Has anyone received their I-20 yet?

[Astaroth]

I asked the Fulbright office regarding the above question (how do you prove that you will return to your country), and was basically told that it is impossible to provide evidence that proves this, but what happens is during your interview they will ask you a question such as "So what are your long term career plans?" or "What do you plan to do after you finish this degree?", and as long as you don't say anything stupid like "I intend to stay there and take jobs away from americans!" you'll be fine. Say something like "I'd like to come back home and find an academic position at the university" or anything along those lines and you'll be fine. They're trying to make sure that people aren't trying to go to the US to study as a backdoor way to eventually staying there and gaining citizenship.

[MaximKat]

I asked the Fulbright office regarding the above question (how do you prove that you will return to your country), and was basically told that it is impossible to provide evidence that proves this, but what happens is during your interview they will ask you a question such as "So what are your long term career plans?" or "What do you plan to do after you finish this degree?", and as long as you don't say anything stupid like "I intend to stay there and take jobs away from americans!" you'll be fine. Say something like "I'd like to come back home and find an academic position at the university" or anything along those lines and you'll be fine. They're trying to make sure that people aren't trying to go to the US to study as a backdoor way to eventually staying there and gaining citizenship.

as if the answer would mean anything except for the fact that the person has spent some time reading advices on the internet

[Astaroth]

as if the answer would mean anything except for the fact that the person has spent some time reading advices on the internet

Well, that, and how good an actor you are!

[MaximKat]

Heh, I knew there will be a catch

Probably, I should watch 'Lie to Me' less :roll: Oh, wait! I'll watch more, remember everything and use my newly acquired 'mad skillz' :twisted:

But! New thought: what if embassy officers are monitoring this forum? They will learn about my evil plan and will be ready :cry: No more telling all my ideas in public

[Geronimo]

Hi,

I have gotten the visa approved. The process is pretty straight forward especially if you are from a visa waiver country. Even if you do not have property in your country like me or significant wealth here, it should not be a problem as long as you at least have family here. My entire immediate family is in my country and I think that is good enough as I just started employment a while back and cant possibly own a property or have much wealth. I personally feel the US embassy officers are very practical people and as long as you are not dodgy/shady and got all your papers intact and funding is all good with paperwork meticulously done, you should be getting your visa. However I am not sure for countries that have many people violating US immigration laws; it could be stricter there. I can only speak for visa waiver countries as I am from one. Best wishes to everyone.

[mmmh]

As of today, I still haven't got my I-20. I am worried.

I actually just submitted my financial guarantee information to Penn State. It's a bit of a complicated situation, but basically, whoever at the international student office hasn't been answering any of my emails I sent asking in what amount I need to prove that I have, considering the funding I am getting (tuition remission + a stipend) from the department. I sent the email in late March, after accepting the assistantship offer from the school in mid March, and it wasn't only until the first week of May, when I finally called the office, that I got an answer for it. I know, I should have called them earlier, but they have this online "check your status" thing, that states something like "wait three weeks before you email for inquiry", so I just emailed twice during the time, thinking that they'd been so busy getting their work done... Anyhow, for almost two months, I never got a reply email from the international student office. I mean, what is the purpose of listing an email address for inquiry?!? The person I spoke to on the phone was really unfriendly and sounded annoyed that I called. The person didn't tell me how long it would take to issue an 1-20. Not even an estimate. And no "sorry" even once for never getting back to me. I will call again, to check if they have my financial information and everything to issue me an I-20...

Anyone going to Penn State, what's your experience like so far?

Anyone else still waiting for I-20?

[fuzzylogician]

Anyone else still waiting for I-20?

I'm still waiting. I know the international office received my complete forms about 10 days ago, so I'm going to give it another couple of weeks before I start getting nervous. Bureaucracy and international post can be slow.

[crabchicken]

suggestions to international students: if still not yet got I20 after waiting for a long time, better call the assistant directly and check for it. better ask them to send the form to u again by federal express if the previosu mail is lost (even if they ask u to pay for it)

[Jakrabite]

Anyone going to Penn State, what's your experience like so far?

Anyone else still waiting for I-20?

I spoke to PSU's Intl Center last week and they said my I-20 should reach within 10 days, they send it through DHL's university express. That means I should get it at the start of next week, failing which I'll harass them.

[impatiens]

I got my I-20 last week, so about 10 days ago. I'd submitted my documents at the end of April/early May but there was a holdup because I'd listed something on it that took a while to clear due to internal stuff at the school. SAIS fixed it pretty quickly after I followed up, and I'm good to go now!