Immigration Information

Immigration Information for F-1 Student Visas

English Language and International Programs is authorized under Federal law to enroll non-immigrant students.

Due to visa application deadlines, we encourage our students to apply two months before the start of the program. We will process your application and mail your admission packet within 24 hours of receiving your completed forms.

After you are accepted into our program, you will be sent an admission packet with a SEVIS I-20 that you will use to apply for an F-1 student visa. Please see the list below for detailed instructions on applying for an F-1 visa.

Your visa consists of a stamp in your passport from the U.S. Consulate. This shows that the Consulate has reviewed your documents and recommends your admission into the U.S. The visa does not guarantee that you will be admitted into the country, but shows that you are allowed to apply as a student for admission at a U.S. port of entry. The expiration date of your visa is the last day that you can enter the U.S. using this particular visa. This date does not reflect the amount of time you can spend in U.S.

With an F-1 visa, you may enter the U.S. up to 30 days before your program start date. When you arrive at the U.S. Port of Entry, the immigration officer will staple your I-94 (the white form that you will be required to fill out on the airplane) into your passport. The I-94 form shows how long you are allowed to stay in the U.S. With an F-1 visa you will be admitted for "duration of status" (D/S). This is the time during which you are studying full-time and following all the regulations of your visa status. "Duration of status" permits you to transfer to different programs and to continue your studies as long as you are pursuing an educational goal. There is no final date or specific expiration of your stay in F-1 status as long as you maintain your full-time student status.

Please note that the I-20 is an important document. This electronically issued certificate allows you to apply for a visa and to enter and re-enter the U.S. It also shows what, where and when you are studying and it must be current at all times. ELI is required to report any changes you make to your study program, your name, or your address to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. When your study program ends, you are allowed 60-days to either leave the U.S. or transfer to another school. If you plan to study past your program end date, you must talk to one of our immigration advisors before that date.

If, while studying with us, you plan to travel out of the U.S. for a short vacation and return to ELI, make sure that page 3 of your I-20 is properly endorsed. When you re-enter the United States you must present the I-20, a valid F-1 visa, and your passport. If returning from Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands (except Cuba) after a visit of less than 30 days, your visa need not be valid; however, you will still be required to show a properly endorsed I-20 and a valid passport.

It is your responsibility to be informed about your visa requirements, and to maintain your status. Information on the requirements for F-1 students is provided during the orientation offered by ELI each session and you’re always welcome to speak with one of our Immigration Advisors if you have any questions.

For more details regarding immigration regulations for F-1 student visas, please see the following U.S. Government links:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly know as the INS):
http://www.uscis.gov

SEVIS Information from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/index.htm

U.S. Department of State:
http://www.travel.state.gov

U.S. Visa Homepage:
http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov

U.S. Department of State (lists American Embassy and Consulate links worldwide):
http://usembassy.state.gov

Steps for Applying for an F-1 Student Visa

1. Contact your local U.S. consulate or embassy to inquire about the visa procedures for your country. A list of consulates and embassies can be found at http://usembassy.state.gov/.

2. Upon receipt of your Form I-20, make an appointment for a visa interview as instructed by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

3. Complete the following forms:

• DS-156 Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form
• DS-158 Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant
• If you are a male between the ages of 16 and 45, DS-157 Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application.

4. Pay the visa application fee as described by your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

5. Pay the SEVIS Fee. If you are applying for initial attendance at ELI, to change your status or filing for reinstatement, you must pay the $100 SEVIS processing fee. This fee must be paid such that your payment is processed no later than three business days in advance of your visa interview appointment. You can submit this form and pay this fee electronically at www.fmjfee.com with a credit card. You can also mail the form and fee directly to the Department of Homeland Security and pay with a check or international money order drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. dollars.

6. Prepare and bring to your visa interview the following:

• A passport valid for at least six months
• Form I-20 (sign the form under Item 11)
• ELI admission letter
• Completed visa applications (DS-156, DS-158, and, if applicable, DS-157)
• Two 2” x 2” photographs in the prescribed format A receipt for the visa application fee
• A receipt for the SEVIS fee. If you have not received an official receipt in the mail showing payment and you paid the fee electronically, the consulate will accept the temporary receipt you printed from your computer. If you do not have a receipt, the consulate may be able to verify your payment electronically if your fee payment was processed at least three business days before your interview.
• Financial evidence that shows you or your parents, if they are sponsoring you, have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period you intend to study.
• Any supplemental information that proves your intent to return to your home country upon finishing your educational program in the U.S. This may include proof of property, family, or other ties to your community.

7. Remain calm and answer all the Visa Officer’s questions to you openly and honestly.

8. Contact ELI after you receive your visa to schedule your airport transportation. For initial attendance in a program of study, plan your travel to arrive in the U.S. no earlier than 30 days in advance of the program start date on the Form I-20.