Use the Study in the States school search page to make sure the school you are interested in is SEVP-certified. You can also view the SEVP 101 tutorial to learn more about the various U.S. government roles in the international education process.

After your admission to a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school, follow these steps to apply for your F-1 student visa (students or scholars on exchange will follow a different pathway to apply as a J-1 Exchange Visitor):

• Review your Form I-20 (for F-visa)

Check to ensure that all information is correct. After being accepted to a SEVP-certified school and providing evidence of financial support along with any other supporting documents, that school’s designated school official (DSO) will send you a Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status.”  If you apply to and are admitted to multiple universities or colleges, you may receive a Form I-20 from every school that accepts you. However, you may only use one document for the school you plan on attending to get your visa and for entry into the US.

 Note that you MUST attend the school with whose documents you entered the US. If you decide later that you wish to transfer to another university, you should talk about with your international student advisor once you have begun your studies in the US.

• Make sure your passport is valid. 

It is recommended that your passport be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date your program ends.

• Pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee.

All international F-1 students must pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee. Only pay your fee at FMJFee.com.

For more information, view the Form I-901 Fee Payment tutorial.

• Apply for your visa to travel to the United States. 

You will apply for a visa to travel to the United States at your designated U.S. embassy or consulate. Make sure you bring all required documents with you to your interview.

Once you have received your visa and made your travel arrangements, notify your institution as soon as possible of your planned arrival date(s) and time so they can coordinate your arrival on campus.

Now you are ready to come to the US!

When you arrive and enter the US through a Port of Entry , your documents will be reviewed by an officer and stamped for entry into the US. To help you with the process the US DHS has provided students with a guide to arrival into the US.

Once you have cleared US immigration processing and US customs (where they may also check your baggage and confirm what you are bringing into the US), follow the instructions your university or college provided you with to travel to campus. Always keep the 24/7 phone number your university or college provided you so that you can contact them if you have any problems during travel or once you have arrived in the US.

Remember that once you enter the US you must report in person to the institution that issued your documents for entry into the US.