Hello everbody...

i want to know the procedure for gettin the I20 form. Does one need to have the I20 form to even schedule an appointment with the US consulate? or can one schedule a visa interview appointment only after getting I20?

and what is the procedure for paying the SEVIS fees and when does it have to be paid?

good question...i also wanna know this...and also what is the principle of "emergency appointments" in case one cannot get a suitable visa interview date?

You have to pay the SEVIS fees to schedule your appointment, for which you need your I 20. The I 20 has to be sent to you by your law school. if you take an appointment stating that you will be studying at a particular law school, and then decide to go to another, you will have to schedule another appointment by paying the SEVIS fees again. All the details are available on the US home office website.

@rendezvous - for a "emergency appointment", you have to contact the consulate concerned. they will give u a date. However, the emergency process can only be initiated 120 days prior to commencment of your course. I presume you are one of those people who has to go to Chennai or Bombay for your visa. Best of luck! I am in the same boat.

thanks MS!

actually it would be Delhi. Fortunately, there are still interview dates left there for June. I have yet to initiate the I20 form requirements...so just wanted to be sure about the worst case scenario!

This is weird. I was able to schedule an appointment without paying the SEVIS fee. It wasn't asked of me when plotting the date into the webpage calendar. Maybe it is different in different countries?

I guess its different in different countries. Earlier, it was the same in India. But, its changed now. Has become quite a painful procedure!
@ Rendezous - dont worry if dates are available in June. Depending on which Univ u are going to, u should get your I 20, within a month of initiating the process. So, u will still get an appointment, even without initiating the emergency process. Best of luck!