Information for International Students

You will require the I-20 form from FVCC at the time of your appointment. Do not make an appointment until you have received the I-20 or are sure that you will have the I-20 in time for the appointment. While the U.S. consulate will not issue the student entry visa until 120 days before the reporting date on the I-20, you should apply for your visa as soon as possible. Check the following websites for more information on visa appointments.

• U.S. Consulate
• Visa Appointment Wait Times
• Potential Delays in Visa Issuance and at Ports of Entry

Find the U.S. consulate at which you will apply at www.usembassy.state.gov and carefully read its instructions for applying for a visa. Application procedures and requirements vary, so be sure to pay attention to the specifics for the consulate at which you apply. Make a list of documentation required for the interview, and make all fee payments as instructed on the consulate’s website.

Your I-20 indicates that we have created a record for you in SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) a national database for international students and scholars. Your unique assigned SEVIS ID number is in the upper right corner of the first page. Check to see that all information is correct and that your expected completion date is in the future.

If you have informed us that your dependents (husband, wife, or children under the age of 21) will come with you to the U.S., each of them will receive their own “dependent” I-20 needed for applying for their F-2 visas and entering the U.S. in F-2 status. If your family name is different from your dependents, be prepared to show documents that prove your relationship.

When you apply for a visa or enter the U.S., your passport must be valid for at least 6 months into the future. Some countries are exempt from this requirement and have their passports automatically extended for 6 months which means that you can use your passport up until the written expiration date. This rule applies to subsequent entries to the U.S. while traveling as a student.

Go to SEVP Fee Processing and follow the instructions. You will need the I-20 available because the SEVIS number is required. Print copies of the receipt–you will need one with you for the visa interview and you should keep one for your own records. You can only access the receipt at the time of payment so be sure your printer is working before paying the fee.

If you have been a student in the U.S. and are transferring schools or beginning a program at a new level of study, it is possible you may not have to pay the SEVIS fee. Refer to information posted at SEVIS website.

Everyone applying for a non-immigrant visa must complete a DS-160 form. Be sure to print and keep the DS-160 barcode page.

Procedures may vary from country to country, and even post to post within the same country. Note that application and issuance fees are based on reciprocity and generally reflect your country’s policies in granting visa privileges to visiting U.S. students.

Check Nonimmigrant Visa Photograph Requirements for details.

You will be applying for an F-1 student visa, a non-immigrant classification. According to U.S. immigration law, “Every alien shall be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for admission, that he is entitled to a non-immigrant status.” This means you need to establish that you have no intention of staying in the U.S. permanently, but are coming here for a temporary purpose, i.e. to pursue your educational objective. While the consular officers are aware that it may be difficult for students to demonstrate strong professional and economic ties to their home countries, you should still bear this in mind as you prepare for your interview.

In preparation for your interview, please read the following:

• Applying for a Student or Exchange Visitor Visa Published by Education USA, a division of the U.S. Department of State
• Ten Points to Remember When Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa published by NAFSA: Association of International Educators, in consultation with the U.S. State Department. Although published in 1997, these general points provide good guidance and still are relevant today.

1. A passport valid for at least six months
2. Form I-20 (sign the form under Item 11)
3. School admission letter
4. Completed DS-160 visa application barcode page.
5. A photograph in the prescribed format (see Step 7)
6. A receipt for the visa application fee
7. A receipt for the SEVIS fee. If you have not received an official receipt in the mail showing payment and you paid the fee electronically, the consulate will accept the temporary receipt you printed from your computer. If you do not have a receipt, the consulate may be able to see your payment electronically if your fee payment was processed at least 3 business days before your interview.
8. Financial evidence that shows you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period you intend to study.
9. Any information that demonstrates your intention to return to your home country after finishing your studies in the U.S. This may include proof of property, family, or other ties to your community.

Check your passport to be sure you obtained an F-1 visa, and that any dependents obtained an F-2 visa. Also, be certain that the I-20 was returned to you, as you must have the original with you when you arrive in the United States. Sometimes the document is returned to you in a sealed envelope, which must be presented to the immigration inspector when you arrive.