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Applying for the F-1 Student Visa

Applying for the F-1 Student Visa Outside the U.S.
To obtain the F-1 student visa that is required for entry into the United States after you have received the SEVIS I-20, you must apply at an U.S. Embassy or Consulate. A personal interview with the Consular official is normally required. You will need to take the following with you:

• Valid Passport
• SEVIS I-20 from Texas Woman’s University
• Verification of financial support for at least the first year of study
• Proof of English language proficiency (Although the SEVIS I-20 states your proficiency, it is advised to carry proof with you)
• Proof of permanent residence and other ties to your country that will compel you to leave the United States at the conclusion of your studies

It is very important that you show ties to your home country. It is advised to bring any supporting evidence with you that indicates that you will return to your home country upon graduation from Texas Woman’s University. If you or your family owns property, take the deeds with you. If your family owns a business, take letters from the bank describing the business. If you have a prospect of a job offer, try to get a letter from the company saying that you will be considered for the job upon your return, or that people with the kind of education you are seeking are needed in your country.

If you are denied the student visa based on Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act, then you have not successfully proven to the consular officer that you are entitled to nonimmigrant status. Current regulations mandate the Consular official to issue the rejection in written form and the most probable reason of rejection is due to the failure to prove "permanent residence" or "strong ties" to your home country. Visa denials are not permanent and you may reapply for a new visa. However, you won’t be reconsidered unless you can show further convincing evidence that you have no plans to abandon your country of residence.

DO NOT ENTER THE UNITED STATES WITH THE TOURIST (B-2) VISA. THE UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE WILL NOT AUTHORIZE A CHANGE OF STATUS FROM B-2 (VISITOR) TO F-1 (STUDENT).

DO NOT ENTER WITHOUT A VISA, IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE 24 COUNTRIES THAT ARE PERMITTED TO ENTER THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT A VISA (VISA WAIVER PROGRAM). YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE TO STUDENT (F-1) STATUS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

Once your visa application is approved, a visa stamp is placed in your passport indicating the status that you keep in the United States. The visa will also indicate the period of validity, the number of entries allowed and will specify Texas Woman’s University as the university that you will attend in the U.S.

If you are a Canadian citizen, you do not need to obtain a visa. Simply present the SEVIS I-20 at the point of entry into the United States. Be sure that the immigration officer returns the SEVIS I-20 to you after processing your entry into the U.S.

Spouses and Children of Students
The F-2 visa is issued for dependents of the F-1 student and includes the spouse and children (under the age of 21) of the F-1 student. A student’s wife or husband who is not intending to study full-time may request an F-2 visa to accompany the spouse into the U.S. Children wishing to accompany their parent also need to request an F-2 visa.

If traveling together, your SEVIS I-20 may be used to obtain both the F-1 and F-2 visas. You will be required to show financial support not only for yourself but for your dependents as well. Your dependents’ name, country of birth, and date of birth must be listed on the back of your SEVIS I-20.

If traveling separately, a duplicate SEVIS I-20 must be issued to your dependent(s) in order to apply for the F-2 visa. Remember to bring evidence of financial support to the visa interview.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have been admitted to another school, in addition to Texas Woman’s University and issued a SEVIS I-20 from that school, you will only be allowed to attend the school whose SEVIS I-20 you use when you apply for entry to the U.S.

Entering the United States
When you arrive at the U.S. port of entry, you will be required to show the immigration official your SEVIS I-20, proof of financial support for at least the first year of study, and your passport with the F-1 visa. Upon admitting you to the country, the immigration official will mark the top portion of your SEVIS I-20 with the letters "D/S" and "F-1". D/S indicates duration of status and means that you are authorized to stay in the country during the duration of your F-1 status.

The immigration official will also issue you a small white card (stapled in your passport) called the I-94 or Arrival/Departure Record. The I-94 shows:

• The date and place of your entry
• Your status classification as F-1
• Your admission number, a special Immigration Service identification number that you will use as long as you are in nonimmigrant status in the United States. (The immigration official will also mark this admission number on your SEVIS I-20)
  

The I-94 should remain stapled in your passport at all times. You will surrender it only upon leaving the United States (except for short visits of 30 days or less to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands).

When you re-enter the U.S., you will be issued a new I-94 with your same admission number. (Make sure that the immigration official crosses out the pre-printed admission number on the I-94 and writes in the admission number that is on your SEVIS I-20.

Your I-94 and SEVIS I-20 are the most important documents you have in addition to your passport. These should be guarded and kept in your passport at all times. Never surrender the SEVIS I-20 when leaving the country.

The International Education Office advises you to make photocopies of all your important documents — passport, visa, I-94, and SEVIS I-20 and put them in a place for safekeeping.

Admission for "Duration of Status"
As mentioned above, you will be admitted to the United States as an F-1 student for "Duration of Status", noted as "D/S" on both your Form I-94 and SEVIS I-20.

"Duration of Status" means that you may remain in the country for the period during which you are pursuing a full course of study in any educational program, and any period of authorized practical training, plus sixty days to prepare for departure from the United States. Immigration regulations mandate that all international students must maintain full-time student status. At Texas Woman’s University, full-time status means "12" hours a semester for undergraduate students (students pursuing a bachelor’s or second bachelor’s degree) and "9" hours a semester for graduate students (students pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree).

Applying for F-1 Status within the United States
Depending on your current status, a change of status to F-1 may or may not be possible within the United States. Persons who wish to change to F-1 status from another nonimmigrant status are advised to consult with the International Education Office at Texas Woman’s University.