Can we take F1 visa(USA) appointment before 10 days of reporting date???

Question

have received I 20 and last reporting date is 16th jan 2008. I tried to take visa appointment for december but there are no appointments available in december.

I am trying to take appointment on jan 04 2008.

I want to know if jan 04 will be too late or not?

If it is too late can we request university to extend my reporting date by one or two week by asking them to send me a official letter from university and produce it in the embassy, if required.

Answer 1

Jan 4, will not be late provided you block your ticket in anticipation of visa and you can pick your visa on the same day of appointment with extra fee.

You will have one wek time for registration from date of reporting and the same you can inform university in case of any problem,

they will be flexible.

Good luck

Answer 2

You can apply for a US student visa up to 120 days before your reporting date, and enter the US up to 30 days before.  You should apply as early as possible, to make sure that you will not miss your reporting date in case your application is incomplete and you don't get the visa right away.

http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/ty...

If you apply so late that it is clear that you will not be able to get to school by the date on the I-20, the visa cannot be issued.  You can, however, get a letter such as you have mentioned in case you can't make an earlier interview appointment.  Such a letter is always acceptable, together with the original I-20, to allow a later reporting date, and allow the visa to be issued despite the fact that you might miss arriving on the date specified on the I-20.

I don't know where the other answerer got the idea that a US visa can be issued more quickly on payment of an extra fee.  That is not so.