Who are you asking for a loan- a bank in your home country (much easier) or an American bank (for which you need an American co-signer)? If you are showing on paper (through Bank statements from your parents) you have all the money needed that is all you need for the visa. If your parents want to take out a loan for part of the expenses instead of using that money that’s their/your business but it is much easier to secure your means to pay in your home country vs. coming here and looking for a co-signer (unless you have other family here). Most tuition payments are due by July or so for the fall semester, check with the registrar.
If you get approved from the American bank, you can show that approval to your college. they won’t release the funds until you are registered and begin classes.
You need to work with the school on this. Most on this list are Americans, so we didn’t have to go through this process for ourselves or our students.
A few questions into your visa interview re your financials are going to be rocky if you are as vague then as you are now. How much will it cost you JUST to just apply for the visa? What happens to you over vacations? How are you going to live and eat? As above, this looks like 40K a year, because health insurance is going to cost you $$. Do you understand the restrictions you would have for working while on your student visa? Were you planning on working? Queens asks for info on all 4 yrs of your financials but absolute guarantee of the first year. The I 20 is just your first hurdle.
If you can afford Queens,have you applied to UK schools?
This plan is so full of problems and holes that I don’t know where to start.
1.) An American co-signer is okay with putting his/her credit on the line for you? They have to be willing to lose money if you can’t complete your studies.
2.) Renting a room often does not include the cost of “incidentals”.
You may have to pay for a security deposit-usually first and last month’s rent (that’s $1400 plus $700 = $2100 just to walk into the room). Many people renting out rooms will not allow you to fix meals in your room; it’s a fire hazard. You may have to pay extra for kitchen privileges.
You also may have to pay for internet access-not cheap, your share of the utilities, your room supplies (bedding, lighting, bath towels, toiletries, fixtures, etc.).
If you are late on your rent, you get charged additional fees. Living in the US is expensive. Everything will cost you more than what you have budgeted.
3.) You are an international student and will be extremely limited, by your visa, in how much and where you can work.
4.) You are required to have medical insurance and the school will not accept some fly-by-night carrier. The school will have their own insurance you can purchase which is not cheap.
5.) Weather, in NY, can be brutal. You need to winterize your wardrobe-more money. Need to pay for transportation, food, clothing which all require huge amounts of money.
Why so desperate to enter the US?
It sounds like you intend to come to the US no matter what. If your plan is to try to immigrate, you should forget about it. Immigration rules are strict. The US can educate you, but once you finish, you are expected to return to your home country. You are considered a guest and should not expect to immigrate. If you are on a tight budget and an agent suspects that you hope to immigrate in the future, you wont get a visa.
Does your cosigner know s/he would have to cosign for all 4 years?
Who is paying for your rent, food, transportation, books, fees, etc?