Newly Admitted Students

The ISSO Admissions team’s goal is to help newly admitted students prepare to arrive on campus. We collaborate with admissions offices across campus to review each student’s record and documents and to issue the appropriate immigration document needed to support their student visa application and future immigration status.

Process Overview

Undergraduate Students submit all the required documentation to the International Admissions office for review.  International Admissions will process student’s I-20 requests for students outside the U.S., the ISSO will create, sign, and upload the I-20s to the ISSOPortal and notify students their document is ready.  International Admissions will  submit documentation to the ISSO for review and processing for transfer or change of status students.

Graduate and Non-Degree students submit the required supporting documents to their admissions department through the applicant gateway.  Once a student has deposited and their file is complete, the admission department will create an OnBase checklist and submit a student’s record to the ISSO for review.  The admissions departments are responsible for verifying the student’s information is complete and accurate in OnBase and MyBU Student before submitting their file for review.

In most cases students’ new I-20s and DS-2019s are processed within 10 business days.  In some cases, the ISSO will need extra time to correct student data or clarify questions on their case. Transfer and Change of Level students will receive their I-20s or DS-2019s based on their transfer date or program completion date as reported by the student.

Any student who is not a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident is considered an international student. The ISSO requires an admissions file for every international student, regardless of their current immigration status. We review each student’s information to determine whether their current immigration status permits the activities associated with their program at Boston University, including full-time enrollment, on-campus employment, and off-campus academic experiences. We provide information on the available options for changing to a student immigration status

ISSO Admissions processing for Summer and Fall begins in February and processing for Spring begins in August.

ISSOPortal

The ISSO manages all students’ records in the ISSOPortal.  This software allows us to integrate data from MyBU Student and report directly into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

Each international student enrolled at BU must be manually moved into the ISSOPortal.

Once the ISSO reviews a student’s record, they will be invited into the ISSOPortal to download their immigration document or complete a required request to collect more information. Students will use the ISSOPortal throughout their program to submit requests to the ISSO for F-1 or J-1 benefits or report updated immigration documents or information.

Required Data and Documentation for Graduate and Non-Degree ISSO Processing

  • ISSO Admissions OnBase checklist
  • International Student Data Form
  • Acceptance Letter stating student’s program and start semester
  • Passport data page with the entire page visible, including the machine-readable section
  • Financial documents: Proof of one academic year of funding.  Bank statements, bank letters, loan documents, and scholarship letters are acceptable. Sponsorship form is required if bank document is not in student’s name.  Students who are in the U.S. and not seeking sponsorship are not required to submit financial documentation.
  • English proficiency evidence: TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo score report in the OnBase checklist or uploaded as a document, notation that student’s instruction was in English. If scores are below requirements, upload a waiver letter signed by admission department
  • Copies of all prior U.S. immigration documents for students currently in the U.S. in any status
  • Foreign address updated as Immigration Foreign address in MyBU Student
  • Required data fields completed: Date of Birth, City of Birth, Country of Birth, Country of Citizenship

Admit Types and Required Documents

Standard: International students outside of the U.S. who require F-1 or J-1 sponsorship must submit the documents listed above. The ISSO will review their checklist and supporting document and issue an I-20 or DS-2019.  The student will be notified to download their document  from the ISSOPortal and provided with a link to information about the visa process and protocol for entering the U.S.

Transfer: Students who are already in the U.S. on F-1 or J-1 student status sponsorship by another U.S. institution must submit:

  • Current Immigration Documents, including copies of all previous I-20s or DS-2019s; most recent I-94 arrival record, current F-1 entry visa; employment authorization document (EAD), if applicable

Students qualify for SEVIS transfer if their SEVIS record is in Active status, if their record is released to BU within the first 60 days after their program completion or end of OPT, and if their BU program of study will start within 5 months of their previous program completion or end of OPT.

After reviewing their admission file, the ISSO will contact the transfer student directly to request information about their SEVIS release date. A new I-20 cannot be issued until their SEVIS record has been released to BU. Find more details about transferring SEVIS records for admission.

Change of Level: Students who are already studying at BU and have been admitted to a new program at BU must submit:

  • Current Immigration Documents, including copies of all previous I-20s or DS-2019s; most recent I-94 arrival record, current student entry visa; employment authorization document (EAD), if applicable

Students qualify for a Change of Level I-20 if their SEVIS record is in Active status, if their BU program of study will start within 5 months of their previous program completion or end of OPT, and if their new I-20 is issued within first 60 days after their program completion or end of OPT.  J-1 students must be processed within 30 days after their official program completion.

After reviewing their admissions file, the ISSO will contact Change of Level students directly to instruct them to complete the Program Completion Confirmation request.  This will document when the student will complete their activities associated with their current BU program.  More information on changing degree levels can be found on our page about changing to a new program.

Other: Students who are currently in the U.S. (or will enter the U.S.) in immigration status other than F-1 or J-1 must submit:

  • Current Immigration Documents which may include: most recent I-94 arrival record; current entry visa; employment authorization document (EAD) if applicable; Form I-797 receipt or approval notice.

After reviewing their admissions file, the ISSO will contact the student already in the U.S. in an “other” status to inform them of their options to change status to F-1.  Some students will be required to change status to participate in their new academic program, while for others it will be optional. Read more about options for incoming students to change status.

Training for New Admissions Staff

The ISSO provides annual training for the Graduate Admissions Working Group prior to the start of the Summer/Fall admissions cycle.  If you are a new hire or think you would benefit from additional training on the ISSO Admissions process, reach out to Lauren Snow to coordinate a training time.

To understand how students are guided through the ISSO admissions process, review the Pre-Arrival sections of our website, including information for incoming students about SEVIS transfers, changing programs at BU, and changing immigration status.