<p>There is no universal policy, I guess- some univs send along the I-20s along with the admission package, others send it in only after receiving the enrollment fee and other required details.</p>
<p>woebegone, that's strange. It probably varies from uni to uni then, or maybe country to country. Me and the roommates (we're all from the same place and at the same college) all got it already filled-in with financial info etc. We all have governmental student loans that we sent in when applying, maybe that has something to do with it?</p>
<p>i wonder where tango is (geez, I seriously hope he is not too busy celebrating!) what do u have to say in this tango? have people gotten away with this? I'm sure u must have had your reasons for it?</p>
<p>built, I'll say this again just so nobody else even thinks about repeating that mistake: it's not possible to get away with it. </p>
<p>
[quote]
At the port of entry, an USCIS official must authorize your admission to the U.S. At that time, the USCIS official will provide you with a stamped Form I-94 (Record of Arrival-Departure), which will include your admission number to the U.S. and which will note how long you are permitted to stay in the U.S. An USCIS inspector will also write your admission number on your USCIS Form I-20 A-B/ ID. The USCIS inspector will then send pages one and two of this form, known as I-20 A-B, to your school as a record of your legal admission to the United States. You are expected to keep pages three and four, known as the I-20 ID. This document is your proof that you are allowed to study in the United States as an F-1 student.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>i.e, your school - the school that issued the I-20, NO OTHER - needs the I-20 to be able to confirm your status. And it is through this school you get your I-20 stamped to travel in and out of the country, and a host of other things you'll need your I-20 for. The college tango wanted to enroll in won't be able to enroll him because they can't use the stamped I-20 unless it's issued by them. Your visa will be revoked. And the I-20 issued by the college tango won't attend will be worthless when he doesn't show up to enroll as a full-time student.</p>
<p>
[quote]
An F-1 student who violates a term or condition of status is inadmissible for U.S. entry until having been outside the United States for a continuous period of 5 years after the date of the violation.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
Step 5: Maintaining Status</p>
<p>In light of the bars on admission created in 1996, and of the increased scrutiny of foreign students since the September 11th attacks, it is very important for the student to maintain their status while in the US. There are eight important things that must be done to maintain status. </p>
<ol>
<li>Keep a valid passport at all times, unless otherwise exempt from the passport requirement </li>
</ol>
<p>2. Attend the school authorized </p>
<p>3. Participate in a full course of study </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Leave the US by the completion date shown on the I-20, or within a 60 day grace period, or request a program extension from the school’s designated student officer </p></li>
<li><p>If the student wants to change from one educational level to another (for example a bachelor’s program to a master’s) they must apply to the designated student officer </p></li>
<li><p>In most cases, work on campus for no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session </p></li>
<li><p>Not work off campus without INS authorization </p></li>
</ol>
<p>8. Report any change in residence to the INS within 10 days
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Using the wrong I-20 to get into the country is not only impossible, as a practical reality, in the long run but also breaks against, what, 3 different F-1 rules? Bad idea. Baaaad. Did I say how bad it was? I've had two friends now that've had to go home because of improper paperwork or violating some minor status law or other. It broke my heart twice. If you can avoid it, please kids, why risk it?</p>
<p>It depends of the school. Some issue the I20 along with the acceptance letter, but others ask for specific documents (bank statements, letters..) like Duke U. I already sent back my 2 I-20s with the reply cards. I don't know if u have to do that, but I sent them back just in case!..</p>
<p>i guess it depends on whether the school required financial information from you along with your application back then... for my schools they didn't (though i did submit them when i applied for finaid) so i guess they need the certification now. </p>
<p>but yeah where's tango?</p>
<p>God, I hope he's not on a plane to somewhere by now -- that would be so tragicomic</p>
<p>i hope the guy is trying to get this fixed!</p>
<p>Tango cannot enter the US yet. You cannot enter the US 30 days prior to the start of your program.</p>
<p>Second visa can be a problem now I guess. He might have to spend a semester at SUNY and then transfer to NYU if all fails. The International Guidance Counselor at SUNY will have to update his SEVIS information and give its control to NYU (I think thats how it works). </p>
<p>But it really was a bad idea. Why do you want to rush your visa application and interview? Like its said anyway, you can't enter the country a month in advance.</p>
<p>amantho is right. tango cant get in earlier than maybe august 4th (if like BU, SUNY begins september 4th)</p>
<p>to clear things up about i-20 forms being sent even before you enroll, a lot of schools send you your i-20 along with your acceptance package. it's only when financial certification is lacking that they send you a request. some schools however don't send you your i-20 unless you've submitted your enrollment deposit. this is done mostly to make sure that what tango did doesnt happen</p>
<p>to cut him slack, he did just only find out about NYU when he got his visa. the best thing he can do now i think is to contact both SUNY and NYU about this (if he does decide to go to NYU instead) so that both colleges can help him fix the problem.</p>
<p>the only bad thing is that he'll have to go through the whole process again, even paying another $100 for the sevis fee because each i-20 sent to you gives you a different sevis ID if im not mistaken.</p>
<p>goodluck tango!</p>
<p>Yes, good luck! Please keep us updated!</p>
<p>yeah I'm sure u'll find the best solution tango :)</p>
<p>so, who is next?!!!</p>
<p>Just a quick question. I currently have a tourist visa with a 10 year validity, I understand that once i get my F-1 Visa (inshallah) I'll only be able to go to the US one moneth prior to the start of my course. I would like to enter the US earlier than this to visit family friends etc. Is it possible to do this?</p>
<p>inshallah, this is the sort of question that you need to call up the Consulate to confirm. (I frankly have no idea, so I can't help you there) Try and get some sort of official confirmation so you're covered.</p>
<p>this thread is darn interesting...went through every single post :) ....tango's interview helped a lot. but of course, I need to hear it from someone in Nepal who was actually interviewed by the cruel old lady. (yeh, they say that we have a lady here who denies visa to almost everybody :) but two of my friends last year said that they had less than a minute sessions with the same lady)... the visa process in Nepal has whole lot of stories. and about speaking well, I can pretty much say that it doesn't apply here. of course it does help but after having seen ppl with "NO" proper english getting the visa, I don't think it matters much here :)</p>
<p>wud love to hear back from Tango though</p>
<p>speaking well?!
Omigosh I'm gonna get so nervous!! ..</p>