LagosNIV:
Hello Klebsy -

Here is the answer to your question on the DHS website.

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/getting-to-the-united-states

In short, no, you may enter the US up to 30 days before your start date, but you may not enter the US after the start date on your I-20. If you cannot travel by that date you will need to have your school confirm that you are permitted to arrive late by issuing a new I-20 with a later start date.

goodemma20:
After one year of this yankee hustle, Jah has finally done it. It has not been easy- from going to the library and jacking the whole day for GRE (ETS still knack me 308 sha) to preparing for visa interview, it has been God all the way. I want to use this opportunity to thank my brothers from another mother, fredoricko and toomuchsauce, my e-mummy lagosismyhome and TWOODS (although I had to filter your posts sha). God’s favour was clearly discerned immediately I arrived Lagos as my co-passenger in the bus I fared followed me round obalande to ensure I book a hotel since everywhere was strange to me. On getting to the embassy the next day, it was as if I entered a crusade ground. I didn’t know that people can be this obedient and calm. When one woman talk sey she need 7500 for her dad, na so people begin dash her money- everybody wan do good to tey gain God favour for visa. Na so we do biometrics and some other stuffs before main interview con reach. Omo, it was blue paper day. The VOs especially that black American woman was giving out blue papers with great ecstasy. Na so I begin beg God make CGI nor send me to her. Fortunately for me, I was sent to the guy in window 1. The VO was truly a nice person. The following ensued in our conversation.
VO: where do you work? (Has any interview ever started like this?)
Me: Told him about my work
VO: so why Sacramento state?
Me: A lot of reasons made me choose CSUS but for the purpose of this interview I’ll enumerate just 3. Firstly, Prof X IEEE research paper about the miniaturizing of planar baluns for wireless applications gave me a positive impression about the dept. so I didn’t hesitate in contacting him and telling him about my plans. He told me to go ahead and apply. Secondly, although I will be focusing on telecommunications, I needed a department that offers other courses that are relevant to Nigerian situation, courses like power system reliability and planning, CSUS not only has these courses but offers me the opportunity to simultaneously take these courses with telecommunications, moreover, the climate condition in the Sacramento valley is similar to a reasonable degree to the one we have here in Nigeria, so my body can easily adapt while my brain focuses on academic course work.
VO; what is the weather in Sacramento like? (See question )
Me: it has a mild climate unlike the weather in the east coast
VO: what is the current temperature?
Me: 14 degree Celsius
VO: in Fahrenheit?
Me: I don’t know, in Nigeria we use Celsius ( abeg leave weather make you gimme visa jare)
VO: what will you do after you graduate?
Me: upon graduation, I intend to return to my alma mata and take up a lecturing job and after teaching for like 6 years, I believe I will be qualified enough to provide consultancy services to telecommunication giants like MTN, GLO, ETISALAT and the rest.
VO: is it still called etisalat?
Me: oh, no, It’s actually called 9mobile but I believe the name will still change since the banks that etisalat was indebted to are the ones currently controlling it.
VO: who’s paying?
Me: my dad
VO: can I see your financial docs?
Me: sure, passed it
VO: what is your highest degree?
Me: Bsc electrical and electronic engineering
VO: any tests?
Me: I took TOEFL and GRE
VO: what did you score?
Me: I got 308 in GRE and 104 in TOEFL
VO: pass me your score sheets
Me: I passed it
VO: how many months is this program?
Me: I said 20 something months( I can’t really remember)
VO: I will be placing you on administrative processing
Me: OK
VO: Is there anything you would like to retract? (VO facial expression was like “If I see anything oluwole here , just forget about entering the US for the rest of your life)
Me: no (I had nothing to be afraid of).
I jeje waka comot with white AP paper. Then after just 3 days, AP changed to issued. Na to find cheap flight ticket remain now.