How to get a F-1 Student Visa for the US…

I had to apply for a F-1 Student Visa for the second time now, and I would consider myself as a expert by default. I have learned how to get the whole paper junk ready within 2 days and I feel inclined to share my experience, because I truly think that studying in the U.S. has made me who I am today.

Here is a “short” checklist of things you need to have put together before going to the U.S embassy:

• I-20 (This is basically the official letter that will be send to you by the University once they accepted you)
• I-901 receipt, also called Sevis fee. You need to pay this fee online and bring proof of payment (receipts) to the embassy.
• DS-156, has to be filled out online and printed out. Make sure the bar code on the last page looks something like this. If it doesn’t they will send you out and will have you redo the form, print it out again until it looks right. (This happened to me, please learn from my mistake! Mine looked something like this: )
• DS-157, can be found here, and has to be filled out electronically through Adobe Acrobat Reader or a similar program.
• DS-158, can also be found here, fill it out electronically print it out and bring it with you.
• A 5cmx5cm picture that fits the U.S. restrictions. You can find the restrictions here. (I would bring two pictures.)
• Then you also need 3 months worth of bank statements. Be sure that the statements cover the amount that is stated on the I-20. If you are not paying for tuition and expenses yourself, be sure to include a letter from your sponsor with the last three bank statements.
• Pay 140 US$ in Visa fees and bring proof of payment. (157.20 CHF in Switzerland)
• Write a letter that states that you will be coming back after you are done with your stay. I included possible job offers, ties to friends and family as well as my membership with various clubs that will keep me from staying in the U.S.
• Include a letter that is addressed to yourself and include sufficient postage. (5 CHF in Switzerland)
• Bring your valid passport.

Once you have all those things ready or you are only missing a couple pieces, but you are confident you will get them in a conceivable amount of time, call the visa information center at 0900-87-8472 (for Swiss people). You can find your countries number here.

A few more tipps:

• Be on time when you go to the embassy, there is usually a big line of people that is there for the same reason as you.
• Be friendly with the people handling your paperwork. They only do what the U.S. Government asks them to do. It is not their fault that you have to go through all the hassle.
• Talk to the people around you, it will take some of your nervousness away and you will get to know some really interesting people.
• Bring a book, a newspaper, crossword puzzles, etc. I had to wait for 2 hours in the waiting room.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: The checklist is only a guideline. Be sure to check your country’s website for changes in policy.

New Flashy Banknotes

The Swiss National Bank announced (a while ago) that they will replace the old series with a newer, flashier, even cooler series.

Interestingly enough the new notes will not feature any faces or famous, swiss sites. On the contrary the bank notes seem to be kept generic. The designer/creator Manuel Krebs however incorporated a very interesting idea. The higher the denominations of the notes get the “bigger” is the picture on the back.

To further explain… the 10 Franc depicts blood cells in the back, the 20 Franc note shows a human body, the 50 Franc note displays a rock mass, the 100 Franc note is a satellite view of the world, the 200 Franc note represents the solar system and finally the 1000 Franc note reveals some galaxy (I have no idea if that is accurate, I’m not big in astronomy).

I like them. Click here to see them all!

Christmas in Switzerland

I had the most wonderful time at home for Christmas. My family, my girlfriend and I spend some awesome days together. Here are some pictures to document the fantastic experience.

More pictures here: www.flickr.com/photos/makkeboome

Swiss Universiade Team – Official Page

Official Page

Opening Ceremony

A lot of things have been going on since my last post. We visited the Swiss Ambassador at the local Swiss Embassy. He answered the often asked question of how to become a Ambassador. It was a really extensive response that I don’t want to post here. The visit also included a traditional Thai Dance Group that was performing an ancient fight between a princess and a monkey on one side and a warrior on the other. During the visit we got to talk to some university students of the surrounding area. They were all studying one of the three languages (really four, but Rumantsch is almost a dead language) that are spoken in Switzerland. I got to speak Italian and French with a couple of the scholars.

We also attended the official flag rising ceremony. Unfortunately I didn’t bring my camera, stupid me.

Yesterday, was the day of the Opening Ceremony. Once arrived at the Stadium we had to wait for almost 2 hours before we were allowed to march into the Rajamangala National Stadium. It was worth waiting, the Ceremony was a blast and definitely a unique experience.

Sehr viele Dinge sind seit meinem letzten Eintrag geschehen. Wir waren zu Besuch bei der Schweizer Botschaft und hatten die Gelegenheit dem Botschaftler einige Fragen zu stellen. Unter anderem erzählte er uns das gut gehütete Geheimniss, wie man am einfachsten Botschaftler wird. Der Besuch bei der Botschaft beinhaltete auch einen traditionellen thailändischen Tanz bei dem die Gruppen einen alten Kampf, zwischen einer Prinzessin und einem Affen auf der einen Seite und einem Kämpfer auf der anderen, personifizierten. Während dem Besuch hatten wir auch Gelegenheit mit ein paar Studenten der Uni’s in Bangkok zu sprechen. Alle waren Sprachstudenten einer der drei Sprachen (eigentlich vier aber ich zähle Rumantsch nicht dazu) welche in der Schweiz gesprochen werden. Ich konnte meine italienisch und französisch Kenntnisse zur Schau stellen.

Zudem fand das offizielle hissen der schweizer Fahne statt. Leider habe ich meine Kamera nicht mitgebracht und konnte deshalb keine Fotos machen.

Gestern fand die Eröffnungszeremonie statt. Als wir beim Stadion angekommen waren, mussten wir fast 2 Stunden warten bevor uns die Organisatoren ins “Rajamangala National Stadium” einmarschieren liessen. Das Warten hat sich aber gelohnt, die Zeremonie war genial und sicherlich eine einzigartige Erfahrung.

1. August 2007

Some pictures of tonight’s fireworks.

Hier einige Bilder des heutigen Feuerwerks.

Last Day in Tenero

We had our last day in Tenero today, where we were preparing ourselves for the upcoming swim events at the University Games in Bangkok, Thailand (I just love to say that). Also, today (the first of August) is the Swiss National Day or the 716th Birthday the Swiss Confederation. AND additionally to all that, this very day is also Michel De Carolis’ birthday (he is “only” 23 years old, but he might makes it up to 700, cross your fingers). Drop him a line, I’m sure he’d love it. Here.

Heute war unser letzter Tag in Tenero, wo wir uns für die aufkommenden Schwimmwettkämpfe in Bangkok/Thailand vorbereitet haben. Zudem ist heute (der Erste August) der Schweizerische Nationalfeiertag oder der 716te Geburtstag der Schweizer Eidgenossenschaft. Und zu all dem kommt noch Michel De Carolis’ Geburtstag dazu (er wird zwar “nur” 23 Jahre alt, aber vieleicht schafft er es ja auch bis auf 700, drückt die Daumen). Schreibt ihm doch ein paar Zeilen, er freut sich bestimmt. Hier.

One Evening in Locarno [en/de]

We left the “Centro Sportivo Nazionale della Gioventu” (National Youth Sport Center) to go for a stroll at the border of the Lago Maggiore in Locarno. It was a gorgeous little trip. Unfortunately I had to realize that Switzerland isn’t all nice and cheap. We spend 4 Swiss Francs (ca. US Dollars) on a small Coke today. Anyway, I’m happy to be here, the scenery is beautiful.

Wir verliessen heute das “Centro Sportivo Nazionale della Gioventu” (Nazionales Jugend Sport Center) um am Ufer des Lago Maggiores in Locarno rumzuspazieren. Es war ein schöner kleiner Ausflug. Leider wurde mir klar, dass es in der Schweiz nichts um sonst gibt. Wir haben heute 4 Schweizer Franken für eine kleine Cola ausgegeben. Naja, ich bin trotzdem froh hier zu sein, die Aussicht ist absolut genial.

First Day off in Tenero [en/de]

Today we had our first (half) day off. We went up the “Verzasca Valley” and jumped from the famous “ponte dei salti” (italian for bridge of the jumps). If you wanna see my daring jump from the 150 year old bridge, please click here. The pictures of our little adventure can be found here.

Heute hatten wir unseren ersten (halben) freien Tag. Wir fuhren deshalb das “Verzasca Tal” hoch und sprangen von der berühmten “ponte dei salti” (italienisch für Brücke der Sprünge). Falls du meinen wagemutigen Sprung von der 150 Jahre alten Brücke sehen willst, klicke hier. Die Bilder unseres kleinen Ausflug findest du hier.

Swiss Alps, French Accents, Italian Food [en/de]

I am currently in Switzerland, preparing for the World University Games, which will be taking place in Bangkok, Thailand in a few days (in 13 days to be exact).

Before I went to the site where the practice camp is taking place, I got to spend some days at home with my family and friends. Unfortunately they had to be contented with a fairly quiet Marco. Not because my fame made it impossible to get a hold of me. No – it was the stomach flu that kept me quiet and absent. My presence in the bathroom however grew.
I feel all better now and I am enjoying the place I like to call home. The people here speak more than 2 languages and enjoy the good and simple Italian food.

It’s good to be home.

Ich befinde mich gerade in der Schweiz, und bereite mich für die Universiaden vor, welche in wenigen Tagen (in genau 13 Tagen) in Bangkok/Thailand stattfinden werden.

Bevor ich jedoch zu dem Ort gekommen bin an dem ich momentan residiere, konnte ich ein paar Tage mit meiner Familie und einigen Freunden geniessen. Leider mussten sie sich jedoch mit einem ziemlich ruhigen Marco zufrienden geben. Es war nicht mein Ruhm, den es ihnen nicht erlaubt hat mit mir zu reden. Nein – es war eine Magen-Darm-Grippe welche mich ruhig und abwesend scheinen liess. Dafür war meine Anwesenheit im Badezimmer um so höher.
Keine Sorge, ich fühle mich schon sehr viel besser und freue mich zu hause zu sein. Die Leute hier sprechen mindestens 2 Sprachen und geniessen das simple und sehr gute italienische Essen.

Es ist gut zuhause zu sein.