Immigration Information

Before you arrive in the United States

How to Obtain Your Student Visa

If you are applying for a student visa for the first time, an in-person interview is usually required. Don't wait until the last minute! You are encouraged to apply for your visa as soon as you know when you plan to travel. Planning and getting and appointment can take several weeks. You can call the embassy or go to the embassy web site for information and instructions.

All international students and exchange visitors applying for F-1 and J-1 visas will be required to pay a new $100 SEVIS fee. This fee must be paid at least three business days PRIOR TO going to the U.S. embassy or consulate for the visa interview. (There is no fee for F-2 and J-2 spouses.) See SEVIS Fee Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

What to Bring With You for the Interview at the Visa Consulate

Applicants for a student visa must provide the following items when they go to the Embassy for   the interview:

  • Proof of payment of the new SEVIS fee.
  • A Form I-20 (included with your acceptance letter from the IEI)
  • A completed DS-158 and DS-156 non-immigrant visa application with a photo of each person   applying (forms available at embassy)
  • A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your expected stay in the US
  • A receipt for the visa processing fee for each applicant
  • Financial documents (such as bank books, account statements, tax documents) that show you have sufficient funds (money) to cover tuition and living expenses during your time in the US. The embassy official might need evidence that there are no restrictions on the transfer of funds that would prevent the funds from being made available during the projected stay.
  • Proof of your relationship to your spouse and children if you are married and/or have children

If you are applying for an F-1 visa or any non-immigrant visa, you MUST

  • Show evidence that you have strong economic, social, family, or career ties to your home country.
  • Provide proof that  you have a residence in your home country
  • Convince the official that you intend to intend to leave the US when your course of study is completed

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How to Prepare for Your Visa Interview

  • In addition to the documents you present, you need to listen carefully to the questions the embassy official might ask you.         
  • Even if the official asks you a question that you think is strange, you must answer it. The official is usually trying to decide whether you intend to stay in the US after you have completed your program. If the official thinks you plan to stay in the US, he or she must refuse your visa.
  • In addition, you can prepare reasons why you want to study in the US. Here are a few possible ones.
  • To promote your professional development - How will you use English when you get back to your country? Why is it important for you to know English?
  • To support further academic studies - Do you intend to study another subject once you have finished your English program? Which subject?
  • To obtain personal knowledge of American language and culture - English can be learned more efficiently through interaction with native speakers.
  • To experience high-quality instruction -Talk about your choice of English program: show that you know about the University or College that you have applied to, and be able to explain your choice if you can. Mention that some of the most advanced teaching methods and technical help in language learning can be found in the US.
  • You should not give reasons such as:
    • your friends are there
    • you have family in the US
    • you like American movies
    • Other unimportant reason

The most frequent reason for a visa refusal is that the official thinks you may not return to your home country.

Note: It is not possible to say exactly what evidence to bring in order to convince the official that you will go home. Applicants circumstances vary greatly. Remember that an official has to see as many as 200 people a day. Officials do not have a lot of time to discuss your application; they must make a quick decision. Help them by being completely prepared.

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What to Do if the Official Refuses to Give You a Visa

  • Notify the IEI via e-mail () and tell us the reason for the refusal.
  • Consular officers have the responsibility for issuance or denial of visas.  If your visa is denied, you can re-apply.
  • If you decide to re-apply, you should be prepared to show additional evidence or explain in a different way how your situation has changed since the first application.
  • The most frequent reason for a visa refusal is that the official thinks you may not return to your home country. Before your next interview:
      • Think again about your ties to your home country: family relationships, job, home or farm ownership, other commitments.
      • Is there any additional evidence that you could present? 
      • Did you explain your situation clearly the first time?
      • Did you answer all the questions?
  • You should try to apply at least twice. If you are refused a second time, the probability that a third try will work is not very high.

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After you arrive in the United States

If you entered the U.S. on a student-visa (F1), you are required to be a full-time student.

F1 Responsibilities: To maintain F1 status, you must do the following:

  • Attend the school you are authorized to attend. In this case, the IEI.

  • Pursue a full-course of study: That simply means that as a full-time student you must attend your classes. If you fail to receive an attendance certificate at the end of the term, then you will not be considered a full-time student and will thus jeopardize your immigration status.

  • Make normal progress towards completing the course of study. Again, attend your classes.

  • Pay attention to the completion date on your I-20. If you cannot finish your studies by the completion date, and you have maintained your status, you must apply for an extension before the expiration date. See the International Student Adviser.

  • Maintain a valid passport.

  • Follow procedures for transferring from one school to another.

  • Report a change of address or name change to the International Student Adviser within 10 days of the change.

  • Within 60 days of completing the course of study, depart from the U.S., apply for a change of status, or transfer to another school.
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End of Semester Responsibilities

Once the IEI term has ended, you need to have a clear plan of what you are going to do afterwards. You also need to inform us of your decision. Near the end of the semester, we hand out a future plans form in  your class to help you do this.

As an F1 student, you have 3 options after the term ends: 

  • continue studying at the IEI
  • transfer to another school and continue studying
  • return home.

What do you need to do for each option?

  • Continue studying at the IEI:  simply register in the IEI office.
  • Transfer to another school  (university, community college, etc.): If you have been a full-time student in good standing during the semester, you have a grace period of 60 days to transfer to another F-authorized school.  The 60 days begins on the last day of the term.  Simply tell us where you are going and when on the future plans form given to you in class. Also, sometime during the last week of IEI, you need to verify your transfer information with Pam Fernandez, the international student adviser.  Stop by her office (101 IEI Bldg.) during that last week.
  • 3.  Return home: If you have been a full-time student in good standing during the semester and are planning on returning home, you have a grace period of 60 days to prepare for your departure from the United States. The 60 days begins on the last day of the term. Please be aware that you can travel within the U.S. during this time but you cannot travel outside the U.S. and re-enter the country on your F1 visa. (see Traveling below)

If you have not maintained a full course of study (no attendance certificate), you are not eligible for the 60 day grace period. You must leave IMMEDIATELY at the end of the program.

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Traveling

If you are planning on traveling OUTSIDE the U.S. after the IEI term ends...

  • Travel outside U.S. and returning to IEI: If you are traveling outside the U.S. after one IEI term ends and returning to the IEI for the next term, you will need to get a letter from the front office stating your intentions. To do this you must first register before receiving the letter. See Rhonda, the secretary in the main office, about this.
  • Travel outside U.S. and transferring to another program: If you are traveling outside the U.S. after the IEI term and returning to another program for the next term, you will need to reenter the U.S. on the I-20 issued by the new school.
  • Travel outside and NOT returning to U.S. to study: Don’t make plans to travel outside the United States after the IEI term unless you are going directly home from you trip. You CANNOT reenter the U.S. on an F1 visa UNLESS you are going to continue studying.  However, if you have a valid tourist visa (B2), you can reenter on that visa.

 

HOLIDAY BREAKS:  If you are traveling OUTSIDE the U.S. during the semester – that is, during Thanksgiving or Spring breaks, please stop by the front office so the secretary in the main office can give you a letter of attendance to carry with you.  If you have to travel outside the U.S. for other reasons during the semester, please inform the International Student Adviser.


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