What do I need to present at the CBP? F-1 Visa

[sarah9881 0]

Hi,

This was the most helpful place in applying for and getting my student visa, so I thought it would be best to ask my question here.

I am going to study medicine in the US this August! I wanted to know what kind of documents I should prepare for the border. The websites are pretty vague, so I thought I could ask someone who has already been through this... Please let me know if this is everything or what I should add.

-I-20 from the school (student copy)

-SEVIS fee payment receipt (but I haven't received the one they're supposed to mail out to you yet... I'm not sure what to do? is the electronic printed copy ok? - the one you get when you pay on the website)

-School acceptance letter

-Undergraduate transcript

-Test scores (MCAT)

-Bank account statements - mine and my parents

-Copy of my dad's work contract showing his income (should this be notarized? He works overseas and he will be getting an English copy, but is it enough?)

-Application for student line of credit (50K maximum/year - renewable for 4 years)*

-Application for canadian government student loan (10K/year - renewable for 4 years)*

*I am bringing the application copies because my parents will be paying out of pocket for my first year, and we will be getting the loan/lines of credit next year into my 2nd semester. (my parents want to have as little debt as possible, and apply for it only when we need it so we pay less interest.. so they are going to see what they can pay out of pocket. The student line of credit + student loans alone will cover my tuition + living for 4 years, and my dad's yearly income on his contract starting this year is about twice my tuition so we have no problem there) Will this be okay or will they make a problem at the border? The bank statements and applications and copy of the contract were sufficient evidence for my school to issue me my I-20 but I am just nervous that the border people will be much more strict! Also, the school people wrote that I will have 50K from loans and 20K from my parents each year, but obviously they are paying out of pocket this year with 20K in loans instead (as we've decided to take out only what we need). Should I get a new I-20 for this, or is it sufficient to just show that I have sufficient resources for this year (and obviously the other years of my program)?

Also, what should i bring to show my "ties to canada" or is this not required? I've read on this forum that this is important because they think I might try to become a USC? I was planning on bringing:

-my birth certificate

-copy of my parents' mortgage (they live here and i am an only child)

-letters from the student aid office showing that i have student loans here from my undergraduate

-bank account information...

-??? I'm not sure what else! I'll be coming back hopefully as an MD, and I can't exactly go to a hospital and ask them to write me a letter saying that they will hire me in 4 years!

Also, in the case that I get refused visa, what do I do? Do I let the school know at the border, and try to get a deferral for next year and re-apply for a visa for NEXT august?

I'm sorry it is such a long post! I am so excited to start medical school, but I just don't want to get sent back at the border...

[milimelo 4,477]

If you mean Point of Entry (POE) - land or airport, then you will be given an envelope with your I-20 paperwork at your visa appointment in the US embassy- CBP officer will stamp it when you present yourself at POE with the F-1 visa.

First you need to get the F-1 visa and for that you seem to have necessary paperwork. Just book an appointment with the Embassy for tourist visa appt and make your way there. You can only enter the US up to a month before the school start date, nothing earlier.

Edited July 13, 2011 by milimelo

[sarah9881 0]

If you mean Point of Entry (POE) - land or airport, then you will be given an envelope with your I-20 paperwork at your visa appointment in the US embassy- CBP officer will stamp it when you present yourself at POE with the F-1 visa.

First you need to get the F-1 visa and for that you seem to have necessary paperwork. Just book an appointment with the Embassy for tourist visa appt and make your way there. You can only enter the US up to a month before the school start date, nothing earlier.

Thanks Melo!

I was told by several office people, including the US embassy in Montreal, that I cannot get an an embassy appointment as I am a Canadian citizen and that my F1 would be issued at the border... I will be entering the US ~1 week before my program start date. Any Canadians students here that can give some insight??

[sarah9881 0]

Bump... anyone have any other advice?

[canadian_wife 1,822]

It looks good, however I was questioned extensively on my ties to Canada. F1 is a non-immigrant visa and they wanted to ensure that I was going to return to Canada

Now, that was my experience but as for documentation it seems pretty good

Good luck

PS - they were quite rude when I presented anything that wasn't 'mine' as in income from my parents or their residence. They care about YOU and what you can do to fund your trip, your line of credit should suffice. I also brought my approved OSAP application with the funds and that was good for them

[sarah9881 0]

It looks good, however I was questioned extensively on my ties to Canada. F1 is a non-immigrant visa and they wanted to ensure that I was going to return to Canada

Now, that was my experience but as for documentation it seems pretty good

Good luck

PS - they were quite rude when I presented anything that wasn't 'mine' as in income from my parents or their residence. They care about YOU and what you can do to fund your trip, your line of credit should suffice. I also brought my approved OSAP application with the funds and that was good for them

Thank you! What kinds of questions did they ask regarding your ties to Canada? :-S I came to Canada about 15 years ago, consider it my home... but I'm only in my 20s! I mean, i'm not married, I have no house of my own in Canada.. What should I be prepared for? I plan on coming back to BC (province of residence) when I finish my degree but that is still a few years away!

Also, I'm worried that they will give me trouble at the border because the line of credit documents are only applications at this point (my parents will be paying out of pocket for the 1st year, and we will apply later), and my student loan has not been approved yet (mainly because of the Canada Post strike, but I've spoken to the people at both the school and the student loan office and they said there is no reason why I should not be approved for my maximum amount). Also, my parents were planning on paying the 1st semester's tuition before we set out. Will this help?

I just don't want to get turned back at the border. I would be so crushed.

Edited July 17, 2011 by sarah9881

[canadian_wife 1,822]

They wanted to know that I was not going to use a non-immigrant visa to immigrate to the US. I brought job postings from Toronto (where I was from) showing equlivant education and experience I would gain in Canada - proving I could use my US education in Canada. Do you have a Canadian car you are importing? Bank accounts and your student loans are ties to Canada. What about affidavids from your parents? Do you know any doctors that could write a letter on your behalf saying they would reccomend you for a job once you return to Canada?

Now, anything I presented that had to do with my parents was refused and I was rudely asked what proof and ties I, independently of my parents, had. Your line of credit is good, it shows you won't be a public charge.

I was also asked for a photocopy of my actual undergrad degree (for a very strange reason), you might want to bring that just in case.

However, I also disclosed that I had a USC boyfriend, which may have been why I was put under more scrutiny. My BIL was also given a hard time but we were both let in eventually.

If you are denied, ask spedific questions like "am I able to reapply before my school enrollment deadline" or "what else should I provide to satisfy your requirements' and "can you tell me exactly why I am being denied". You want to make sure you get solid answers. Getting turned away only means were were unable to be admitted on that day, it doesn't mean you won't or cannot be admitted in the future.

I am sure you will be fine, just be polite and go early - leave lots of time to be pulled into secondary inspection if they need to

Also, remember, you can only apply for admittance 30 days before your schools start date, I entered 31 days before was was lectured on that as well

Good luck

[sarah9881 0]

I have no car, and since I'm living literally across the street from campus/hospital center, I don't plan on getting a car until I start my rotations in the hospitals in my 3rd/4th year. I do have undergraduate student loans, and I still have the documents for those! I have worked for a psychologist for the past year, and she might be able to write me a letter of recommendation upon graduation.

Affidavits from my parents? Saying I'll have to come back once I graduate because my mom is convinced i will die during residency if i am more than an hour's drive away?

Also, job equivalency is a little tricky for me... US MDs usually take the USMLEs, whereas Can MDs have their own thing. I was planning on taking both exams or coming back after residency so that I can ask the Medical Council of Canada to waive the canadian licensing exam (USMLEs are generally considered "harder", and both canadian and US schools are accredited by the LCME, they seem to be pretty open with US MDs. Should I print this stuff out from the Medical Council of Canada to show them?

The physical degree? Wow... Maybe I should try to find my rejection letter from McGill Med too!

I'm sorry to hear that about your USC boyfriend! I guess crossing the border will be one of the few times when I feel lucky not to have a boyfriend. I wish I realized how much of a hassle it was going to be to be a doctor - and I'm not even studying yet!

Thank you so much for your advice, canadian_wife!

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Don't be sorry about my USC boyfriend...eventually I made him my husband!

good luck, keep me posted

Where are you going to be going to school?

PS - like that bit about your rejection letter

[sarah9881 0]

I'll be going to med school at Medical College of Wisconsin. When I first applied, I didn't think I would like it so much but I absolutely loved it when I went to interview there.

But McGill is my alma mater (extra bitter rejection, but I guess it was just time for me to go on grander adventures). I swore I was going to go somewhere warmer for med school, somehow I ended up at the only place I applied to that is probably as cold as Montreal.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Well, the good thing is I belive Trudeau is a pre-clearance site so you won't actually board the flight if anything goes awray, but I think you'll be fine, when do you leave?

Good luck

[sarah9881 0]

We'll be driving through Ontario, probably will get to the border the morning of August 4th. My program starts the 7th. Ideally, I would go a little earlier, but my dad's travel/business plans made it bump up a little bit.

Just wondering - What did you study in the US? Did you find that adjusting your status from F-1 to get a permanent resident card difficult? I'm just curious in case I get married in med school or in residency (apparently nothing brings nerds together like dissecting a cadaver!).

[canadian_wife 1,822]

I didn't adjust status, I returned to Canada to do the Cr-1 visa.

I studied Education - in Georgia...and that is a HUGE adjustment. I thought since we've seen American television and I had been here before it would be easy, I have never been more wrong. I'm still adjusting and at times am painfully homesick (I've been here almost 6 years now) and right now would give my left leg for an extra large double double!!!

But from what I hear, adjusting status, if timed correctly (as in not minutes before your F-1 expires..etc) is easy

Good luck