Applying for a Student Visa

Ensure your passport is valid at least six months beyond your planned US entry date to avoid issues.

Accurate details on your immigration documents are crucial. Review all that data on your I-20 or DS-2019 carefully. If you find any errors, contact the ISSO right away.

• Your name and date of birth must match your passport exactly.
• Your assigned SEVIS ID number is in the upper left corner of page 1 of your I-20 or upper righthand corner of your DS-2019 Your SEVIS number is a 10-digit number preceded by an “N.”
• While we can send the SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 to you electronically via the ISSOPortal, you must print the document, sign and date the student attestation on page one, and present the printed document when applying for your entry visa and/or traveling to the U.S.
• Review your dependent’s I-20 or DS-2019 for accuracy and contact the ISSO if corrections are required.

Most F-1 and J-1 students need to pay the SEVIS fee and have confirmation of payment before they apply for their entry visa. Review the ISSO’s SEVIS Fee information for details on how to pay the fee.

Important reminders:

• You must include your unique SEVIS ID number as well as the school code found on the I-20 or the program code found on the DS-2019.
• Print a copy of the I-901 SEVIS fee receipt to bring to your entry visa appointment and when entering the U.S.
• Although Canadian citizens are not required to apply for an entry visa, they must still pay the SEVIS fee.
• If you have been accepted to more than one school, we strongly recommend that you determine which school you will attend before paying the SEVIS fee. Although SEVIS allows you to transfer your SEVIS fee to a different SEVIS ID number, it could complicate a visa application and should be avoided when possible.

Complete the DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Application online.

• The DS-160 is the start of your official F-1or J-1 immigration record with U.S. federal authorities. Review the form carefully and take your time answering all questions. The answers you provide, and any information omitted on the DS-160 may be reviewed by government agencies even after your entry visa is issued. No other person should complete this form on your behalf.
• If you have concerns about how to complete this form, you could seek legal assistance.
• The DS-160 will ask you to list all social media accounts you have used in the past five years. As part of the Department of State’s social media vetting procedures, you must set all social media accounts to “public” prior to your visa appointment.
• Review the fees required for the DS-160.

• Citizens of all countries (with the exception of Canada) are required to obtain an F-1 or J-1 entry visa to enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status. See the following government websites for more information on the student visa:
  • U.S. Department of State: Student Visa
  • U.S. Department Homeland Security: Study in the States
• You must schedule a visa application interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate your country of citizenship or residence. You must be able to demonstrate residence in the country where they are applying, if it is not your country of citizenship. If you have questions about applying in your country of residence, contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate directly.
• We recommend that you begin your visa application as soon as possible. Visa appointment wait-times vary based on the time of year and the U.S. Consular Post where you will be applying. At some locations, it can take a few months to schedule a visa appointment as well as time for the application review and approval.
• Citizens of some countries are only eligible for a single-entry visa with a 3-month validity period. To check if this rule applies to you, please contact a U.S. Consular Post in your country of citizenship. If this rule applies to you, you must schedule an appointment within three months of your expected entry date. F-1 and J-1 students are eligible for entry into the U.S. no more than 30 days before the program start date documented on the I-20 or DS-2019.
• The length of a student’s entry visa is determined by reciprocity agreements between the U.S. and the student’s country of citizenship. Review the the U.S. Department of State reciprocity information by country. Consular officers have final discretion in entry visa length while processing your visa application.

• Review the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you have scheduled your visa appointment for country-specific requirements.
• You will need to present the following in addition to list of required documents specified by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and you specific consular post:
  • Admission Letter from Boston University
  • Printed copy of your signed I-20 or DS-2019
  • Copy of your SEVIS fee payment
  • Original financial documents proving the availability of sufficient funds to cover tuition and estimated living expenses as reflected on your I-20 or DS-2019
• Set all social media accounts to “public” and make note of all social media identifiers to be reported on the DS-160.

Bring all the required documents listed on the U.S. Department of State website.

Be aware that you will not be permitted to bring electronic devices to your appointment. Carry printed copies of all the required documents. You may be required to leave all personal items outside the consular post during your appointment.

During your visa interview, the Consular Officer will assess whether you qualify for an F-1 or J-1 visa by considering your academic preparation, your financial security, and your English-language ability. The officer will also evaluate whether you pose a national security risk to the United States, whether your intention to study in the U.S. is “temporary”. The visa interview is often a very brief encounter. It is important to be well prepared and make a strong first impression so that you have the best chance of obtaining your entry visa.

Best practices for a successful interview:

• The documentation required for the visa application differs from consulate to consulate. Make certain to review checklists on the website for the consulate where you will be applying to ensure you have all requested documentation.
• The visa interview is usually a very brief exchange (often just a minute or two) at a consular window — sometimes in a crowded hall. Generally, the consular officer will be familiar with the details of your application before you are called and will ask a few questions to evaluate your intentions in the U.S. and your visa eligibility before making a decision.
• Before the interview, practice answering questions in English about your application, your academic objectives in the U.S., and your plans after you return home.
• Be positive and respond to questions with clear, concise answers during your interview.
• The student visa is considered a temporary “nonimmigrant” visa and requires applicants to demonstrate that they intend depart the U.S. after their studies end. The consular officer may ask questions about your intention to return home after you complete your studies. It may be sufficient to describe your plans after you return home, whether it is to work, continue your studies, or conduct other activities in your home country. However, the officer may ask you to provide further proof of your plans.

Proving Nonimmigrant Intent

If you explain that you plan to remain in the U.S. permanently, your temporary nonimmigrant student visa will be denied. The Consular Officer must be convinced you plan to leave the U.S. after you complete your program of study. To prove your “nonimmigrant intent,” you must show “strong ties to a home abroad which you do not intend to abandon.” Consider the questions below to help assess if you may have difficulty with this point of eligibility:

• Is it difficult to obtain an U.S. visa in your country?
• Do a significant percentage of student visa applications in your country get denied by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate?
• Are any members of your immediate family U.S. citizens or permanent residents? Are any members of your immediate family living in the U.S.?
• Is a friend or relative serving as your financial sponsor for your activities at Boston University?
• Will this be your first trip to the U.S.?
• Are you applying for a student visa immediately following the completion of a different activity in the U.S.?
• Have you ever been denied a U.S. entry visa?

If you answered “yes” to one or more of the above questions, it may be more likely that you will need to provide additional documentation to prove your intent to return home after your activities in the U.S. You may wish to seek legal assistance prior to applying for your entry visa.

Proving Financial Ties

If you own property or have financial investments in your country, documenting these may help prove you have strong financial ties to your home country. You may not use any assets that will be needed to pay for your F-1 or J-1 activities. You will need to prove the availability of those financial resources separately to meet the minimum requirements for an entry visa.

Recommended Documents to Submit:

• Official papers proving property ownership
• Copies of investment statements or certificates
• A letter or financial statement from your bank or accountant

Proving Employment Ties

If you will be employed full-time upon your return, this indicates strong employment ties to your country. Your employment ties are viewed as stronger based on the prestige, importance, and salary of your job.

Recommended Documents to Submit:

• A letter that guarantees a job upon your return and states how important your U.S. activities are for the type of work the employer wants you to do

Proving Family Ties

If all members of your immediate family live in your country, the U.S. Consular officer may understand that you have strong family ties to that country. If you are the oldest child or only child in your family, the Consular officer may believe that you are more likely to return home because of that fact. If one or both of your parents are not in good health, this is another reason you might be expected to return home.

Recommended Documents to Submit:

• Copies of official documents proving family relationships and their residences
• Letters from physicians explaining important medical conditions of your parents

Your Visa and Immigration History

If you have visited other countries and returned to your country after those visits, you have demonstrated a pattern of behavior which may lead the U.S. Consular officer to believe that you will return home after your time in the U.S. The more trips you have made, the stronger your case.

Recommended Documents to Submit:

• Current and/or previous passport(s) containing entry and exit visas from your country and other countries
• Other official documents indicating departure and return to your home country

The U.S. Department of State reviews student visa applicants’ social media for content indicating security threats, including ties to terrorist organizations, violent extremism, or anti-American sentiment. Officers search for public posts reflecting “hostile attitudes,”, anti-Semitic, or hateful content, and inconsistencies with visa application details.

Key Areas of Focus:

• Security Threats: Endorsement of, or links to, terrorist organizations.
• Hostility toward the U.S.: Posts threatening, harassing, or showing extreme hostility toward American people or institutions.
• Prohibited Activities: Content indicating intent to work illegally or engage in activities contrary to student status.
• Content Consistency: Inconsistencies between public social media posts and the information provided on the DS-160 visa application.
• Extremism & Hate Speech: Participation in or promotion of extremist groups, violence, or anti-Semitic, or discriminatory content.

Important Requirements:

• Public Profiles: Applicants must set all social media profiles to “public” for review.
• Five-Year History: Applicants must disclose all usernames and handles used in the past five years.
• Consequences: Failure to comply or providing hidden, private accounts can lead to visa denial or significant processing delays.

Before your entry visa can be approved, the consular officer will conduct additional social media screening. After your visa appointment, you will most likely be placed into “Administrative Processing” during this screening process. It may take several weeks for the consular post to complete the social media screening. Most applicants will receive a final decision after the social media screening process is complete.

Visa processing delays are fairly common, so it is important you plan in advance.

• For citizens of select countries or students entering certain fields of study, the Consular Officer may decide to place your visa application through an additional security clearance process “Administrative Processing” period before granting the entry visa. In this case, Administrative Processing may take several months to complete, so it is important to apply for your entry visa as soon as possible in case your application may require further administrative processing.
• If you are placed into Administrative Processing for a reason other than the social media screening, report your Administrative Processing case to the ISSO using the “Report Visa Delay or Denial” request on the ISSOPortal. This helps us track your case and informs us that you may require additional assistance with the visa process.

Visa denials are unusual, but you should be prepared.

• If your visa application is denied, we recommend that you ask the Consulate for a written explanation of the denial reason before departing your interview. Please log-in to the ISSOPortal and submit the “Report Visa Delay or Denial” request so we can review the details of your denial. The ISSO can help strategize how to strengthen your case and suggest additional documentation for a second visa application.
• Students applying for a second time will be expected to show something has changed from the first denial. For example, if you were denied because you didn’t show enough funding for your program, your next application should include new documentation of your funding.

• Immigration regulations allow you to enter the U.S. no earlier than, 30 days before the program start date indicated on your I-20 or DS-2019. Pay attention to your program start date and the earliest arrival date on these documents before finalizing your travel plans.
• Most students will go through immigration inspection at their first port of entry to the U.S. Keep in mind that the inspection process may take several hours when booking your connecting flights.
• Pack your required documents in your carry-on luggage. You are expected to present your passport, entry visa, and a printed version of your I-20 or DS-2019.You may also need to present all or some of the documents required to apply for your visa, we recommend you bring as well:
  • Letter of admission or appointment/employment from Boston University
  • Proof of F or J SEVIS fee payment
  • Original financial documents
  • Documents as a continuing student or scholar demonstrating your valid immigration status and your continued academic activities in the U.S.

At the U.S. Port of Entry, a CBP officer will inspect your documents (“inspection”). You will be asked to present your passport, F‑1/J‑1 visa, printed I‑20 or DS‑2019, and visa interview documents.

You may be asked brief questions; similar to those in your visa interview. Most students are admitted quickly.

Some travelers are sent to Secondary Inspection for additional review.Reasons for USCBP referral to Secondary Inspection can include:

• Routine screenings
• Verification of SEVIS status
• Advanced admissibility review
• Customs enforcement
• Compliance Checks
• Review of electronics (phone, laptop, etc.)

If sent to Secondary, be prepared to provide all visa documents (financials, BU acceptance, SEVIS fee receipt) and answer honestly and concisely.

If asked about intent: explain your study plans and intent to return home.

CBP may search electronic devices and social media.

After admission, confirm you have your passport, I‑20/DS‑2019, and and all other supporting documents in your possession.

After arriving in Boston, download your I‑94 (official entry record). Use your passport details to look up your I-94 arrival record on the CBP website.

Important: Although you may have a valid B-1 or B-2 visitor entry visa in your passport, it is important that you enter the U.S. in the F-1 or J-1 student status to study full-time. Visitor status (B-1/B-2 or WB/WT) does not permit full-time study in the U.S., and it is difficult (and sometimes impossible) to change your immigration status once you have arrived in the U.S.

After you arrive in the U.S., you are required to complete the Initial ISSO Check-in. You will receive reminders and instructions to complete Initial ISSO Check-in through the ISSOPortal in advance of your program start date. Completing Initial ISSO Check-in allows us to:

• Review your immigration documents to confirm eligibility for intended activity at BU
• Update your university record to reflect your current immigration status
• Report your arrival in valid status to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to activate your SEVIS record as a Boston University sponsored F-1 or J-1 student

The deadline for check-in is 15 days after the program start date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019. If you have any questions about completing the check-in, please contact the ISSO.