Student Visa Dates not available, what do next?

Are you looking for student visa appointment and couldn’t find one?

Last few days, comments and emails I receive are about student visa to U.S. Most of them looking for student visa are looking to book student visa interview dates through VFS Global web site. Couple of students said, they couldn’t find student visa slots for interview in Nov or December for both regular and emergency student visa category. If you are in such situation, don’t panic, you still have time to get student visa and attend Spring Semester. Here’s few thing you can do so you will be well prepared about the timings and what is the last date till you can wait to appear for student visa.

1) Decide on one university from list of different admission.

2) If you have more than 1 admission, and haven’t received I-20 from the university you want to attend, don’t wait till that I-20 arrives to book visa dates.

3) Go ahead and fill out the DS forms for student visa.

4) Find out when is the Orientation for Spring Semester for International Students. Let’s say International Student Orientation is on Jan 14 2008, you can wait till Jan 1st week for receiving the I-20 and go for student visa in Jan 1st week.

5) Some schools have more than 1 International Student Orientation, find all the dates.

6) Now with all the dates, find when is classes for Spring Semester begins.

7) Find, it its mandatory to attend International Student Orientation.

If its not mandatory, then you will have more time to wait to receive I-20.

9) If its mandatory, you will have little less time. Orientation will be usually 1-2 weeks before classes starts.

10) So, if you don’t find student visa dates, and have I-20 in hand and waiting for I-20 from school of your choice, try to book student visa date as late as possible.

For Example:

Student have Admit from IIT and NJIT. He received I-20 from NJIT and still waiting for I-2o from IIT. He wants to attend IIT and his Orientation is on Jan 14th, he’s confused, not sure how to proceed, since there are no student visa dates available.

I will explain with different possible options he has.

Case 1: ( Booked early student visa dates )

He check the date availability for student visa slot and no dates are available in Dec 2007 and only days available are Jan/2/2008 and Nov/30/2007. He wants to attend IIT, but I-20 is expected to arrive only Dec 1st week. He was very nervous and books student visa interview slot on Nov/30/2007.

I’m sure there are many student who have done the same mistake as above. Because, they panicked when no student visa slots in emergency and regular slots were not available. There is no reason to panic, when orientation is on Jan 14th. He should have booked student visa on Jan/2/2008.

It’s always possible to book student visa dates with one I-20 and change it to different university before appearing for student visa.

Case 2: ( Hesitating to book student visa dates)

One other possibility is not knowing what to do in this situation and waiting for student visa slots to open, he haven’t took initiative to book the dates. That’s the worst thing one can do. Don’t panic. Dates will open up. Just make sure I-20 you are waiting for is posted and its on the way to you. It will take 2-3 weeks for the I-20 in normal mail to reach you. For instance, my I-20 was posted on Nov 17th and I got it on Dec 2nd when I applied for student visa.

Summary ( solution )

1) Don’t panic

2) Find when I-20 was posted and add 3 weeks to it

3) Find when is your Orientation

4) Leave maximum of 2 weeks between student visa date and orientation and book student visa interview date

5) If no student visa dates are available, keep checking daily, or if possible many time in regular intervals. Emergency appointment or regular student visa slots will open up

6) Some schools will allow late registration, if you reach U.S. after orientation and 1 or 2 days after classes begin. Check grad school for their policy

7) Read other related articles about F1 Visa Tips, Bank Statement, Student Loan, ..

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