Apply for a U.S. Student Visa

Required Documents from UND

1. Admission letter
2. SEVIS form I-20

This is the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status, the school's statement to the government that you have met the initial admission and financial requirements to attend the university.

3. Assistantship Offer Letter

Graduate students who are receiving a graduate assistantship and are using that as a source of funding on their I-20 form must be able to provide a copy of the assistantship offer letter at the time of visa application.

How to Obtain your Form I-20

• Your form I-20 cannot be issued until all of the following steps have been completed:

  • You have been granted admission.

  • You have accepted the offer of admission (graduate students only).

  • You have submitted the completed Certificate of Finances and supporting bank documentation.

• Once your file is complete, the International Center can process your I-20.
• An International Student Advisor will contact you with instructions for requesting shipping

Obtaining I-20 Forms for Dependents

You may bring dependents-spouse or children-with you when you come to the United States.

• Each dependent will need to apply for an F-2 visa.
• Each dependent will need his or her need own I-20 form.
• If you are bringing dependents, be sure to indicate the following information on your financial support documentation:
  • That you are bringing dependents.
  • That you have the additional funding sources requested for dependent I-20s (indicated on the certification of finances form).
  • Provide the requested biographical information for each dependent.

Scheduling your Visa Appointment

• Contact the nearest U.S. Consulate to schedule your visa interview.

• In most circumstances you will not be able to schedule your visa appointment until you have your I-20.
• You will need your I-20 for the appointment.
• If you are able to schedule the appointment without your I-20, be certain that you will have it in time for the actual appointment.

Preparing for your Visa Interview

• Review the U.S. State Department F-1 Student Visa and the consulate websites for detailed lists of what you will need to bring to your visa interview.

• Pay your SEVIS (I-901) fee before the day of your interview. You will need to bring the receipt with you to your interview.
• Pay your non-refundable Machine Readable Visa Fee as directed by the U.S. Consulate.
• Be prepared to answer questions honestly and clearly about your program of study, your plans, your finances, your intent to return after your studies. Remember that your visa interview is a conversation not just a review of your documents.

After the Interview

There are three possible outcomes of your visa interview:

• Approved: Your visa is approved. You will receive information from the consular official regarding the production of the visa and approximately when you will receive it. Often your passport with the new visa is sent to your home within a few days.
• Denied: Your visa application is not approved. The consular official will give you a paper with a written explanation of the denial. Be sure to keep the paper. If you choose to pursue the application again, it will be important to have the written information about why you were denied the first time.
• Pending: A decision has not yet been made on your visa application. It may be necessary for the consulate to do an additional background check or clearance, do additional review or your case or you may need to provide the consulate with additional documents. You should be given an explanation in writing telling you what the next steps in your case will be.

If you will be applying for a J-1 visa in any non-student category (e.g. professor, research scholar), please refer to International Student Scholar Services.

Most (but not all) J-1 students at UND are participants in one of UND's exchange or short term programs. If your institution participates in one of these agreements, please contact your home institution.

Degree-seeking international students are automatically issued paperwork for F-1 status unless a request for J-1 processing is made. Students who are not participating in one of the exchange programs should contact an International Student Advisor to determine whether a J-1 visa is an appropriate fit.

Required Documents from UND

1. Admission letter
2. SEVIS Form DS-2019

This is the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status from the Office of International Programs. This form verifies that you have met the eligibility requirements to participate in the exchange program. You will need the DS-2019 form to apply for your J-1 visa. You will also need to show it when you enter the United States.

  3. Letters regarding financial support from UND

 If you are receiving a tuition waiver or tuition reduction as part of an agreement between your home university and UND, you will need a letter explaining this from the Office of International Programs.

If you are receiving other types of financial support from the university such as a graduate tuition waiver or stipend from a graduate assistantship, you will need a letter from the granting department detailing the type of funding you are receiving.

How to Obtain your Form DS-2019

• Complete admissions requirements appropriate to your program.
  • Degree seeking undergraduate
  • Degree seeking graduate
• Provide financial certification in accordance with program requirements.
  • Degree seeking undergraduate
  • Degree seeking graduate
• Your DS-2019 form will be mailed to you. For questions about mailing options, you may contact an International Student Advisor.

Obtaining DS-2019 Forms for Dependents

• If you will be bringing your spouse or children with you during your studies, they will need to apply for J-2 status.
• Each dependent will require his or her own DS-2019 form.
• Please contact an International Student Advisor if you wish to obtain DS-2019 forms for your dependents.

Preparing for your Visa Interview

• Upon receiving your DS-2019, please review the information on the document. If anything is incorrect, contact the UND International Center immediately.

• Read the information on page 2 of your DS-2019 form and sign the Exchange Visitor Certification on page 1.
• Contact the nearest United States Consulate to schedule an appointment for your visa interview.
• Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee.
• Collect the following documents. All forms can be accessed at the U.S. Department of State website:
• SEVIS Form DS-2019.
• Form DS-160—Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application.
• Your passport.
• Photographs.
• Nonimmigrant visa application processing fee.
• Visa reciprocity fee (if applicable).
• Proof of payment of the SEVIS (I-901) fee.
• Evidence of financial ability to meet expenses.
• Evidence of English ability sufficient for exchange program.
• Evidence of residence abroad and intent to depart the United States after the completion of the exchange program.
• Review current State Department information to determine if you are required to bring additional documentation to your visa interview.
• Be prepared to answer questions honestly and clearly about your program of study, your plans, your finances, your intent to return after your studies. Remember that your visa interview is a conversation not just a review of your documents.

After the Interview

There are three possible outcomes of your visa interview:

• Approved: Your visa is approved. You will receive information from the consular official regarding the production of the visa and approximately when you will receive it. Often your passport with the new visa is sent to your home within a few days.
• Denied: Your visa application is not approved. The consular official will give you a paper with a written explanation of the denial. Be sure to keep the paper. If you choose to pursue the application again, it will be important to have the written information about why you were denied the first time.
• Pending: A decision has not yet been made on your visa application. It may be necessary for the consulate to do an additional background check or clearance, do additional review or your case or you may need to provide the consulate with additional documents. You should be given an explanation in writing telling you what the next steps in your case will be.

The consular officer will inform you whether you will be subject to the two-year home country physical presence requirement before issuing a J-1 visa. The consular officer will also discuss the effects of being subject to this requirement.

Required Documents from UND

1. Admission letter
2. SEVIS Form I-20

This is the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status--the school's statement to the government that you have met the initial admission and financial requirements to attend the university.

How to Obtain your Form I-20

• UND currently issues M-1 I-20s only to contract flight training students. Your admission and I-20 will be handled via your home institution or employer.
• After you have been granted admission and your financial support documentation has been submitted, your file is submitted to the Office of International Programs and the I-20 will be created by an International Student Advisor.
• Your I-20 will be sent to you via your home institution or employer.

Obtaining I-20 Forms for Dependents

You may bring dependents (spouse or children) with you when you come to the United States.

• Each dependent will need to apply for an M-2 visa.
• Each dependent will need his or her own I-20 form.
• If you are bringing dependents, be sure to indicate the following information on your financial support documentation:
  • That you are bringing dependents.
  • That you have the additional funding sources requested for dependent I-20s (indicated on the certification of finances form).
  • Provide the requested biographical information for each dependent.

Scheduling your Visa Appointment

In most circumstances you will not be able to schedule your visa appointment until you have your I-20. You will need your I-20 for the appointment.

If you are able to schedule the appointment without your I-20, be certain that you will have it in time for the actual appointment.

Contact the nearest U.S. Consulate to schedule your visa interview.

Preparing for your Visa Interview

• Review the information on the U.S. State Department M-1 Student Visa Information Page and on the website of the consulate for detailed lists of what you will need to bring to your visa interview.
• Gather all of the documents that you will need.
• Pay your SEVIS (I-901) Fee before the day of your interview. You will need to bring the receipt with you to your interview.
• Pay your non-refundable Machine Readable Visa Fee as directed by the U.S. Consulate.
• Be prepared to answer questions honestly and clearly about your program of study, your plans, your finances, and your intent to return after your studies. Remember that your visa interview is a conversation, not just a review of your documents.

After the Interview

There are three possible outcomes of your visa interview

• Approved: Your visa is approved. You will receive information from the consular official regarding the production of the visa and approximately when you will receive it. Often your passport with the new visa is sent to your home within a few days.
• Denied: Your visa application is not approved. The consular official will give you a paper with a written explanation of the denial. Be sure to keep the paper. If you choose to pursue the application again, it will be important to have the written information about why you were denied the first time.
• Pending: A decision has not yet been made on your visa application. It may be necessary for the consulate to do an additional background check or clearance, do additional review or your case or you may need to provide the consulate with additional documents. You should be given an explanation in writing telling you what the next steps in your case will be.