Hey, so program start date on my I-20 is a week later form the intended date (instead of it being 3 September its 10 September, is this a big issue? should I contact the University to change it?
Since the school is the one that provided the I-20 basic information, you should call the school to find out.
The program start date on your I-20 has two consequences:
- You cannot enter the US on an F-1 visa more than 30 days prior to the program start date.
- You cannot first enter the US on an F-1 visa after the program start date. It's the latest date the university says you can arrive and participate in their program.
Universities have some latitude about when they set the program start date on students I-20s. Some will set it to the first day of the new student orientation, some will set it to the first day of classes, some even a little later than that. A late program start date on the I-20 is usually a good thing. It means that you can still start college that semester even if, for example, your flight gets cancelled and you’ll arrive a few days later than intended.
Unless the late I-20 date causes problems with your travel plans (maybe you were hoping to enter the US early and travel for the full 30 days prior to the start of classes), I would consider it a blessing and move on.
Thanks! I’ll consider it as a blessing and movie on.