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Admissions

Immigration-Obtaining Your Visa

OBTAINING YOUR VISA & IMMIGRATION STATUS

 

This section covers the information, process and forms needed to obtain the F-1 and J-1 visa, and immigration status; also, frequently referred to as F-1 status or J-1 status (F or J status).

Welcome Letter & Required forms 

Once you have been accepted to SUBR you will receive a few letters and forms. This will eventually will happen after you apply to SUBR and meet all the admissions requirements.

After you have been accepted, you will receive a Welcome Letter along with 4 forms for you to complete and return to your college’s Designated School Official (DSO) or Responsible Officer (RO) (this person is). These forms are needed before you can enroll at the College and so that your DSO/RO can issue the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019. You will need the Form I-20(Certificate of Eligibility) to obtain the F visa; Form DS-2019 to obtain the J Visa.

Here’s what you will need to do, upon receiving the Welcome Letter and required forms:

  1. Review the Welcome Letter and forms.
  2. Complete and return the following forms:
  • A translated to English Immunization Form.
  • The I-20 or DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility) Application Form. Review the instruction letter accompanying your I-20 or DS-2019 upon receipt.
  • The Affidavit of Support form.
  • Declaration & Certification of Finance form.

Proof of certain immunizations is needed before you can register for courses. Therefore, you will need to submit this immunization form along with any other pertinent health records. This information is needed to determine if you have the mandatory immunizations as required by the U.S. government.

The Certificate of Eligibility (for the I-20 or DS-2019) application form is needed to obtain information required to issue the actual I-20 or DS-2019. The Affidavit of Support and the Declaration & Certification of Finance forms are needed to determine if you are financially able to support yourself.

When completing the finance forms, remember to convert all figures into U.S. dollars and attach all necessary documents (e.g. bank letter/statement, sponsor’s proof of income, proof of an approval loan or evidence of a scholarship) before returning them to your advisor. 

**Please attach documents that are original and translated into English.

 

Form I-20 & DS-2019

Forms I-20 and DS-2019 are very important documents. They are needed to obtain the F or J visa, and to maintain F or J immigration status in the U.S.

You will receive instructions from your International Student Advisor on how to apply for your F/J visa, how to obtain your F/J immigration status, and what you must do after you arrive. Carefully review this letter upon receipt and before you apply to the F-1/J-1 Visa.

In addition to issuing these documents, the International Student Advisor is charged with entering the information listed on them in the DHS database known as SEVIS: Student & Exchange Visitor Information System. The information is viewed by the Department of State officials at the U.S. Consulate when you go to apply for F-1 Student Visa or J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa.

After the college has determined that you have provided the required information, including sufficient funds to support your education and living expenses, the International Student Advisor will mail the Form I-20 to you, if you are a prospective F-1 student; the Form DS- 2019 if you are a prospective J-1 student.

The Forms I-20/DS-2019 will be reviewed and verified by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer via SEVIS, each time you enter the U.S. The SEVIS database is also updated by your International Student Advisor, when you report to school, register for classes, change your major, drop below full-time status, apply for permission to work, change your address, graduate, withdraw from school, and any other related F/J requirements.

It is extremely important that you take care of your I-20 or DS-2019 forms, and do not lose them. Your I-20 or DS-2019 form, passport with the valid F-1 or J-1 visa stamp and, I-94 Admissions/Departure Card are documents critical to maintaining your F/J status. When you report to your Designated School Official (DSO) or Responsible Officer (RO) on campus your advisor will make copies of these documents and maintain them for mandatory record keeping purposes.

You will receive instructions from your International Student Advisor on how to apply for your F/J visa, how to obtain your F/J immigration status, and what you must do after you arrive. Carefully review this letter upon receipt and before you apply to the F-1/J-1 Visa.

 

SEVIS 

As a new applicant, you must pay a one-time I-901 SEVIS fee: $200 for F-1; $180 for J-1, to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security before you can apply for a visa. You will need the SEVIS fee payment receipt to apply for your visa at the U.S. Consulate in your home country.

You must pay the SEVIS fee in U.S. dollars, either online (using a credit card) or through the mail (by U.S. check, money order, or bank draft). Once payment is received, it takes three business days to be processed. This means your payment must be received at least three days before you apply for a visa at the U.S. Consulate in your country (or at least three days before your entry into the U.S. if you are a Canadian citizen).

You must have your I-20 or DS-2019 form before you can pay the SEVIS fee. After receiving the I-20 or DS-2019 form, you will need to know your SEVIS identification number. The SEVIS identification number is printed in the upper left of the I-20 and on the upper right of the DS-2019. Detailed information and instructions on paying the fee can be accessed at Student and Exchange Visitor (SEVP) I-901 SEVIS FEE WEBSITE

 

Consulate / Embassy Appointment

Once you have received your I-20 or DS-2019 and your SEVIS fee payment receipt, make an appointment at the U.S. Consulate in your home country to apply for the visa.

While Consulate procedures for the F-1 or J-1 visa may differ from country to country, the application process usually includes a short interview in English, several forms that you need to complete, and a processing fee. 

When you go to the U.S. Consulate, you must bring the following:

  • Your college acceptance letter
  • Financial form with supporting documents
  • I-20 Or DS-2019 Form
  • SEVIS Fee Payment Receipt
  • Passport, must be valid for at least six months from the date of your appointment at the consulate. Its recommended to have your passport valid for the period of time of the intended program.

If your visa application is approved, the F-1 or J-1 visa will be stamped in your passport.

 

Upon U.S Arrival

Make sure you arrive in the US no more than 30 days prior to the first day of classes. Check in with your international advisor as soon as possible before your program begins. After receiving your F or J visa, you will be ready to enter the U.S. and receive your corresponding F or J immigration status upon arrival in the U.S.

On your flight to the U.S., you will receive the I-94 Admissions/Departure to complete. Present this form, along with your passport, and I-20/DS-2019 to the U.S. Custom and Border Patrol Immigration Officer for inspection. The officer will place the F-1 or J-1 and D/S (Duration of Status) stamps on your I-20/DS-2019 form, and the I-94 card.

Please note, that when you enter the U.S., you may be subject to various security checks, including, being photographed and electronically fingerprinted. This is a routine procedure for anyone entering the U.S. with a visa and is part of the safety measures taken by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

DHS Regulations require that you enter the U.S. on the Form I-20 Or DS-2019 from SUBR or any other U.S. college that you plan to attend. If you do not do so, it is a violation of F-1 Immigration Laws and can result in loss of your student immigration status.Again, make sure you arrive in the US no more than 30 days prior to the first day of classes.

 

Reporting to SUBR

Once you arrive in the U.S., you must report to your college’s international student office within 10 days. Once you enter the U.S., you must report to International Student Services Office and meet with your International Student Advisor. Your International Student Advisor will need to validate your F/J status in SEVIS. To do so, you must provide him/her with the following original documents:

  • Passport
  • I-20 or DS-2019
  • I-94 card

Your advisor will make copies of these documents and maintain them for mandatory record keeping purposes.

Failure to report to the college that issued the I-20 or DS-2019 upon your arrival to the U.S. is a USCIS violation and can also result in loss of your student immigration status.

 

Student Orientation

It is important that you participate in all new-student orientation programs offered by your college. The International Student Advisor will provide you with specific orientation information pertinent to you. Orientations are held at the start of each semester, and offer valuable information that will help you understand the requirements for maintaining your F or J status. They also provide you with student life information that will help you adjust to your new environment and learn more about your academic requirements.