<p>Hello guys,
I still didn't get my I-20 because my parents were going through some financial issues. However, now one of my relatives will be willing to sponsor me. Since this relative lives in another country (on the other side of the world) I think it will still take about 5 business days to get all the bank statements and stamps to my college. It might take another 5 business days to receive the I-20.
Now, I just checked out the US consulate website and the waiting period for the consulate in my city is about 10 business days.<br>
All This takes a TOTAL of 20 business days!
Assuming I have to be in the US by September 15 (mandatory orientation for international students and then it's move-in day), do you guys think I have enough time?
Today is August 10th. + 20 business days = September 5th + after interview VISA processing period and courier service = around September 10th?
I know you guys must have experience with the consulate's waiting period for interview, so given my circumstances, will they process it faster since I'm kind of late?
I'm pretty desperate here ha
Is anyone here kind of in the same situation as I am?</p>
<p>While I'm waiting for a response, I will just listen to Muse: lol
...
you will squeeze the life out of me
bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it</p>
<p>[my] time is running out
[my] time is running out
you can't push it underground
you can't stop it screaming out
how did it come to this?
ooooohh
...</p>
<p>I would call your school's International Student Office (or wherever it is they process I-20s) and explain your situation. If possible, fax the documents to your school, rather than mailing it. Your school should also be able to over-night/express mail your documents, although that may come at an extra cost.</p>
<p>I'll try to call tomorrow morning since today is Sunday to see if I can fax it. It would actually take only one day for my college to receive my mail since I'm not that far away. </p>
<p>I just found out that a friend of my parents, who's in the same country as me, can lend us some money for the first year in order to produce the bank statement. So, that shortens the process by 2 days. </p>
<p>^^ Yeah, I'm lucky classes start late. It's in the quarter system.</p>
<p>You might want to call the embassy and ask them for an interview right now. When I called I had to wait 2 weeks for the interview, and they asked me if I had my I-20, but I told them I had left it at home (which was true). You might say that you left it at home in order to gain some time.</p>
<p>^^ But what if they ask me for more information like my I-20's number, confirmation of fee payment and things like that?</p>
<p>Actually... my question is: what do I need to get an interview appointment? and what is asked by the embassy when I try to get an appointment?
If I tell them that the beginning of my classes is just a couple of days away, will/can they speed it up? (both interview and visa processing)</p>
<p>Ok, there's enough time, just about right.
However, since you guys suggested me to call the embassy to get an appointment now, even if I don't have my I-20, WHAT IF, something goes wrong with my I-20 and when it comes to my interview, I don't have the necessary documents?
If I cancel the appointment will it affect my chances later?
Just to clear things up: the I-20, admission letters, scores and such documents are turned in DURING the interview, am I right? and then the officer analyzes the documents I turned in, my interview responses, etc etc THEN makes the decision?
I need to be sure of everything now since any mistake might be disastrous...</p>
<p>Hey I have another question and am confused on what to do:
I'm filling this online form to get the appointment and one field asks if I have ever been refused a VISA. The thing is that two years ago, I tried to get a VISA just to transit from NYC to Japan (if I remember correctly) but got refused. BUT, at the time I used another country's passport. Now I'm applying with another completely different passport, from another country too. Will there be any problems if I say I didn't get refused?
This is urgent and I need some suggestions.</p>
<p>If you are caught lying, you won't be able to enter the States for a long, long time. Do you know why exactly you were refused a visa? If that reason doesn't apply anymore, I would be honest because the refusal by itself won't affect your eligibility for a student visa and the odds of being caught are too high. FYI, some people need to undergo an extensive background check because they have the same name as a person who is ineligible for a visa, and the consulate needs to verify that they are not that person. So chances are that you will be caught if both passports have the same name on them.</p>
<p>jiceo1, yes, you will turn in all the documents during the interview. Actually, you need the receipt for the visa payment at the front door to get into the building, then you will hand in your other paperwork and sit down and wait, and then you are called again for the actual interview. I doubt that a canceled appointment would affect your chances because your appointment just tells the guy at the front door that you are allowed to enter. After that you will just stand in line (or draw a number) and talk to the first consular officer who is available. It's not like you have an appointment with any specific officer who will be mad at you if you don't show up.</p>
<p>The reason of the refusal doesn't apply to me. I got refused because at the time I applied together with my mother, and there were some minor problems with her passport I think and since we were applying and traveling together, they refused to grant VISA to both of us.</p>
<p>I'm filling the DS-156 online form (I paid the first fee) and I have a question:
There is a field that asks me if I have the I-20 form already filled out and if I already paid the SEVIS fee.
The truth is that I'm still trying to get my I-20, and since that is in the process (which might take a week or more), can I say that I already have it filled out and have paid the SEVIS fee? I'm afraid they might check it right away and see that it's not paid and put my name in a blacklist or something...
Or..., should I wait another week to fill these out.
Remember that I don't have a lot of time.</p>
<p>I would just wait another week. Just make sure you know how to answer every single question so that you can fill it out quickly once you get all the documents.</p>