OHSU

F-1 Prospective Students

Obtaining an I-20

One of the forms you will need to apply for a F-1 visa is an I-20 form, which is issued by the school. Before we can issue the I-20 form, you must provide us with information to show that you have enough financial support to cover the estimated cost of attendance. We will need to see proof of financial ability from you or your sponsor, which is usually in the form of an official bank statement. If you will be receiving a scholarship, you may reduce the amount that you need to prove by the amount of the scholarship. Every dollar not provided by you or a scholarship must be promised in an affidavit by a sponsor. You must also fill out and return the I-20 applicant information form. Once we receive this information we will be able to process your I-20 and mail it to you, along with information on how to apply for a visa.

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Transfer F-1 Students

If you are currently a student maintaining valid F-1 status at another school in the United States you may transfer to Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) by following the transfer procedures listed below. If you have not maintained your F-1 status you are NOT eligible for a school transfer and must apply for reinstatement. If you entered the United States on another school's I-20 you must attend that school before you are eligible for a transfer to OHSU.

Transfer Procedures:
* Complete the F-1 student transfer form and return it to the Office of International Services along with a copy of the front and back of all previous I-20s, a copy of the front and back of your I-94, a copy of your visa and a copy of the biography and extension pages of your passport.
* Complete the I-20 applicant information form
* Provide financial documentation to show that you have enough funds to cover the estimated cost of attendance
* If you have a sponsor have he/she complete the affidavit of sponsor form
* You must enroll here in the first term after leaving your previous school. You must be eligible to begin classes within 5 months of transferring out of your current school or within 5 months of the program completion date on your I-20, whichever is earlier. If you are currently on OPT you must be able to begin study within 5 months of transferring out of the school that recommended OPT or the date the OPT authorization ends, whichever is later. Students on OPT following completion of studies are eligible for transfer through the end of the 60-day grace period after completion of OPT.

Check in with the Office of International Services when you first arrive on campus to complete the transfer process.

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Applying for a Visa

You must include the following documents with your application for an F-1 visa:

  • Form I-20
  • Evidence of financial ability to meet expenses - You must provide proof that you have enough funding to cover tuition, health insurance, and living expenses. If you have received a scholarship you must provide evidence of that scholarship through a scholarship award letter or something similar. If you are planning to use personal funds you must show that you have adequate funding for the entire course of study and that the money can be taken out of your home country. If a sponsor will be supporting your course of study you must provide proof that he/she has funds adequate to support you throughout your course of study, along with a letter or affidavit of support from your sponsor pledging his/her support.
  • Evidence of English proficiency and intention and ability to study - You must provide proof that you have been unconditionally accepted into an accredited academic program. You will need to take your I-20 form and your acceptance letter with you to the visa interview. You will also want to provide evidence that demonstrates that you have the skills necessary to successfully complete the course of study to which you have been admitted. The following types of documents can be used in demonstrating your skills: diplomas, transcripts showing the course you have taken, TOEFL score report and other score reports such as GRE and GMAT, etc.
  • Evidence of intent to depart the United States after completion of studies - The main reason that prospective students are denied visas is because they fail to prove to the consulate officer that they will return to their home country once they have completed their courses of study. An F-1 visa is a temporary visa, so you must prove that you intend to return to your home country when you have finished your course of study. This can be proved by showing ties to your home country. The following types of evidence can be used in showing your ties: evidence that shows you or your family own a business and/or property in your home country; evidence that a company in your home country will give you a job when you return; evidence that you have the skills necessary to succeed in the fields that are in demand in your home country
  • A valid passport
  • Form DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application) - This form is available on the Department of State's web site at http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html
  • Form DS-157 (Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application) if applicable - This form is also available on the Department of State's web site listed above.
  • Form DS-158 (Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant) - This form is also available on the Department of State's web site listed above.
  • Photograph
  • Machine Readable Visa (MRV) surcharge fee
  • Visa Reciprocity Fee (if applicable) - A listing of visa reciprocity fees is available on the Department of State's web site at http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/fees/fees_1341.html
  • SEVIS Fee- a $100 SEVIS fee must be paid prior to applying for a F-1 visa. This can be done online at www.fmjfee.com , or by mail. Since you must take the receipt with you to the interview at the consular office, we recommend that you pay online in order to get a receipt immediately rather than waiting approximately 4 weeks to receive one by mail.

The web site http://usembassy.state.gov/ will provide you with information on applying for a visa at U.S. consulates located around the world. You will want to be familiar with the rules and procedures of issuing visas before you apply for yours. Since visa procedures vary depending on what consulate you go to it is recommended that you check the above web site for the procedures at the U.S. consulate you plan on going to.

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Changing to F-1 Status in the United States

Most nonimmigrants in the United States may apply for a change of status to F-1 if he/she has maintained lawful nonimmigrant status. However, certain immigration categories prevent you from applying for a change of status in the United States (i.e. persons in J status subject to the two-year residency requirement, persons who entered on the visa waiver program, etc.) Please contact the Office of International Services to determine if you are eligible to apply for a change of status.

*Nonimmigrants in B-1 or B-2 Status- As of April 12, 2002 a nonimmigrant in B status may not attend school until the Department of Homeland Security has approved his or her application for a change of status to an F or M nonimmigrant student. Enrolling in school before the change of status is approved is a violation of nonimmigrant status.

*Nonimmigrants in F-2 Status- As of January 1, 2003 a nonimmigrant spouse in F-2 status may not engage in full time study and an F-2 child may only engage in full time study if the study is in an elementary or secondary school (kindergarten through twelfth grade.) The F-2 spouse and child may only engage in study that is avocational or recreational in nature. An F-2 desiring to engage in full time study, other than study in an elementary or secondary school must apply for and obtain a change of nonimmigrant classification to F-1, J-1, or M-1 status. Enrolling in school before the change of status is approved is a violation of nonimmigrant status.

Application Procedures - In order to apply for a change of status you must submit a completed application packet to the USCIS Service Center having jurisdiction over your place of residence. The following documents are required for a change of status application:

  • Form I-539 available at http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm
  • Filing Fee of $200 in the form of a check or money order made out to the Department of Homeland Security
  • Original I-20
  • Financial documentation (the same documentation you submitted in order to receive the I-20)
  • A copy of the front and back of your Form I-94
  • A copy of the biography page and extension pages of your passport
  • A copy of your U.S. visa (if applicable, e.g., Canadians are not required to have a visa to enter the U.S.)
  • Copies of documentation verifying the validity of your current immigration status. (Please contact the Office of International Services for a list of documents required for your particular status).
  • A letter from you explaining why you want to apply for a change of status
  • SEVIS Fee- a $100 SEVIS fee must be paid prior to applying for change of status to F-1. This can be done online at www.fmjfee.com or by mail. Since you must mail the receipt with your change of status application we recommend that you pay online in order to get a receipt immediately rather than waiting approximately 4 weeks to receive one by mail.

Dependents
If you have dependents that will be applying for a change of status with you they must also submit a copy of their I-94s, passport, visa and documentation verifying the validity of their current status.

If you would like help with your change of status application please contact the Office of International Services.

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Entering the United States

When you arrive at the U.S. port of entry you must present the documents listed below to the immigration official:

  • A valid passport (unless you are exempt from the passport requirement)
  • A valid F-1 visa (unless you are exempt from the visa requirement, i.e. Canadian citizens)
  • Evidence of Financial Support
  • Form I-20
  • Form I-94

The immigration official will return the I-20 to you along with Form I-94. Form I-94 should be marked F-1 (F-2 for dependents) and D/S.

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Bringing dependents to the United States

Spouses or unmarried children may accompany an F-1 student to the United States or join the student at a later date in the United States. Dependent family members will be given F-2 status. If dependents will be accompanying the student to the United States they will receive their own dependent I-20 which will include information on the expenses for dependents and financial resources available to support the dependents. If the dependents will join the student at a later date in the United States new dependent I-20s must be obtained from the Office of International Services so his/her family members can apply for visas and enter the United Sates. A dependent of an F-1 student will need the following documents to apply for a F-2 visa:

  • Form I-20 as described above
  • Evidence of financial ability to meet expenses
  • Marriage certificate or birth certificate
  • Evidence of intent to depart the United States after the F-1 completes his/her studies
  • Valid passport
  • Form DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application)-This form is available on the Department of State's web site at http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html
  • Form DS-157 (Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application) if applicable- This form is also available on the Department of State's web site listed above.
  • Form DS-158 (Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant)- This form is also available on the Department of State's web site listed above.
  • Photograph
  • Machine Readable Visa (MRV) surcharge fee
  • Visa Reciprocity Fee (if applicable)- A listing of visa reciprocity fees is available on the Department of State's web site at http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/fees/fees_1341.html

The web site http://usembassy.state.gov/ will provide you with information on applying for a visa at U.S. consulates located around the world. You will want to be familiar with the rules and procedures of issuing visas before you apply for yours. Since visa procedures vary depending on what consulate you go to it is recommended that you check the above web site for the procedures at the U.S. consulate you plan on applying for your visa at.

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F-1 Prospective Student Forms

You can obtain the forms mentioned above from the Office of International Services or you can download them in PDF format by clicking on the desired form below. Download Adobe Reader for Free.