There have been many changes in U.S. immigration policies and practices over the past few years.
SEVIS
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, (USCIS) has introduced the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS). SEVIS is an online database that connects immigration officials and U.S. colleges and universities by providing information on international students and scholars.
On September 1, 2004, a new United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule went into effect. This rule requires F-1 visa applicants to pay a one-time fee of $200 to supplement the administration and maintenance costs of SEVIS.
F-1 Student Visas
Having a U.S. visa is like having a key to enter the country. The expiration date on your visa is the last day you may enter the United States from abroad. You need a valid visa every time you enter the country. Depending upon the type of visa you use to enter the U.S., you are subject to different guidelines in order to "maintain status" or remain in this country legally. The International Students and Scholars (ISS) office can help guide students through the application for F-1 student visas.
Requirements
To apply for an F-1 visa, you will need a SEVIS-issued Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Students from the dental school. The ISS office will issue a SEVIS eligibility form under the following conditions:
(a) you have been fully accepted into a program of study at the dental school and
(b) you have shown proof of financial support for the first year of study. You should complete and submit the Certification of Finances form, which you will receive once acceptance is verified by the dental school.
The Certification of Finances form is used to show proof of support for your first year of study. You must demonstrate sufficient funding to cover all expenses including tuition, fees, books, instruments and living expenses. Funding may come from your own personal account, a private sponsor's account and/or scholarships/loans that have been approved. In addition to filling out the form, you will need to provide adequate verification of the funds. Verification documents include:
- Original letter from your bank or your sponsor's bank stating the available funds. The letter must be on official letterhead, dated within the last six months and include the bank's seal; and/or
- Official award letter stating the amount and duration of the scholarship/grant awarded, if applicable; and/or
- Non-government source loan approval letter from the granting institution, stating the loan amount, if applicable.
You should obtain two original copies of the financial verification documents.
One set of originals should be sent to the dental school; the other set of originals should be retained by you, so that you may have them available when applying for a visa and for use at the port of entry.
The visa application process and required documents may differ depending upon the requirements of the specific consular office in your home country.
Once you have obtained an eligibility documents from the dental school, you will need to pay the required $200 SEVIS fee, get the fee receipt and make an appointment at the embassy/consulate. Bring the following documents to your appointment:
- Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status (Form I-20)
- Passport — The passport must be valid for travel to the United States and be valid for at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States.
- Certification of Finances form
- Receipt for the $200 SEVIS payment
You must also present the first three documents to an immigration inspector at the U.S. port of entry. The immigration inspector decides whether or not to admit you into the U.S. with an F-1 nonimmigrant status.
Students who are citizens of Canada may obtain their F-1 visas at the port of entry. Canadian students will be required to present their Form I-20, passport and additional supporting financial documents to the U.S. Immigration Inspector at the U.S. port of entry.
Landed immigrants in Canada must contact the U.S. embassy/consulate and apply for a visa before entering the U.S.
Preparing for Study in the United States
After an I-20 is issued and a visa has been obtained, it is best to work within the budget you have estimated for your stay in the U.S. as a student using the funds verified and stated on your I-20.
For your convenience we have attached links to the forms that you will need to provide to our ISS Office. Please fill out these forms accordingly. Please note: if you are not transferring from a school within the U.S. then you do not need to fill out the International Student Transfer Form. To save to your computer, right-click (if using a PC) or hold the control key down (if using a Mac) and choose Save Link As. Once the file has downloaded, use Adobe Acrobat or another program that can read PDFs to open it.