Update:
I am making some progress towards getting my old IAP-66. I located the lady from the Work and Travel program I first came in the States through. A friend of mine from back home will go to talk to her on Monday and ask for the IAP.
In the meantime, I was accepted in a PhD program in Psychology. I am thinking to go for another F-1 just to gain some time with the waiver and then with the greencard. This new university says that they can transfer my SAVIS from my old uni to them. However, I am currently on OPT. Can the transfer still be done? Provided that they issue a new I-20, after that will I need to send any papers to USCIS? Do they need to give me a new F-1 or does the transfer imply that I do not have to send any papers to USCIS (like I did when I did my change of status from J1 to F1 back in 2003)? How does this work?
Do schools usually verify that the amount one has on a bank statement actually exists in the bank? I'm thinking to borrow some money from a friend and give it back to her after I get the statement for the new I-20. I do have some savings and the school will give me graduate assistanship, so paying for the school won't be an issue...but 31,000$ in the bank it's too much for me.
Also, my mom already talked at the Ministry of Education in my country. They will write me the letter that I did not receive any funding from the Government. In order to do this, they requested the DS forms and J1 visas. Now I have 1 IAP missing, one IAP from 2002, and one DS from 2003. It may be that I was subject in 2001 based on the passport. What papers should I give them? The last DS and visa? Or will they actually need the IAP from 2001? Should I wait to see if I can get the lost IAP, apply for advisory opinion, and then get these documents for NOS from back home? I want to be at least a step ahead of the game, but I don't want to do it the wrong way.
Thank you so much!
P.S. Mmed, congratulations for your waiver!
I do not have any experience with F or OPT at all but I can give youmy opinion which may be wrong or write, do not take it as 100% sure waiting for others feedback.
Q-Do schools usually verify that the amount one has on a bank statement actually exists in the bank?
A- Not at all, almost no one can check your bank account balance except you or your designee. You showed them your statement does not mean you design them to see your account with the bank. You can borrow money, take statement and after 1 minute withdraw it back.
Ministry of Education in my country.They will write me the letter that I did not receive any funding from the Government.
I have similar situation. When my waiver delayed, I applied for advisory opinion, I returned all the fund to my country and I convinced the people in my country consulate to write a letter that they already received all fund they gave me back. This letter was sent directly to DOS waiver section. After few days a very nice letter came to me that I am still subject and returning fund does not mean anything. So why you need this statement from your country?
If you are subject, no letter from any where can waive that except the actual waiver, if you are not subject, no waiver will be issued to you and you will receive a nice letter from the DOS that you are not subject even if your passport is stamped "subject"