S2 Q&A: I'm outside the US - which term is realistic for me?

Count the whole chain: admission, I-20, SEVIS fee, visa appointment (wait times vary a lot by country), then entry up to 30 days before your start date. I'll pull [School]'s Initial deadline and we compare it with the current visa wait at your consulate - if it's tight, the following intake is the safer target. Which city would you interview in?