Hello everyone,
My brother applied in US university. He got visa for the university too. After he was approved for the U.S. visa the university sent him an email asking for a non-refundable deposit of $2500 which will be used as his tuition fee in 2nd semester. If he fails to deposit the amount his I20 will be cancelled. The deadline wasn't mentioned in this email. Later he got second email saying he has to pay the deposit by july 1st before entering to states otherwise his i20 will be cancelled. What can be done to avoid this early deposit? suggestions are appreciated.

Report to USCIS and Better Business Bureau.

Deposit ASAP. If you have relative in US, ask them to deposit for your tuition and you can pay them later.

Share the university name.

One other option would be applying to another University and getting a new I-20. I am not sure how that would work but I have knowledge of people who actually got visa with I - 20 from one University and attended different University. You have to do more research on that.

This might be the reason why university had asked a early deposit for the 2nd semester. Lots of Nepalese came to that university in past years and they transferred to the other colleges next semester. They wanna make sure your brother stays next semester with the same school. That might be the reason they are asking for the early deposit for next semester. If your brother is coming to these states - Oklahoma, Louisiana, mississippi; this must be it.

Other Scenario: If your brother has other I-20s, he can definitely go to other school as well. I paid my sevis fee to X university, applied to Y university and transfered to Z university and graduated from A university. So , everything is possible.

Good luck.

First of I do not agree with the term you are using "ransom"-- your brother is not bring kidnapped. Second you've clearly said it is "deposit". It may be mandatory for Intl students to have deposit for second semester (as coolbuddy pointed out most of the schools know what we Intl students do after first semester). The onle options I see id pay the deposit or get i20 from other schools, if not shoot for spring '15. Thanks.

Wow, this is very interesting topic. My international school adviser said fellow Nepali, "you guys come to my school, study a semester and transfer". Even she has less of interest to enroll Nepalese students. This is one step thought from University now just like making one year contract when renting apartment. I think student needs to cooperate with university the one they got visa from to transfer another university.