CROSSING BORDER AFTER I-20 ISSUED

[canuckcowgirl 0]

So I was just issued my I-20 (I am a Canadian citizen and resident)

The school director has advised that I can just present it at the border at time of crossing and they will issue me my M1 so that I can enter the USA to study. Alternately I can go to the consulate and apply - he advises me that this may be a lengthy process with paperwork and can incur charges in the hundreds of dollars. Either way, I can still be denied for whatever reasons... going to the consulate vs showing up at the border doesn't make one a better option than the other.

Does anyone have advice or experience with this? I will be leaving Toronto, Ontario Canada for the USA.

Also, on the I-20 the director of the school has completed the following:

#4. Level of Education the student is pursuing or will pursue in the United States: HIGH SCHOOL

I asked him about this and he tells me that it is my current level of education complete. The way I read it tho, it means what level of education will I seek in the States? In that case, it would be college (Vocational school).

Should I have this corrected? Will it harm my entry into the US? Or should I go with it and trust the director since he has done this before?

Thanks for all the advice! School starts in February 2010 and I cannot wait!!!!

Edited November 21, 2009 by canuckcowgirl

[Inky 1,111]

I would get it fixed. The question is asking what level of education you will be taking / pursueing in the usa. You arent going to high school there are you? I think the person that filled out your form didn't read it right.

[canuckcowgirl 0]

I would get it fixed. The question is asking what level of education you will be taking / pursueing in the usa. You arent going to high school there are you? I think the person that filled out your form didn't read it right.

No I am not going to high school... I am attending massage therapy school so a vocational school.

Any other suggestions or advice on this process, etc is appreciated! Thanks to you as well Inky

[pacificleye 4]

No I am not is appreciated! Thanks to you as I dont know if it is any different for a canadian trying to go to school in the US, but from my experience, the I-20 only becomes valid once in the US, I don't think it can be used as a mean to cross the border, for that I think you need a valid visa as the only mean 4 entry in the US, in which case you will need to go to the us embassy/consulate. But you will need 1st to get that error fixed on your I20 if it is, cuz u said not his 1st time . But again, Im not sure which way 4 canadian to do this. In my case, the school here in US sent me I20 via mail, went to US consulate, they issued me visa plus seald i20 in envelop, came to US where immigration official unseal the envelop, kept one copy of i20 and stampd my I94 and gave me back the other I20 copy that I gave to me school

[Lili 3]

Get the I-20 fixed! I was hold up at customs one time (coming back from a day trip to Canada) for over an hour for showing them the newest I-20. I was questioned over and over. Trust me, they do not joke around.

And like the last poster mentioned, you will need an entry visa from the embassy (unless Canada is exempt).

My advice after being an F-1 visa holder for over 6 years: stay on top of it and keep yourself knowledgeable. Some international advisers I have met in school knew less than what I could find by myself.

[Krikit 1,165]

Moving from AOS to General Immigration forum.

[canadian_wife 1,826]

It does work differently for Canadians. When I was pursuring an F-1, I was issued it at the POE when I sumitted by I-20 to the CBP.

First to the OP, get the I-20 fixed because if you violate what is on the I-20 you can be in bigger trouble and can be a misuse of a student visa if you attend a school not listed or properly listed on the I-20.

Good luck.

No I am not is appreciated! Thanks to you as I dont know if it is any different for a canadian trying to go to school in the US, but from my experience, the I-20 only becomes valid once in the US, I don't think it can be used as a mean to cross the border, for that I think you need a valid visa as the only mean 4 entry in the US, in which case you will need to go to the us embassy/consulate. But you will need 1st to get that error fixed on your I20 if it is, cuz u said not his 1st time . But again, Im not sure which way 4 canadian to do this. In my case, the school here in US sent me I20 via mail, went to US consulate, they issued me visa plus seald i20 in envelop, came to US where immigration official unseal the envelop, kept one copy of i20 and stampd my I94 and gave me back the other I20 copy that I gave to me school

[milimelo 4,539]

From what I know (sister on F-1 visa with I-20), once you get I-20 you need to go online and pay SEVIS fee and with both I-20 and confirmation of SEVIS payment (I believe it's around $100) you get an appointment for tourist visa $131 and they issue you an F-1.

Definitely get that I-20 corrected first.