If the university accepts you, you will be sent an I-20 form. The I-20 verifies your eligibility for an F-1 Student Visa. To obtain your F-1 Visa you must take your campus-issued I-20 to an American Consulate or Embassy in your country to apply for the student visa. We strongly advise you to start your visa process as soon as you receive your I-20. All embassies and consulates require interview appointments to issue a student visa. Interviews for a visa may take a long time to schedule. Plan ahead. Bring all important documents with you to the interview. Check with the U.S. consulate for what is required for the interview. You cannot make your travel arrangements until you have been issued your visa so the earlier you handle this task the better.

For students who are applying for a student visa for the first time or have been absent from the U.S. for more than 5 months, a SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) payment of $100 is required after you receive your I-20 form (F-1 visa) or DS-1019 form (J-1 visa) and before you schedule an interview at the U.S. Consulate for your visa. Check with the U.S. consulate in your home country for required documents and procedures for your interview.

When you travel to the U.S., you must have your passport, visa, I-20/DS-2019, I-94, confirmation of SEVIS payment, and letter of admission. All international visitors and students go through US-Visit Program where a scanned fingerprint and digital photo is required. You cannot enter until 30 days before the date on your I-20/DS-2019. You must register at the school that is listed on the I-20/DS-2019.

If you are transferring from another U.S. school, you need to request that the international student advisor at your current school release your SEVIS record to the campus where you have been admitted. Your new I-20, endorsed for pending transfer, is created as soon as the release date for your SEVIS record is reached. Your new I-20 will be mailed to the address on your application. Once your new campus has confirmed your registration, the transfer process is complete.