ReEnter USA without evidence of financial resources

H

hyst90

New Member
I need help and advice from you guys.

I am a PhD student in the US university and right now i am at home visiting my parents.
But soon i will come back and when i will reenter US most probably i will not have evidence of financial resources with me for the next year.

I want to ask those who ever had the next situation:
You are a continuing student (i.e. traveled outside of the USA), you had unexpired f1 visa (i.e. you didn't go to the US consulate for the new one before coming back to the USA), I-20 (of course signed), all other documents, you are in a good standing with the program.

Have you been asked to show evidence of financial resources when you come back?



And if somebody didn't have evidence of financial resources when you came back to the USA and was asked to show it in the port of entry, what happened? Was you allowed to enter the USA or not? Could you please describe that situation.
 
Base on your scenario, I was never asked to show financial proof. The questions usually relate to what I study, where I go to school, etc. The only time they ask for financial approval was an initial entry (with the sealed envelope they gave you at the embassy).

Here are my questions for you:

1) What does your I-20 say about financial funding? Personal savings? Sponsors (either parents or a relative?) Or some Scholarship / Assistance? A combination of the above?

Whatever it is, make sure your answer MATCHES what is on your I-20. For example, if it is personal saving, you should know how much you have in your account and that it should cover your next year tuition. Example 2: If you have a sponsor, you need to know who she / he is, his occupation, roughly how much he makes, etc. You only need to KNOW this, don't volunteer unless asked.

2) If you are a PhD student, you are likely getting paid through graduate assistance (either as a teaching assistant or a research assistant). If you do, you can use that as financial resources. Also, your I-20 should reflect that.

My advice: Don't panic at the border and certainly don't volunteer information. Answer the questions and nothing more. You'll just fine. Chances are that you won't get the question.
 
HKAndy said:
Base on your scenario, I was never asked to show financial proof. The questions usually relate to what I study, where I go to school, etc. The only time they ask for financial approval was an initial entry (with the sealed envelope they gave you at the embassy).

Here are my questions for you:

1) What does your I-20 say about financial funding? Personal savings? Sponsors (either parents or a relative?) Or some Scholarship / Assistance? A combination of the above?
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Assistantship + my personal funds. But assistantship covered all the expenses.


HKAndy said:
Whatever it is, make sure your answer MATCHES what is on your I-20. For example, if it is personal saving, you should know how much you have in your account and that it should cover your next year tuition. Example 2: If you have a sponsor, you need to know who she / he is, his occupation, roughly how much he makes, etc. You only need to KNOW this, don't volunteer unless asked.

2) If you are a PhD student, you are likely getting paid through graduate assistance (either as a teaching assistant or a research assistant). If you do, you can use that as financial resources. Also, your I-20 should reflect that.
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I had assistantship last year. For the next year it is not clear right now if i get it.
if i do not get GTA, most probably i will have GRA. I have already talked with couple of professors about it, but more detailed they want to discuss it when i will come back.

HKAndy said:
My advice: Don't panic at the border and certainly don't volunteer information. Answer the questions and nothing more. You'll just fine. Chances are that you won't get the question.
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Thank you for your advice. I also don't think that i will be asked about this.
All my friends told me that they have never been asked to show GRA or GTA contract.

But, actually, i am very interested what should i do and answer if they ask me about GTA contract (as it is written in I-20) or any other financial proof and i will not have it?
 
hyst90 said:
Thank you for your advice. I also don't think that i will be asked about this.
All my friends told me that they have never been asked to show GRA or GTA contract.

But, actually, i am very interested what should i do and answer if they ask me about GTA contract (as it is written in I-20) or any other financial proof and i will not have it?
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First thing first, this is my opinion only, so use at your own risk. Depending on the nature of the GTA, you might still be covered under it.

You said right now, you don't know if you will get it next year. That doesn't say a whole lot. Do they have to inform you that you lost your GTA? If so and if the university hasn't done so, technically, you are still covered under GTA.

Now if the GTA contract says it is considered terminated at the end of each May (or academic year) unless you are notified of a renewal, then the answer is different. So it depends.

Obviously, if you are still under the GTA, you can just tell them that and how much it would cover. If you are no longer under the GTA because of a lack of a renewal, then your answer probably would be that you are renegotiating the GTA or GRA and that you have no reason to believe you won't get it next year.

I agree with GCman2005, they don't give Ph.D a hard time. Also, if you are under GTA as indicated on your I-20, they have very little reason to believe that you won't attend the school, pay the tuition or get health insurance, etc. So relax, you are fine.
 
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