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.

New Student Immigration Sponsorship Overview

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate Students should continue to work with the International Admissions to submit all the required documentation to request the I-20 or DS-2019 for student immigration sponsorship. International Admissions will continue to support undergraduate students throughout their visa application until they arrive on campus.

Graduate and Non-Degree Students

Graduate and Non-Degree Students should submit the required documents to request the I-20 or DS-2019 for student immigration sponsorship to the admissions office through the applicant gateway.  Once a student has accepted the offer of admission and deposited (if applicable) and their documentation is complete, the admission department will forward an electronic file to the ISSO for review.

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 enrolling full-time or part-time, 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

Steps for Graduate and Non-Degree Students

  1. Apply to your academic program of choice
    • Consult program’s website for admissions requirements and application process
    • Each graduate school or college at BU has its own admissions office
  2. Accept your offer of admission & pay deposit (if applicable)
  3. Admissions office creates ISSO file
    • The admissions office for your program will review your submitted documents and once complete, submit an electronic file to the ISSO to request immigration processing
  4. ISSO review & immigration processing
    • ISSO will review your file and create and if appropriate, create an I-20 or DS-2019 immigration document
    • If your record is incomplete or additional processing is required, you will be contacted by the ISSO or your admissions office with further instructions
  5. Receiving your I-20 or DS-2019 immigration document
    • You will receive an invitation to your BU email address to log into the ISSOPortal with instructions to download your I-20 or DS-2019
    • Once you have your immigration document, you should pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee at fmjfee.com to begin your student visa application
  6. Apply for your student entry visa from the US consular office in your home country
  7. Prepare to enter the U.S.
    • Review the ISSO information on entering the U.S. in student status
    • Plan to travel to the U.S. no more than 30 days before the start date on your immigration document.
    • Be prepared to show your passport, visa, immigration document, and financial documents at the border.

Students Already in the U.S.

Procedures will be slightly different for students already in the U.S. in student status or in another immigration status. Review the following:

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.