Next Steps for New International Students

Now it’s time to organize your visa application. Your I-20 or DS-2019 Form allows you to apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa. Make sure that all information on the form is correct and sign your name and date the bottom of the form. Find the visa application instructions on your embassy/consulate website and complete any necessary steps: usembassy.gov—please note, citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not need to apply for visas.

• Application: All visa applicants complete an online non-immigrant visa application form, DS-160. Instructions for completing the form and links to the form can be found at https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/.

• • F-1 students pay an application fee of $185
  • J-1 Exchange Visitors pay an application fee of $160
• I-901 Fee: All students on F-1 and J-1 visas (and their dependents) are part of a database called SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). SEVIS charges students a fee for processing immigration paperwork. There are various payment options including online with a credit card (in most countries*) at www.fmjfee.com. Keep a copy of this receipt or confirmation with you.

• • F-1 visa holders pay $350
  • J-1 visa holders pay $220

*A prospective student with a country of citizenship or country of birth of Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria or Gambia must pay by money order, Western Union Quick Pay or certified check drawn from a U.S. bank.

If you need help from Arcadia University, contact Jessica Doyle, International Student Advisor, at doylej@arcadia.edu.

Once you have received your Certificate of Eligibility and paid the I-901 fee, you can schedule your visa interview. Make an interview appointment at your nearest consulate or embassy. Plan ahead. June, July, and August are the busiest months in embassies. You may apply up to 365 days before the program start date on your I-20 and can enter the U.S. up to 30 days before your program start date. You can also check on visa wait times at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html for your specific embassy/consulate.

When you go for your interview, arrive early. The average length of the interview is three minutes or less. You could be asked questions to verify your intent to study in the US, why you want to study in the US, why you chose Arcadia University, what you will be studying and when do you plan on returning. You should answer these questions clearly and briefly and don’t be afraid to make eye contact with the interviewer. It’s understandable that students are nervous during the interview but being prepared and arriving early will help to calm nerves.

Take your passport. It should be valid for at least six months past your program end date. Also, take passport photos, visa application fees, any documents asked for by the consular of the embassy, and the following important items:

• A valid I-20 or DS-2019. Make sure your name, date and place of birth, and country of citizenship are correct and the same as they appear on your passport.Make sure the Designated School Official has signed it. Finally, sign your name with the date at the bottom of the form.
• Academic Documents. You must provide evidence that you are going to attend school. You may be asked about your commitment to education, your reasons for studying in the US, your reasons for selecting the institution you are going to, your intended field of study, and your career plans.
• Financial Documents. You must present evidence that you have adequate funds: that you and your parents (or sponsor) are willing and able to generate sufficient funds for your entire course of study, and that you would not leave school for financial reasons or take a job illegally in the US. Since each country’s documentation will be specific to that country, students are advised to read carefully the appropriate information on their local embassy/consulate’s website. Misleading information could result in a visa denial.
• Evidence of intent to return to home country. F-1 and J-1 visas are granted to students who intend to study in the US and return to their home country after they complete their education. Visa applicants can provide various documents that can prove their intent to return after their studies including but not limited to; proof of property/assets, proof of immediate relatives in the home country, letters from future employers and a personal statement regarding your intent.

Yes! If you received any sort of scholarship, you can deduct this amount from the total amount you must show. This scholarship will be listed on your I-20.

There is additional documentation required. Please reach out to the Global Engagement team to let us know if you plan to bring a spouse or child with you.