Visa Information and Instructions
Use the following information to determine your immigration status
and which forms you need to submit in order to register for Summer
Term courses at Boston University. We encourage you to contact
us with your questions.
I am coming to the U.S. to study full-time at Boston University
this summer.
International students who are coming to the United States for
the purpose of studying full-time at Boston University during
the summer must have an F-1 student visa. In order to apply for
a student visa, you must obtain an I-20 from Boston University.
The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) will provide
you with an I-20 after you submit the following registration materials
by mail or fax to the Summer Term office:
- International Student Data Form
Download the form or submit online.
- Summer Immigration Document Application
Download the form or submit online.
- Letter from your financial sponsor stating your name, their
name, their relationship to you, and their willingness to cover
all of your education expenses at Boston University for the
duration of your summer study (this letter is not necessary
if you will be the one paying for your expenses)
- A letter from your financial institution stating that you
(or your sponsor) have sufficient funds to cover your summer
expenses
- Registration
form for Summer 1 and/or Summer 2
(Note: International students must be registered for eight credits
if studying for one summer session, and 12 credits if studying
for both sessions)
- Copy of valid passport
- Health
Immunization Record*
The Summer Term office will send you your I-20 by courier (FedEx
or DHL) within approximately ten days of receipt of your completed
registration materials. When you receive your I-20, you will be
officially registered for summer courses, and will have the materials
you need to apply for your student visa. To apply for the F-1
student visa, please follow the instructions provided by the International
Student and Scholars Office.
I am currently in the U.S. and enrolled in another program
or at another university in F-1 immigration status and will not
continue in that program.
Current F-1 students whose current I-20s will expire or whose
programs will end before enrolling in Summer Term must also apply
for an I-20 from Boston University. See above for necessary registration
materials.
I am currently in the U.S. and enrolled in another program
or at another university in F-1 immigration status and intend to
return to the same school in the fall.
Current F-1 students enrolled full-time in an academic program
in the spring, and who will be enrolled in the same academic program
in the fall, do not need a new I-20 from Boston University to
study during the summer. They can study either part-time or full-time
during their summer break from their current institution.
To register for Summer Term courses, international students with
valid I-20s and valid F-1 student status must submit the following
registration materials by mail or fax:
I will be traveling in the United States during Summer
Term and want to take a course.
Students may not study under a visitor immigration classification
if their main purpose for being in the country is to study at
Boston University for the summer. If the main purpose for being
in the country is travel or tourism, you may take one course at
Boston University during the summer. However, it is recommended
that all students study full-time under the F-1 student status.
To register for Summer Term courses, visitors must submit the
following by fax or mail:
*Health Immunization Record
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires all full-time or part-time
international students to submit proof of immunization against the
following communicable diseases: measles, mumps, rubella (MMR),
tetanus, hepatitis-B and (bacterial) meningitis. Your health care
provider can provide proof of vaccination against these diseases,
with dates of your immunization, or they can complete the Immunization
Record form. This information must be received before you can
complete your course registration.
If you are not sure which instructions apply to you, please contact
us - we're happy to help you with your questions.
