phdreally

It would be wise to carry your passport and I20 when you are taking a flight anywhere. TSA has asked me for passport in "random" checks even in domestic flights. Also do carry them when you are driving around 50-100miles of the international border. The CHP post between San Diego and LA is known to occasionally stop ALL traffic and ask for passport if you are not a citizen. Other times I always have a photocopy or scanned images of my passport and docs in my smartphone so that I don't have "nothing" in that highly improbable situation, just in case..

Please ask questions for which answers are not available readily at the click of a google search

Whenever you check in baggage, they always tell you till where it is checked in. That way you know where to manually re check in your baggage. The baggage tag you receive on check in also has the airport code where you must pick up.

@TakeruK I suppose Toothybear's concern is that the COS from H-1 to J-1 might not happen in time to receive the financial support. So the alternative is to change status by re-entry (and therefore visa). There is no third alternative, is there?

Well, it does not matter in what form you are earning (TA or stipend or tuition reimbursement, or a combination of these). You need to be in the appropriate status (F-1 etc) to be eligible to receive them. So, if you are on H-1B (until F-1 COS is approved), you are not eligible for tuition reimbursement, and therefore you will need to pay it yourself. Having an SSN is a different issue (the SSN you have while on H-1B is tied to that immigration status). First you need to be in the right immigration status.

I am in a similar situation. I applied for change of status from H-1B to J-1 in June (could not get my DS-2019 earlier) but my program starts towards the end of Sept. This is not legal advice, but based on what I have gathered: If there is a delay in the change of status adjudication, you can start your program, but cannot take any kind of financial support until the new student status comes into effect. This usually means you would have to pay for the tuition of the quarter/semester yourself, and not receive stipend/salary. Whether that gets reimbursed or paid later really depends on your department/advisor, but usually it would not. There is no premium processing for COS. However, a "non-profit organization" could do an expedition request. Most of the universities are "non-profit".

Looks like you are referring to embassy/consulate emergency appointments to get a visa for one of the above stated reasons. There are no "appointments" for change of status applications.

I believe masters in computer science at Cornell is less than a year (3 quarters) based on what my friend there told me.

I was told both by my univ international center and my attorney that my US born daughter (citizen) will not be on ds2019 and not be my j2 dependent or subject to j2 funding/insurance constraints.

My situation is similar. I am on J1 with a spouse and daughter. Daughter is US citizen. DS2019 only lists J2 dependents. Daughter is a "dependent", but not a J2 dependent. I didn't have to show funding or insurance for her either. Looks like your are on the right track.

Is @cheme_pse and @Desi_Mama the same person? Very confusing and similar stories!

Also, look for professors, and apply to the universities where they are currently homed. The professor is your goal, and their university admission is just a means to that end.

You could join the PhD program you are currently admitted into (anything in the top-20 are generally worth pursuing), and then try for a transfer the next year, if you really want to. You might be able to carry forward credits earned in the first year.

Hi, I am starting my PhD this Fall on a J-1 visa. I would like to know if anyone had suggestions for getting evac insurance. I have health insurance from my wife's workplace that covers all the requirements except for the medical evac/repatriation, and the university's international office says it is possible to get a separate policy just for that (instead of getting the more expensive health + evac insurance from the university). How are others on J-1 managing their insurance requirements?

One defers the start date, not the decision on the offer. So deferring implies you have committed to the program, but need more time before starting. It is NOT meant to be the "holding pattern" you are looking for.