The approximate sequence of what you have to do after the admits to get
the I-20 form and Visa is as follows:
1. Read the admit letter or email carefully. If you have to send an acceptance of the offer do it promptly. Even if you have multiple offers it makes sense to accept one.
2. Based
on the factors mailed earlier, decide the final university that you want study
at, since you can book a visa date only for one university!!
3. If
you have received the I-20 form along with the offer of admission you can
straightaway start the preparations for visa. Note: you
cannot apply for the F1 visa unless you have the I-20 form from the university
that you have chosen.
4. Please
note that you cannot apply for the visa interview more than 120 days before the
starting date of the program mentioned in I-20 form.
The fall 2013 semester will begin sometime in the third week of August. So, if
you plan to join an American university this fall, you can start applying for
your visa from the third week of April.
5. However,
the university will ask you to send affidavits of support from your sponsors as
well as the bank statements of your sponsors showing that you have sufficient
funds for meeting the I-20 form amount (that is, the total cost of the first
year which, includes tuition, other fees and living expenses.)
6. Most universities mention that the funds
should be only bank funds and accept balance certificates from banks on bank’s
letterhead which are sealed and signed by the banker. Generally, electronic
copies and faxed statements are not accepted. Funds in bank include savings
account and fixed deposits. You can also include Personal Provident Fund
(P.P.F.) balance
7. The
I-20 form is an official document issued by the University on behalf of the
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The following important details are mentioned in the
document:
·
the name and passport number of the student
·
the name of the university which the student is
joining
·
the program to which the student has been
admitted
·
the date of
commencement of the program
·
the date by which the program has to be
completed
·
the total cost of education for one year(minus
any aid received)
Once you receive the I-20 form
check it carefully to see that all details are accurate. Pay specific attention
to spelling of your name, accuracy of date of birth and the start and end dates
of the program. Of course, all details should be accurate and the first page of
the I-20 form MUST bear the signature of the university official. The third
page need not be signed at this stage.
8. As
soon as you have applied for I-20 form, you have to prepare the financial and
other documents required for the visa interview. Putting together the finances
may take time. Please refer to the documents mailed for the standard and
details of documents required.
9. Keep
in mind that you should have adequate liquid funds to cover the total cost of
one year of education – this is mentioned in the I-20 form. Many students are
under the wrong impression that their sponsor needs to deposit this entire
amount in the bank and that otherwise their visa can be rejected. This is not
true. Funds can be shown in the form of bank deposits, shares, mutual funds,
provident fund etc. Even education loans of up to Rs. 20 lakhs are also
permitted. Of course, having adequate funds alone does not guarantee a visa
approval. The consulate officer also considers the following points:
·
whether you have admission to an accredited and
reputed university
·
whether your academic background is good
·
whether your GRE score is satisfactory
·
whether your sponsor’s income is adequate
But the more important factor is you should have good communication
skills and should be able to give convincing and honest answers to the
consulate officer’s questions.
Most students show their parents as their sponsors. If this is not
possible, they can show support from any other family member e.g. their
brothers or sisters, their grandparents, either individually or as co-sponsors
with their parents.
Sponsorship can also be taken from other immediate relatives, like uncles
and aunts, provided their financial position is very sound and their income
level is high.
