What? Confusion.

[Radddd]

<p>"Unless you are a citizen of Canada, you will need to obtain a student visa before beginning your studies. A visa eligibility certificate (For I-20 or DS-2019) can be issued by the University after a student has met each of the following qualifications:</p>

<ol>
<li>admission to the University of Chicago;</li>
<li>submission of complete official academic records;</li>
<li>satisfaction of the University’s English proficiency requirement; and</li>
<li>verification of financial support.</li>
</ol>

<p>You will find out more about applying for a student visa after you are admitted. It is not necessary to submit bank statements or other verification of financial support when you apply."</p>

<p>Directly off the U of C website. What do I do if I AM a Canadian Citizen? Furthermore, I will not be applying for a F-1 Visa. I will be applying for a R-1 Visa instead. So now what? Any opinions?</p>

[JHS]

<p>From the U.S. Embassy in Canada website:</p>

<p>

Canadian Citizens</p>

<p>Canadian Citizens do not need visas to study in the U.S. You do need to obtain an I-20 (or DS-2019) Certificate of Eligibility from the university that you plan to attend. At the time you receive the I-20 (or DS-2019) you will be registered with SEVIS, the student tracking system. You will be assigned a SEVIS number, and be required to pay a registration fee.</p>

<p>When you cross the border to study you will need to provide the Officer at the port of entry:</p>

<p>*Proof of identity and citizenship (a Canadian passport for example)
*The original I-20 (or DS-2019) certificate
*Proof that you have paid your SEVIS fee
*Proof that you have the funds to pay for the school that you plan to attend
*Proof of your ties to Canada

</p>

[Radddd]

<p>Are there any benefits to that? Or does it just make the process alot easier?</p>

[JHS]

<p>Sorry, I’m not an immigration lawyer.</p>

<p>I think it’s an obvious benefit to make the process a lot easier and to cut out the need to obtain a visa. On the other hand, if your goal is to become a permanent resident of the U.S., it won’t get you any closer to that. And I don’t know how (if at all) it will affect your ability to get part-time or summer jobs in the U.S. Or whether you can apply for an R-1 visa having entered the country on this procedure.</p>

<p>You are going to have to do some more research. You are hardly the only Canadian to think about college in the U.S., so I suspect that clear answers are out there on the internet somewhere. If not, call your nearest friendly U.S. consulate and ask.</p>