Overview of Visas and Immigration Regulations

Visa

For many countries, the visa is the document allowing entry and giving permission for the time to remain in a country. For the U.S., the visa is only to knock on the door to the U.S. The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Links to an external site. officer at the airport, seaport, or land border determines whether you can enter by looking at your documents.

Snapshot of United States F1 Visa  

Source: https://ischoolconnect.com/blog/getting-usa-f1-student-visa/ Links to an external site.

 

I-94

If you are allowed in the U.S., this document identifies your status and how long you can remain in the U.S. Your I-94 (choose "Get Most Recent I-94") can be found and retrieved online on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.

Snapshot of student's I-94 receipt  

Source: https://isss.emory.edu/students/immigration_documents/i94.html Links to an external site.

I-20

The I-20 is the document issued by schools in the U.S. to individuals who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents to attend school in the U.S. This document is used to apply for an F-1 visa at the U.S. Consulate.

DS-2019

The DS-2019 is similar to the I-20 but is used to apply for the J-1 visa. Those in J-1 status are referred to as exchange visitors and the J-1 visa has many categories with different rules. One category is the J-1 exchange visitor student.

Most students get the I-20 for the F-1 visa.

SEVIS

SEVIS is the Student Exchange Visitor Information System, a database used by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to maintain information for F and J holders. Your I-20 for the F-1 visa or the DS-2019 for the J-1 visa is issued by ISSA through SEVIS.

Any violations of the F or J rules are recorded in SEVIS and may result in terminations of your SEVIS record which is your legal authority to be in the U.S.

When you receive the I-20 or DS-2019, you must pay two fees before applying for the visa. The fees vary depending on your status.

  1. The I-901 SEVIS fee (F-1 student fee - $350; J-1 student fee - $220).
  2. The Visa Application Processing fee is currently $185.

The International Student Life Cycle Graphic

life cycle.png

Download Text version

The information given below provides a detailed explanation of the International Student Life Cycle image.

 

Step 1: Apply to a School

You can only attend schools authorized to issue an I-20 or DS-2019 for F or J visa. If a school cannot issue an I-20 or DS-2019, you cannot attend that school. In some cases, a student may attend a school with a DS-2019 issued by an administrative agency authorized to issue DS-2019s.

Step 2: Obtain a Certificate of Eligibility

The school is required to verify English proficiency, evaluate admission eligibility, and the ability to cover full costs of educational expenses before issuing the I-20 or DS-2019 (The Certificate of Eligibility).

Step 3: Pay the SEVIS fee

www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html# Links to an external site. 

This is a government mandated fee. The current fee for an F-1 visa is $350; the J-1 student visa, $220.

Step 4: Apply for Student Visa

The DS-160 visa application Links to an external site. can be filled out online. The visa application fee is currently $185.
After submitting the online application, a receipt will be displayed. Print this receipt and keep it because there is a barcode specifically for you to schedule an appointment with the consular post. Processing times and procedures will vary at consular posts.


Make sure you arrive at your scheduled consular appointment on time with the required documents. Check your consular post Links to an external site. for specific instructions. Be prepared to explain what your study plans. Be truthful on your application as well as during the interview.

Step 5: Arrive in the United States

Go to the Penn State website Links to an external site. for your campus location and make travel arrangements. If you cannot find the information, contact the international student adviser for your campus (see Campus Contacts Links to an external site.) to inquire about the closest airports.

Make sure to bring enough money for your initial expenses. Remember that you must declare $10,000 or more on your Customs Declaration card. There is no tax on this amount but it must be declared. If you don’t, it could be confiscated by the U.S. government for failure to declare.

Step 6: Maintain Status During Program Study Links to an external site.

Complete the Mandatory Immigration Check-in (MICI) in iStart  Links to an external site.It is required so that your SEVIS record is activated. You can start MICI before your arrival, however; you must complete the entire process after your entry to the U.S.

As long as you follow the federal regulations for your status, you should not have any problems with your SEVIS record. If you violate the rules, your SEVIS record must be terminated and you will be required to leave the U.S.

Step 7: Explore Post Graduation Opportunities

Determine what your next step is after completion of your program of study. You have a 60-day grace period if you are in F-1 status and a 30-day grace period if you are in J-1 status. Options include the following:

      • Continued study
      • Practical Training
      • Returning home