Has anyone received their I-20 yet?

[smellie]

Other than one piece of paper that told I got in, I haven't hear anything back from Grad Office.

Since I accepted the offer, the department has sent me e-mails about funding package (TA for sure, then tuition remission was "recommended" to the Office),

and is sending a confirmation letter about funding and advisor etc. But NOTHING from Grad office, no e-mail or no letters confirming anything.

And it seems like they're not willing to send anything by priority mail, because it took 2 weeks for my admission letter to come in the first place.

I'm very anxious to get start with my visa application, because from years of experience of living as a foreigner in North America/Europe,

I learned that you can never have enough time with visa.

The school even required me to send in financial documents when applying to "expediate" the process, but where are my letters??

[maa]

Why dont you ask them about your I-20? Moreover, you should ask them how they will send your I -20. If they are not going to send it over express mail through FedEx or DHL (which is very unlikely but not impossible), ask them to send it over express mail and you will pay the cost.

[smellie]

Why dont you ask them about your I-20? Moreover, you should ask them how they will send your I -20. If they are not going to send it over express mail through FedEx or DHL (which is very unlikely but not impossible), ask them to send it over express mail and you will pay the cost.

They were vague about exactly when they're sending them out, so I was wondering how other schools are doing. Thought I hadn't thought about the mail thing - thanks for the suggestion. This is my first time applying in the States, so everything's a bit hectic

[maa]

This is first time for me too. However, two schools have sent me I-20 as soon as I got admission (they did not wait for my decision). Both of them sent it through FedEx. But one of my friends got I-20 over normal mail. I do not know which country you are from, but in my country, it is always advisable that visa application should be made three months prior to date of travel. So, I cannot afford to wait for my I-20 to reach me over normal mail.

[floopydrive]

Mine is in the mail since 2 weeks. Should be here this week.

[magamago]

Hi! I am an int student as well. My program will start the 5th September, so I think I will be allowed to arrive to the U.S. one month before only. The problem is that my (future) University organizes Summer language courses for Grad student....and they start in June. So, I think that because of my Visa, I wont be able to attend it. Anyone in a similar situation??? :cry:

[smellie]

Hi! I am an int student as well. My program will start the 5th September, so I think I will be allowed to arrive to the U.S. one month before only. The problem is that my (future) University organizes Summer language courses for Grad student....and they start in June. So, I think that because of my Visa, I wont be able to attend it. Anyone in a similar situation??? :cry:

I heard if you let the school know that you have to attend the program, they'll expediate the process. I don't know where you're from/are now, but start getting all the documents together, ask the school to send you the appropriate I-20 etc. so that as soon as the school send you all necessary stuff, you could go ahead and submit your application. In my country, it only takes 2-3 days to get the visa once you submit/interview.

[SuzR]

Magamago - You can enter the country 30 days before classes and I would've thought a summer language course would count as classes, especially if it's geared towards international students? Otherwise if the college is near Canada, you could always enter the US without a Visa, go to Canada for a weekend and then re-enter the country on your student visa! Hope you manage to get it sorted soon - I need mine by the end of June...

[lalalacereza]

Nup, not yet. Was told to expect it within three weeks, four weeks ago...

[SuzR]

Just found out that they give approximate wait times for requesting a visa interview & the visa processing time on the US Department of State site. Go to http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/ ... s_wait.php and you can choose your city. Helped me to stop worrying about getting my I-20 by knowing the rest of the process will be quick!

[lalalacereza]

Just got mine today. I hope that they put the right figure on the bit where they list my stipend amount, 'cos it's $2k more than I thought I was getting!

[soundboard]

i got mine last week

you need to keep asking and reminding the departmental secy and the ISS staff at your university. If they dont have a policy of sending by express mail, you can offer to send a prepaid USPS self addressed envelope. That can be done by anyone who is still in the US- say a friend.

and do check if there is any confusion between the dept and the ISS regarding the funding and aid etc, it is often delayed due to such confusions

best

[normajean]

I have gotten NO info from UChicago about what I'm supposed to do now about my student visa. I have e-mailed and called them a ridiculously large number of times. I am getting VERY frustrated!!! Don't I need to start the process, otherwise I won't get stuff processed in time? I am going crazy here.

[erikw]

Crap! I haven't processed anything yet. I am quite worried now. I need to get my act together.

[britishstudent]

Does anyone find the information provided by the US government a bit confusing.

So far I've got my I-20, I've made an appointment and paid my MRV fee, my SEVIS fee, I've filled out DS-156, DS-158 (although I really don't have that much work history), DS-157. I have my passport, provided a photo and am getitng my hands on transcripts.

I have a letter from my university confirming that I am funded

I *think* I've done everything that a young male has to do except prove that I intend to return home through evidence of family professional or employment ties. I don't have any property or employment - how do they want me to prove that my parents will be a factor in making me return home?!

[lalalacereza]

They won't worry about the ties to home stuff. I think that's in place so they can weed out the ones who use some crappy tech certificate course to get into the country and then disappear. It's a horrible thing to say, but I'm sure that they look much less closely at those of us from western countries. When I went (UK citizen) they looked at my stuff, asked how I chose my uni, what expenses were covered by my scholarship, and told me they were approving the visa. One minute flat.

[nowikissyou]

Like lalacereza stated, you shouldn't worry about that. On my first trip to the states in 2006 (under J-1, 4 months visiting student) the interview at the embassy was quite swift, and it was more of a friendly chatter than anything else. I handed over the forms, fee receipts and my bank extract (there was no scholarship, so I had to support myself with personal funds) to the interviewer and she just asked about the university I would be staying at, my university of origin and my motivations.

I'll go to the embassy again in early July to get a new visa (F-1 for PhD) and there haven't been any noticeable changes* either at http://travel.state.gov/ nor at the embassy's site, so I think you've done all you needed to do. Portuguese citizen here, btw.

It might be wise to have duplicates (copies) of every document, just in case.

Final note: the security measures at the embassy will be tight, so make everyone's life easier and don't take anything metallic/bulky/suspicious with you. Just a folder with the papers, passport, a pen and a cellphone (which they might require you to turn off past the entrance).

My keychain consisting of a pen drive and worn RAM DIMMs (computer memory) puzzled them for quite a while

* there was a proposal for the SEVIS fee to greatly increase (towards $200), but it's not in effect yet

[ukiitm]

They won't worry about the ties to home stuff. I think that's in place so they can weed out the ones who use some crappy tech certificate course to get into the country and then disappear. It's a horrible thing to say, but I'm sure that they look much less closely at those of us from western countries. When I went (UK citizen) they looked at my stuff, asked how I chose my uni, what expenses were covered by my scholarship, and told me they were approving the visa. One minute flat.

Um ... mine was half a minute and I'm from India (not a "western country").

[lalalacereza]

Um ... mine was half a minute and I'm from India (not a "western country").

That's good. I commented on this because an Afghan friend of mine recently had a 20 minute grilling and an Indonesian girl I'll be studying with had a similar experience. Of the ten or so people I know who've applied for visas to study in the US, there's been a pretty clear split between those of us from culturally western nations and those from developing countries.

[portugabel]

Hi,

Currently waiting for my I-20 but in the meantime do have a few questions for all of you:

- as I am going for a PhD (supposedly until 2013), should my passport be valid until 2013 as well or can I leave with a passport which I will need to renew (mine goes until 2012)?

- can I apply for a VISA at an American embassy of a country other than my passport's (indeed, currently living abroad)?

- if so, will that not be a problem regarding the "ties" as I am not leaving now in my citizenship country (although still living in the European Union - both countries are in the EU)

tx

[kate_ellen]

Hey...regarding the time limit on your passport/visa, when I studied in the States a couple of years ago they issued me with a visa valid until 2012 even though my passport runs out in 2011 so I think you just transfer (or get a replacement) when you do renew your passport. I'll have the same issue this year because I'm going back from PhD so will need a new visa. I would ask the international office at your new university (they're experts in all matters I-20 related).

Regarding applications, I do think you need to go to the embassy in your passport-issuing country. I was studying in Edinburgh when I first needed a visa and could not get a visa from the consulate in Scotland. I was told the only place I could get my visa was from the embassy in London. Again, check with the international office but I'm pretty sure they require you to go to your home embassy.

Good luck!

[portugabel]

thanks kateellen !

[harsha3082]

Hi All,

I have a question about the financial documents for the visa interview. My I-20 lists my scholarship amount, tuition waiver etc. Do I still require a letter from the university stating that I've been awarded this scholarship? The I-20 also mentions only the first years award - what about the other years? Do I need to get a letter from the university about this too? Do I need to show the funds for the other years?

Thanks!

Harsha

[liszt85]

Hi All,

I have a question about the financial documents for the visa interview. My I-20 lists my scholarship amount, tuition waiver etc. Do I still require a letter from the university stating that I've been awarded this scholarship? The I-20 also mentions only the first years award - what about the other years? Do I need to get a letter from the university about this too? Do I need to show the funds for the other years?

Thanks!

Harsha

I believe that will do. I'm not sure though.

You could also carry your offer letter with you. It will talk about "funding for 4 years subject to a good academic standing". That should be enough. I20 normally talks only about the first year if I've understood right. Nobody talks about 5 years of funding in the I20.

[akiola]

Does anyone find the information provided by the US government a bit confusing.

So far I've got my I-20, I've made an appointment and paid my MRV fee, my SEVIS fee, I've filled out DS-156, DS-158 (although I really don't have that much work history), DS-157. I have my passport, provided a photo and am getitng my hands on transcripts.

I have a letter from my university confirming that I am funded

I *think* I've done everything that a young male has to do except prove that I intend to return home through evidence of family professional or employment ties. I don't have any property or employment - how do they want me to prove that my parents will be a factor in making me return home?!

I HAVE THE SAME CONCERN AS THIS POST. HOW CAN I PROVE THAT I WILL RETURN? MY FAMILY HAS NO PROPERTY AND THEIR INCOME IS NOT STH I CAN PROVIDE AS PROOF OF FINANCIAL TIES. I VE BEEN ACCEPTED TO THE PHD PROGRAM IN STATISTICS AT PENN STATE. SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE. MY INTERVIEW DATE IS 13TH MAY