F1 Visa - Update SEVIS after Slot Booking.

TL-DR: If you've decided on a single university, you're good skip this. This only applies for the below scenario.

 

So, this was my scenario. (Feb 2023)

I've received an admit from Texas A&M - Commerce for Business Analytics, all good. But my main course selection was Cybersecurity. I still have 5 months of time for Fall intake, but I have all the requirements needed, the "i20". I was in a confused state for a week not knowing if I can proceed with Visa slot booking and loan process. 

My clarification on the Visa Slot Booking:

There're two things, I had to go through a lot of reading through the ustraveldocs (I prefer reading over watching youtube video references, I bet if you're here, you're the same.) just to understand that there're two types of fees.

1. A SEVIS Fee for $350. What's the purpose of SEVIS fee?

2. MRV Fee of $150. This is the Visa Portal maintenance fee.

So. here comes the main question. Can we start the visa process before deciding on a university.

Yes! We can, once we have an i20 from a university, we can start a DS-160 form fill the Sevis number and open an account in the visa protal [link it], pay the fee and book the slots.

But, we've to make sure to update the first the DS-160 and the visa portal with the final university atleast before 10 days before your visa interview.

For the loan application:

Again, it's possible. We can start the the process with an i20, the banks can change the university or the course we're attending to. They just won't change the loan amount you got. So, you're responsible to get an i20 with the amount similar to what you'd get for your goal university.

 

Feel free to contact me for any clarifications. I hope there's a comments section somewhere in here. If not, I'll add an email address.

Disclaimer: I've got the above loan information directly talking to Banks (particularly SBI and HDFC), if they differ from what I mentioned, they might have changed their policy now. Do clarify all the questions before starting any steps related to loans. For the visa slot booking, I'm pretty sure it's working as of first half of 2023, because I did it.