APPLYING FOR A VISA
After paying the I-901 SEVIS Fee and getting a receipt, you must apply for a visa at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate before you come to the United States. Applicants for student visas usually apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country of his or her permanent residence.
To receive a visa, you will have to participate in an in-person interview. During your visa interview, you will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying. The consular officer will determine if you qualify to receive a visa and which visa category is appropriate based on your purpose of travel.
A visa does not guarantee entrance to the United States; it only permits you to arrive and seek permission to enter the country. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the U.S. port of entry has the final authority to admit entry into the country.
The following pages will assist with this process:
Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office, it may be more difficulty to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence.
Also visit tips to remember when applying for a nonimmigrant visa.
| Additional Information
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Citizens of Bermuda and Canada do not need to obtain a visa before entering the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status. A citizen from either country simply shows his or her I-20 or DS-2019 at the U.S. border, along with proof of citizenship. Upon entrance into the U.S., either student should make sure to have his or her I-20 or DS-2019 properly processed and to receive an I-94 card. Without the I-94 card, students may not be able to fully check-in at WVU.
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The J-1 visa sometimes carries a two-year home residency requirement. The visa holder with the home residency requirement must return to his or her home country for two years after completing the exchange program.
- Questions about the validity of your US visa should be directed to the US embassy or consulate abroad where you applied.
ARRIVING AT THE U.S. PORT OF ENTRY
Please also visit the US Department of Homeland Security's website for more information about what to expect when entering the US and US Customs & Border Protection's website for International Visitors.
- Plan your arrival: Init ial F-1 Students and J-1 Exchange Visitors are prohibited from entering the United States more than 30 days in advance o f the program start date identified on your I-20 or DS 2019.
- Always carry your documents: Do not check the following documents in your baggage. If your baggage is lost or delayed, you will be unable to present the documents at your port of entry. As a result, you may not be able to enter the United States. Passport (valid for at least six months beyond the date of your entry), Valid F-1 or J-1 visa, V alid I-20 or DS-2019. In additio n , it is recommended that you also hand carry the following documentation: Evidence of financial resources (financial guarantee), Transcripts (for continuing students), Letter of acceptance as a full-time, degree-seeking student, participant in WVU's exchange program, or invitation/offer letter for J-1 exchange visitor, Form I-901 for the SEVIS fee , Name and contact information for your sponsoring organization, including a 24-hour emergency contact number 304-293-9456.
- After you arrive at the Port of Entry (POE): Customs and Border Protection (CBP), will ask visitors the reason they wish to enter the country. You will also be asked to provide information, documentation, and may be asked about your final destination. It is important that you tell the CBP Officer that you will be a student or exchange visitor and do not forgot to show your I-20 or DS-2019 as evidence of your status. Be prepared to include the name and address of the school program where you will enroll/participate: West Virginia University, 1505 University Avenue, Morgantown WV, 26506
- Secondary Inspection Requirements: If the CBP officer at the port of entry cannot initially verify your information or you do not have all of the required documentation, you may be directed to an interview area known as “secondary inspection.” Secondary inspection allows inspectors to conduct additional research in order to verify information without causing delays for other arriving passengers. In the event that the CBP officer needs to verify your admission/participation at WVU we strongly recommend that you have the our emergency contact information - (304) 293-9456. Under certain circumstances, the CBP officer may issue a “Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor” Form (I-515A), which authorizes temporary admission into the United States. Work with ISSS to submit proper documentation without delay if this should occur.
- After your inspection is successfully completed, the inspecting officer will:
- Sometimes stamp your passport for duration of status (“D/S”) for F and J visa holders with date and port of entry
- Update your I-94 arrival/departure record online. Be sure to retrieve your I-94 online immediately after arrival using the information in your visa and verify that it is correct.
TRAVELING ABROAD
When preparing to travel abroad, it is important to ensure you have the required documents for entry to another country and re-entry to the U.S.Entry requirements to other countries are typically available on the website of their embassy. Depending on the country to be visited and the student’s nationality, there may be the need to apply for a visitor’s visa.
In order to return to the U.S., a student or exchange visitor in F-1 or J-1 status must have:
- a valid passport: Check your passport expiration date. Make sure it will not expire sooner than six months from your re-entry date. If your passport expires in less than six months, it is crucial that you renew your passport in the U.S. through a consulate or embassy before traveling, or renew it while you’re back in your country of citizenship (if home for a long enough period).
- a valid U.S visa: Check your visa expiration date. If the F-1 or J-1 visa foil in your passport will expire before your intended re-entry date to the U.S., you’ll need to obtain a new visa to re-enter the U.S. Please see ISSS if you need a new I-20 or DS-2019.
- a current travel endorsement from a DSO or ARO on your valid I-20 or DS-2019:
- Be sure to carry your most recent original I-20 or DS-2019 that is signed by an ISSS Staff member (DSO or ARO) for the most recent semester.
- Travel endorsements can be made via your International Student Services Portal. Please login and go to the "Request and Documents" tab, select the "Travel Endorsement" icon, answer all questions, upload all required documents, and submit your request to ISSS.
- Signatures are provided electronically by a DSO or ARO and you can access your newly signed I-20 or DS-2019 via your request portal. You will be notified once the endorsement is ready via your WVU MIX email with directions on how to access the I-20 or DS-2019.
- Please be sure to try to make this request prior to travelling and as soon as possible. Though a travel endorsement is not needed for exit from the U.S., it will be required by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon re-entry. If you already departed the U.S. and did not request the travel endorsement, please place the request as soon as possible prior to your return. An advisor will review the request and can provide the document electronically to you to access, print, and sign prior to your return from abroad.
- Travel signatures are valid for one year (6 months if on OPT), but it is generally good practice to acquire an updated signature and have ISSS check your record prior to any travel or at least every 6 months prior to travel.
- verification of enrollment: a copy of enrolled courses (recommended)
- proof of I-901 SEVIS fee payment: You can find this at fmjfee.com
- Financial Verification: Financial information showing proof of necessary funds to cover tuition and living expenses (recommended)
- been out of the U.S. for less than 5 months
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Does ISSS have an emergency contact number? For CBP? Other emergencies while trying to re-enter the U.S.? Emergency contact information for ISSS - (304) 293-9456
What if I find out that I cannot obtain a visa appointment or cannot arrive by my program start date? We recommend deferring your admission and I-20/DS-2019 until you are able to obtain a visa and arrive in the U.S. Please e-mail our team at isss-students@mail.wvu.edu if you feel your arrival in the U.S. by your start date will be delayed or you cannot arrive for the start of the semester. We will work with you to defer your I-20/DS-2019 and will have further instructions on how you can defer your admission.
Can your office provide a support letter to improve my chances of obtaining a visa or to secure a visa appointment? Unfortunately, the Department of State (DOS) has indicated that the visa interview is not a document-driven process and letters or appeals from a university would not be considered in issuance of a non-immigrant visa or to obtain an expedited appointment. There is unfortunately not anything that WVU nor ISSS would be able to do to persuade any embassy to issue a visa or expedite a visa interview for an applicant. Those decisions are strictly up to the DOS and your form I-20/DS-2019 serves as our school’s official information for the embassy official. We cannot provide a support letter for a visa appointment.
What do I do if my visa was denied by a U.S. embassy or consulate? Please e-mail us at isss-students@mail.wvu.edu with your proof of denial and we will follow up with further guidance. In these instances, you may need to plan to defer your I-20/DS-2019 and admission until you are able to secure a visa with another appointment. If selected for administrative processing, please be advised that this is a DOS procedure and may take several months to complete. Please see Administrative Processing for further information. It these instances, we highly recommend deferral of your I-20/DS-2019 and admission for administrative processing.
At my visa appointment, the embassy official requested that my program start date be changed as it is too late to enter by the previous start date…how do I request a change in start date? Our office must first conduct a review of an embassy request and will requ ire official confirmation from the embassy of a requested change. Please e-mail isss-students@mail.wvu.edu with an official document from the U.S. embassy stating the reason for why your visa issuance is held up.
I was able to obtain a visa appointment, but it is not until after my program start date OR I have a visa, but I cannot arrive in the U.S. until after my current program start date. What should I do? We strongly recommend deferral of the I-20/DS-2019 and admission date as late entry can be a difficult process at the embassy and at the border - leading to further issues. However, in some instances, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of State (DOS) may allow late entry. If you want to keep a visa appointment and/or can arrive in the U.S. shortly after the program start date, you will need express permission from your academic department and/or department in which you are employed. You must reach out and coordinate this with the department(s) and if permitted, ask for a letter that meets the following requirements:
- Official letter on department letterhead
- Signed and dated by an official with authority to do so within the academic department/employer
- Language that gives express permission from the academic department to you for late arrival and state definitively the latest specific date that you can arrive (within 30 days from program start date),
- A statement that you can still make adequate progress in your academic work and GA work (if applicable) if arriving late, (you may need an additional letter from an employing department if different from your academic department)
- A statement about your enrollment attesting that you are enrolled full-time (or can enroll full-time), are not taking online course work or only taking one online course within your full-time credit requirements, and your physical presence is required on campus to pursue a degree in your program.
If the late arrival route is pursued, be sure to carry this letter with you. Please also be advised that visa issuance for late arrival will be up to the DOS and that entry into the U.S. is at the discretion of Customs and Border Protection. It is still possible to be denied a visa and/or be turned away at the U.S. border.
If your department decides that it is not possible to arrive late, you will need to request a deferral of the I-20/DS-2019 from ISSS by e-mailing isss-students@mail.wvu.edu and a deferral of your admission from your academic department/international admissions.
Can I arrive more than 30 days after the program start date? You cannot arrive after 30 days from your current program start date despite any academic department permissions. You must defer your admission and I-20 or DS-20 to a future semester.