Consider this:

1. A prospective graduate student recently (1 week ago) accepts an offer of admission from a mediocre US university with an average financial aid. The university issues him an I-20, and is looking forward to having him at the university.

2. Yesterday, a top US university offered him admission in their highly competitive program with a far better financial aid, and says they are willing to speed up the (paperwork) process so that an I-20 can be quickly issued and help him arrive in time for Fall. They are unaware of scenario 1.

Needless to say, the student would like to attend univ #2. However, since an I-20 and a SEVIS ID number is already issued from univ #1, can he still proceed to request an I-20 from univ #2 ? Is there a way to cancel the I-20/SEVIS ID number from univ # 1? What can he do to make sure he secures the opportunity at univ # 2 ? Please help!

Kirsten,

As far as I know you can have multiple I-20s issued for the same person from different schools. You do not need to cancel any I-20 if you plan not to attend that school. At this point you just need to apply for student visa with I-20 from the #2 school you have mentioned.

Actually, there is nothing to be uneasy on getting another I-20 from the second university. It is required that you return and cancel the I-20 that you do not use, I have read it somewhere.
In this case, the person should inquire with the International student co-ordinator of second school in this matter. Possessing multiple I-20s can be a problem, so the I-20s that are not being used should be returned and canceled.
The best bet is to correspond with the coordinator of international student of the second university.

AmriT

kirsten - i am not sure but can't you tell univ #2 that you already got an i-20 from univ #1 so that way univ #1 can transfer it to univ #2 and then univ #2 can issue you an i -20 from their univ?? i think that's much easier! why don't you ask univ #2 and univ #1 if you could do that??

just keep in mind that, some uni require you to study there for atleast a semester before you transfer.

i dont believe, there should be any hurdle with you having 2 I20.

GOOD LUCK.

I have even seen that some people get visa from one university and they change the university at port of entry. There was an Indian Guy, who had done this. He told this story in our orientation class. But I am not sure about how it works.

Do you know anybody studying in Uni # 2? If "yes" then you can ask the international office to issue I-20 and give that to your friend, S/he will send it to you by Express mail. S/He can even scan it and email the copy to you. Use that copy to fill up the form for visa interview. After a week you will get the original, and you will be all set up for your interview.

All the best.

Thanks all, it was quite a relief to know that it is not a big deal to have two I-20's issued for the same student.

The univ # 2 (the better school) just confirmed the acceptance and financial aid yesterday...it is going to take them a few days at minimum to issue an I-20 if all goes well.

The univ # 1(the mediocre) 's I-20 will arrive tomorrow.

Time obviously is of critical essence since there is only about 20 days or so before the classes/orientation starts at either school.

Come to think of it, he is skeptical on whether the embassy will consider his application for visa to the mediocre school given the very short time between now and start of classes, let alone the prospect of applying for visa for the better school, who's I-20 is probably still a week away. [A slight relief is that the univ # 2 is willing to do all it can to speed up the process, including providing the SEVIS # and I-20 through email as soon as it is available].

He obviously does not want to miss this opportunity at the better school. Nor does he want to regret losing the opportunity at the mediocre univ in case something doesn't work out later for the better university (embassy not even considering the application due to insufficient time ?). Don't know what to do...So very confused ! Any suggestions?

kristen,
mero bichar ma chhain hain

1. if u r accepted in any school with FULL FINANCIAL AID,, then getting VISA no problem.
2. getting in better school (O: "per se" is always good. Looks good in resume and can easily get ur first job (O: after that it rarely matters.. i always think that going to good school always helps because i never had that opportunity.
3. going to mediocre school... its not bad.. personally.. i feel it made me a better person as a whole... because i tried extra.. to prove myself in INDUSTRY and EDUCATIONAL arena.... another thing u need to consider is UNIVERSITY as a whole may b mediocre but in grad courses .. some of the universities have really good departments... .....
4. financial aid is always a factor... but do not worry about getting 2 I-20 etc... make sure u accept one... if u already accepted the first offer.. make sure you call them/ email them or write to them .. that u r declining their offer because of so .. and
so... be lucid.. NO PROBLEM.....

===================================================
just my usual... thoughts
but as always
what do i know (O:

If I were him, I'd try asking for my admission to be defered till the next spring semester, or even the next fall semester, if the school allows deferals...

acharya - and why do you say that?? and what would you be doing for a whole year?? just chilling?? uffffff!!! :@ :@

lol

In this case, to me Acharya`s opinion seems wise. If Embassy really matters the date of admission and class starts, it looks better for the student to have deferred admission by one semester.
Very recently, one of my friends did this in the University of Florida. He got visa last week and deferred the RAship and admission by a semester. There was no problem since University was providing financial support with tuition waived.

Goodluck!

If you apply the visa using I20 from the second school(the better one) you should be fine. Just send email/letter to first school that you are not coming after you get either I20 or its copy from the second school. Good luck for your grad school.

Yeah he can chill, or do whatever, the embassy won't care as long as he still has the same financial aid offer available.