<p>I'm an int'l student currently attending an high school in the U.S. and going to enroll in a college in the U.S. after going back to my country for a month and then participating in a summer camp in Oregon for another month. According to my high school's international student adviser, I can get my I-20 while staying in my country, and I can participate in summer camp with that I-20. Does this sound legit? </p>
<p>Also, since I'm going to graduate from my high school one year earlier than expected, my F-1 visa will be expired in the next year. So, can I renew my visa in the next year? </p>
<p>Yes, your I-20 can be mailed to you overseas.</p>
<p>Here’s an import question: will your high school transfer your SEVIS record to the college, or will the college open a new SEVIS record for you?</p>
<p>If your SEVIS record gets transferred, you can probably spend the summer between high school and college in the US. Or travel and re-enter. (There are a few conditions. For example, you must have previously studied at the high school for a full academic year. Otherwise, you must either go home for the full summer or attend college at the first available session following your high school graduation, which is probably the summer session.)</p>
<p>If the college opens a new SEVIS record for you, you would have to apply for a new F-1 visa while at home (since your visa is tied to a specific SEVIS record). You would not be able to re-enter the US until 30 days before the reporting date stated on your I-20.</p>
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Yes and no. F-1 visas cannot be renewed; you’d apply for a new visa (using the same I-20). However, it is worth noting that you cannot apply for a new F-1 visa from within the US; you have to do it at a consulate abroad. Therefore, you might consider applying for a new visa this summer while you are in your home country.</p>
<p>I have never heard the word "SEVIS record, but I remember that my school’s international student adviser told me that he would transfer the information of I-20 to my college and send the new I-20 document to my permanent resident address in my country. So, it might also mean my high school transfer my SEVIS record to the college. Since I have previously studied at the high school for a full academic year, I believe I will have no problem. </p>
<p>If my SEVIS record will be newly created, I will have to ask the camp as soon as possible, so that the camp will be able to publish I-20 for me or other alternative for me. So, I will ask the adviser on the Monday about the SEVIS record.</p>
<p>SEVIS records are electronic records that are used by the US government to track foreign students in the US. For example, your SEVIS record tracks your current address, your work authorizations, the degree you are currently pursueing and whether you registered for classes. The SEVIS system also generates the I-20 that your counselor prints for you. </p>
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Once your counselor transfers your SEVIS record, he can no longer access it. The college would have to print and mail you your new I-20.</p>
<p>This may be completely the wrong question for this section of the site, but I’m not sure where to put it! I have been offered a couple of positions in various colleges in the US, a couple with very generous academic scholarships. If I find it is not the right place for me and want to transfer, or for whatever reason have to return to my country, would I be required to repay the scholarship money?</p>
<p>If you have any question not related to the title of an existing thread, you need to create a new thread. It will quicken the time it will take for you to receive answer. But I also wish somebody reading this thread would give him answer. </p>
If the scholarship comes from a college, no, you are under no obligation to finish the degree and can leave at any point you like. You won’t owe them anything. (However, scholarships administed by government agencies or private companies may come with strings attached, like an obligation to work for the government or the company for a period of time. If there’s a condition like that, you’ll be signing a contract that clearly states so.) </p>
<p>Usually, the worst that can happen with a college-administered scholarship is that it won’t be renewed. For example, you might need to maintain a certain GPA (e.g. a 3.0) to retain the scholarship. If your GPA falls below that threshold, you might have to pay the full fees for future terms (but you won’t have to repay scholarship fees for previous terms).</p>