailed a POI at USC on April 17 and he said: "If you have not heard positively by now, it means that we could not find a slot for you. I have not been able to take on any new students this year at all. Hope you have been able to find other opportunities.". Interesting thing is the principal POI that I showed interest in also replied to my enquiry saying: "I have not been informed of the department decision" . I tried contacting grad admissions via skype and they told me my application was awaiting a decision at the department. I will go with, "and all options are on the table" at this point. I advise you keep your hopes alive too.

Thank you very much. This is really helpful!

So I've had it roller-coaster style since Friday night when I got admitted to a rolling-admission based school in the South. I am for a PhD in Electrical Engineering (Robotics Track). I immediately contacted my PoI expressing interest in funding offers and he recommended I apply to the department's TA and graduate scholarship immediately as consideration for these were currently going on. He did mention that if I applied weekend, my application would be looked at on Monday. So I applied Sunday morning and he replied Sunday evening that he would like to have a skype interview sometime early in the week to guage my research and academic background (I thought by now anyone looking at my application should already know my research and academic background). I am just scared to my pants cause I don't know what sort of question he might ask and in what direction he might take me during the interview. This is my first shot at a fully-funded PhD so I don't want to blow my fledgling chances. Any advice anyone?

Wow, thanks TakeruK. You are a god among men!

Hi all, So I'm new to this US education credit Hours thing. I recently got an admission with a waiver of $1500 per semester for a total of 3 semesters making $4500 in total. They also stated that out-of-state tuition was $1250 per credit hour. Exactly what does a credit hour mean and how does it translate to my fee status? I am an international student and my fee classification before an I-20 can be issued runs upwards of $44000 though tuition is only about $12000-17000. I will be glad to be educated on all of these. Thank you!

I did not get funding. Was accepted into the MS instead. Sucks is the word!

In the defense of letting it be there, I did for my app to CU Boulder and got in. Perspective is everything!

I would mail them and get a clarification. You'll never know!

Yes, it's USC EngineeringGrad! Goodluck with your applications too Waiting it out!

Yes, I applied in all schools I applied to except for Florida. I chose computer vision in virtually all of them except for UCSB where I chose communication and control under Professor Mostofi. No decisions yet, eww!

Hi roguesenna, thanks for the missive. I am an international from a far away country so my undergrad uni factors costs of mailing stuff to USA with the actual transcript order. That explains the "RIDICULOUS" pricing you fumed at. I am as well exasperated by the crazy charge and that's why I chose the unis I applied to more carefully to ensure they at least accepted e'nic versions. I will probs mail my transcript on Monday. Aal izz well!!!