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Hello. I'm not sure if this is the appropriate place for this or not. If not, I apologize. I'm a 24 year old Canadian woman who is looking to study in New York City. I've been out of school for almost 7 years, and just recently made the decision to go back to school. It's been a very overwhelming decision at times, yet I'm still very excited. I've recently applied to several New York Community Colleges (I've decided to go a 2 year school route for an associates degree and then transfer to a 4 year school for my bachelor) in the CUNY network of schools and am waiting to hear back on admissions. Keeping my fingers crossed and trying to stay positive that I'll get accepted, while in the meantime, trying to do as much as I can to make the process smooth once I hear back.
I've been trying to familiarize myself with the entire Student Visa Application process, proving financial responsibility, receiving the I-20, paying the SEVIS fee, applying for the Visa, coming to the States and getting the I-94 Card... and I feel pretty comfortable with each step. I also have read that, as a Canadian, the process is a little different in that I don't actually need to go for an interview at a Consulate. As I understand it, I get the I-20, pay the SEVIS fee, and go to the border when I want to cross (no more than 30 days before classes start), with proof of financial responsibility, and get my I-94 Card. This seems like a good thing, given the issues I'm having with deadlines which I'll describe below.
My problem, as well as many others, I'm sure, starts with proving financial responsibility. My family is not very well-to-do. I have next to no savings, nor does anyone in my immediate family. I am eligible for a student loan from my provincial/federal government, and this is how I had planned to finance my education. I've also considered applying for a Student Line of Credit with my bank. I had figured that between the student loan and line of credit, I should have no problem covering my tuition, supplies, and cost of living expenses. I still feel this method would work. The problem I have is the necessary processing time. I just found out that my provincial government (Nova Scotia) does not start accepting student loan applications until the beginning of June. There is then a 4 - 6 weeks processing time, so that, given ideal circumstances and applying as soon as they are available, it would make the earliest I could receive my loan decision be in early to mid-July.
It's recommended that as an international student I arrive in the US as soon as I possibly can within the allowances of my Visa. Approximately one month in advance of my studies, so that I have time to get settled, register for my classes, take the international student orientation (which is given 2 weeks prior to start of classes), and any placement exams that are needed. So, if my classes are beginning in early September, it's recommended that I arrive in the US in early August. Due to the expected processing time of my student loan, this would only give me 2 weeks from finding out the decision til I should ideally be moving to the US. I'm worried that this wouldn't be enough time for me to send the school my financial forms, and have them return the I-20 to me. The short notice on having to find a place to live also concerns me a bit, but, I do have a friend in New York who I think would be willing to let me stay with him for a week or two if necessary, so that's a somewhat more minor concern.
• What concerns me most about this is that by the time I find out about my student loan, I don't feel I'll have enough time to complete my Visa application. Am I justified in being worried about this?
• Can anyone who's gone through the process tell me how long it typically takes from the time you send in your financial records?
• Can anyone who's been through it confirm the Visa application process for Canadians, as described above? Do I just need to prove financial responsibility, get my I-20 from the school, and then show up at the border when it's time to cross? And does this mean the process is in fact, faster for Canadians (as it seems to appear)?
• If not, does anyone have any suggestions as to how I would be able to prove financial responsibility before my loan comes in so that I can get the I-20 to start the Visa process?
• I've looked at the International Student Loans as a possible option, but I don't think I'd be able to find a US co-signer. I have several friends there, but I don't know any of them quite well enough to ask them to co-sign a loan for me. And even if one would, if I'm not mistaken, I have to have the student visa before they'll approve me for the loan anyway, so that doesn't seem to solve any problems. Am I correct in that?
• Even if I can't prove financial responsibility early and have to wait until July, what are the chances that my CUNY college would be willing to wait that long? I'm expecting to hear back from them about acceptance/rejection by sometime around April. 2.5 - 3 months seems like a long time to wait to me.
• And while I'm asking questions, back to the finding a place to live thing. How did those of you who've gone through the international move handle finding housing? Is it something you had set up online/over the phone before moving to the US? Or did you have a friend to stay with during the 30 days leading up to classes while you found a place? I ask only because my college choices don't offer on-campus housing options so, I'll be left to find my own apartment. While I know that part of the reason for being able to enter 30 days early is to allow time for students to find housing and get settled, I can't help but wonder how you're supposed to find a place to stay BEFORE moving there.
Thanks to anyone who can answer any (or all!) of my many questions. I'm sure I'll probably have more over the next few days. I hope I can find some help here. It's been worrisome trying to figure this all out on my own, and I would very much welcome the assistance and support of others who are either going through or have gone through the same thing.
I've been trying to familiarize myself with the entire Student Visa Application process, proving financial responsibility, receiving the I-20, paying the SEVIS fee, applying for the Visa, coming to the States and getting the I-94 Card... and I feel pretty comfortable with each step. I also have read that, as a Canadian, the process is a little different in that I don't actually need to go for an interview at a Consulate. As I understand it, I get the I-20, pay the SEVIS fee, and go to the border when I want to cross (no more than 30 days before classes start), with proof of financial responsibility, and get my I-94 Card. This seems like a good thing, given the issues I'm having with deadlines which I'll describe below.
My problem, as well as many others, I'm sure, starts with proving financial responsibility. My family is not very well-to-do. I have next to no savings, nor does anyone in my immediate family. I am eligible for a student loan from my provincial/federal government, and this is how I had planned to finance my education. I've also considered applying for a Student Line of Credit with my bank. I had figured that between the student loan and line of credit, I should have no problem covering my tuition, supplies, and cost of living expenses. I still feel this method would work. The problem I have is the necessary processing time. I just found out that my provincial government (Nova Scotia) does not start accepting student loan applications until the beginning of June. There is then a 4 - 6 weeks processing time, so that, given ideal circumstances and applying as soon as they are available, it would make the earliest I could receive my loan decision be in early to mid-July.
It's recommended that as an international student I arrive in the US as soon as I possibly can within the allowances of my Visa. Approximately one month in advance of my studies, so that I have time to get settled, register for my classes, take the international student orientation (which is given 2 weeks prior to start of classes), and any placement exams that are needed. So, if my classes are beginning in early September, it's recommended that I arrive in the US in early August. Due to the expected processing time of my student loan, this would only give me 2 weeks from finding out the decision til I should ideally be moving to the US. I'm worried that this wouldn't be enough time for me to send the school my financial forms, and have them return the I-20 to me. The short notice on having to find a place to live also concerns me a bit, but, I do have a friend in New York who I think would be willing to let me stay with him for a week or two if necessary, so that's a somewhat more minor concern.
• What concerns me most about this is that by the time I find out about my student loan, I don't feel I'll have enough time to complete my Visa application. Am I justified in being worried about this?
• Can anyone who's gone through the process tell me how long it typically takes from the time you send in your financial records?
• Can anyone who's been through it confirm the Visa application process for Canadians, as described above? Do I just need to prove financial responsibility, get my I-20 from the school, and then show up at the border when it's time to cross? And does this mean the process is in fact, faster for Canadians (as it seems to appear)?
• If not, does anyone have any suggestions as to how I would be able to prove financial responsibility before my loan comes in so that I can get the I-20 to start the Visa process?
• I've looked at the International Student Loans as a possible option, but I don't think I'd be able to find a US co-signer. I have several friends there, but I don't know any of them quite well enough to ask them to co-sign a loan for me. And even if one would, if I'm not mistaken, I have to have the student visa before they'll approve me for the loan anyway, so that doesn't seem to solve any problems. Am I correct in that?
• Even if I can't prove financial responsibility early and have to wait until July, what are the chances that my CUNY college would be willing to wait that long? I'm expecting to hear back from them about acceptance/rejection by sometime around April. 2.5 - 3 months seems like a long time to wait to me.
• And while I'm asking questions, back to the finding a place to live thing. How did those of you who've gone through the international move handle finding housing? Is it something you had set up online/over the phone before moving to the US? Or did you have a friend to stay with during the 30 days leading up to classes while you found a place? I ask only because my college choices don't offer on-campus housing options so, I'll be left to find my own apartment. While I know that part of the reason for being able to enter 30 days early is to allow time for students to find housing and get settled, I can't help but wonder how you're supposed to find a place to stay BEFORE moving there.
Thanks to anyone who can answer any (or all!) of my many questions. I'm sure I'll probably have more over the next few days. I hope I can find some help here. It's been worrisome trying to figure this all out on my own, and I would very much welcome the assistance and support of others who are either going through or have gone through the same thing.
