F1 Financial Guarantee beyond the first year

[hippyscientist]

Hi all,

I'm getting very frustrated with the process for getting my I-20. I have a full assistantship (~$20,000 per year including health insurance & tuition) for 3 years for my PhD (I'm entering with a masters and they're counting that which is why it's so short). I thought for the financial guarantee it was only for the 1st year to get my I-20 issued. I've had to show proof of ~$2000 extra dollars from my own account to bump my total income above the schools threshold. However, they've declined to issue me an I-20 until I provide proof of funds (~$120,000)  for years 4 and 5 (of a program that isn't a 5 year program). This is causing a big issue as my family don't have this sort of money just lying around to be able to sign a guarantee. Was I wrong that the I-20 only accounts for the first year of funding? This is causing so many headaches!!

Any insights are welcome!

 

 

[Happington]

Talk to your department about it, and the international student services at your school.  Explain the situation and ask how students in the past have proceeded.

I'm sure you're not the first in this position.

[TakeruK]

The requirement for the school to issue an I-20 is proof of funding for the first year. However, you can think of it as a minimum requirement, since it's the school's choice whether to issue any form. I had a similar problem with another school---I wanted to be on J-1 status (so my spouse on J-2 can work) and the requirement for J-1 status is that the "majority" of the funding, for the whole program, is not personal funds. I definitely met this condition as the department was paying for tuition and stipend for all the years of the program. However, their school's international office just refused to issue a DS-2019 for J-1 status because they don't want to sponsor students on J-1 (only postdocs and faculty). I asked the department that admitted me this and they didn't even know that students can be on J-1; they have never had one before! In the end there were other reasons for me to go elsewhere, so I didn't push it further, but it would definitely have been a dealbreaker.

Another thing you mention is that the I-20 is longer than your expected degree program. This is normal. My DS-2019 is for 6 years, which is the maximum program length (unless you petition for an extension) even though most people will finish in 5 years. The I-20s and DS-2019s are almost always issued for the maximum time because it's easier to do that than to have to change it if you don't finish in time (and especially bad if you forget that it expires). 

Here are some things you might be able to do in your situation:

1. Clarify with the international student office that you actually do have to provide evidence for $120,000 (5 years) instead of just the first year ($24,000?). 

2. Talk to your department and ask if you can get a funding offer from them for 5 years, so this will cover at least $100,000 out of the $120,000. (If this is not already done).

3. Get your department to let the international office know that this is really only a 3 year program and that the I-20 should only be for 3 years, so you would need to show $72,000 in funds (minus $60,000 from the department).

I know that options 2 and 3 still require a big chunk of money from you, which might not be feasible, but it might help. Although, since it sounds like it will cost you $4000 out of pocket each year, this means you should have at least some way to pay $12,000 over the next 3 years anyways? What is your plan to get these funds and is there some way you can accelerate it? 

In general though, my advice would be to clarify the request from the international office and then get your department to be on your side. Maybe the department can convince the international student office that just one year on the I-20 is enough because they are promising to fund you for duration of the degree.

[hippyscientist]

@TakeruK thank you for that - really helpful! I will talk to the school tomorrow - my department have been amazing so far so I hope they will be amenable.  I totally get the perspective of the international office, it's just very frustrating jumping through the hoops when they don't seem to be important for my degree. The extra funds I have to provide are so I meet the "minimum expected expenses" set forth by the school - in reality I know I will spend substantially less than these projected figures having spent a reasonable amount of time "living" in the US previously. I have a nest-egg of savings that I will be taking with me, plus an early inheritance from my gran so I will have a comfortable amount in "emergency money" I really am not too concerned about living costs once out there - it's just getting the darned visa!  Thank you again