Applying for an F-1 Visa
To enter the U.S. as an F-1 student, you will need to obtain an F-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
If you need an earlier visa appointment to facilitate your arrival at the beginning of the semester, you can try to submit a request for an expedited visa appointment. You usually need to schedule a regular visa appointment before you can request an expedited date. Please note that expedited appointments will only be granted at the Consular/Embassy Section’s discretion.
How to get an I-20 to begin study at W&M or VIMS
- Once you have been admitted to the university and paid your deposit, you will receive an email from our online system iStart.
- Through iStart, you will complete an online form and upload copies of your passport identity page (if you have one) and financial documentation (i.e., proof of funding).
- The request will be electronically endorsed by the admissions office and then routed to the Office of International Students, Scholars & Programs (ISSP).
- ISSP will notify you when the I-20 is issued.
Once you have your I-20, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Pay the SEVIS FeeBefore applying for your F-1 visa, you must pay a SEVIS Fee of $350. You can pay this electronically or by mail, but payment must be received at least 3 days before the visa interview, or for Bermudan or Canadian citizens, 3 days before you enter the U.S. For more information on the SEVIS fee, read ICE I-901 FAQ. If you previously paid the SEVIS fee, and your F-1 record has stayed active, you do not need to pay it again. If you are transferring your immigration record from another school, you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee. For more information about this, contact [[globe, ISSP]]. Bermudan or Canadian CitizensBermudan or Canadian citizens do not need to apply for a student (F-1 or J-1) or dependent (F-2 or J-2) visa; they may simply enter with the I-20, proof of citizenship (i.e., passport or driver's license and birth certificate), admission letter, SEVIS Fee payment receipt, and evidence of financial support. They will however, have to pay the SEVIS fee at least 3 days before entering the U.S. The SEVIS fee cannot be paid at the border. |
Step 2: Schedule your visa interview appointmentInstructions will be on the website of the embassy or consulate at which you apply. This is typically handled by a call center or service that contracts with the embassy. U.S. State Department policy requires that embassies and consulates give students priority in visa appointments. As a part of the process, you will pay a visa application fee and sometimes a visa reciprocity fee, which varies by country, and is rarely applicable. |
Step 3: Apply for the VisaAt the visa application appointment, the officer will conduct a brief interview of you and review your documents. To obtain the F-1 visa, you will need the following documents:
If you do not receive your I-20 back after your appointment, contact ISSP for a replacement, as you will need this when traveling to the U.S. Additional DocumentsNew Students will need:
Continuing Students will need:
Students on OPT will need:
Check with your U.S. Consulate to see if they require any additional documents. Security ChecksSome applicants may be subject to a security check as part of your visa application, which may delay getting your visa. This is often referred to as "administrative processing." While most security checks are completed within a few weeks, (the U.S. State Department works with the other federal agencies involved to expedite them), in rare cases they can take several months. Various factors may make you more likely to have a security check, such as your country of citizenship, your gender, and the field you are studying. Applying for a visa after Changing StatusIf you are currently in the U.S. in another status and plan to change status to F-1, please see Changing Status to F-1 for more information. If you have already changed status within the U.S. (e.g., H-4 to F-1) and this will be your first subsequent F-1 visa application, you should carry with you your I-797 Change of Status Approval Notice as well as documentation of your previous status with you (e.g., old H-4 Approval Notice). Applying as a "Third Country" NationalMost students will apply for their F-1 visas in their country of citizenship but an applicant may apply for their F-1 visa at any U.S. embassy or consulate around the word. This is called a "third country" national application. However, please consider the following before deciding to pursue such an application:
Authorization of your F-1 VisaIf the consular officer grants you the visa, the officer will instruct you on when and where you can pick it up. The visa will have an expiration date; however, the expiration date on the visa is not the date by which you must leave the U.S. You may stay in the U.S. on an expired F-1 as long as you maintain your immigration status by being in possession of a valid I-20 and follow all immigration rules. If you have left the U.S. and your F-1 visa has expired, you will need to apply for a new one to re-enter the U.S. Bermudan and Canadian citizens do not need a F-1 visa to enter the U.S. You may stay in the U.S. until the completion of your program (see program end date on I-20) plus 60 days (e.g., grace period). During the 60 days grace period, you may travel in the U.S., prepare for your return home, etc; however, you cannot work during that period - even on-campus. |
Entry to the US
On your first entry to the US with your I-20, you cannot enter earlier than 30 days before the start date on your I-20. For travel after that, (e.g., summer break), there is no restriction. In addition, on your first entry to the US with your W&M I-20, the name of the school on the F-1 visa (unless exempt from visa requirements as for Canadian citizens) must match the name of the school on the I-20.
