Visa and Travel

The U.S. State Department is the government agency that issues or denies your visa. Its facilities are commonly known as "embassies" or "consulates." Students can apply for F-1 visas at any time. However, the State Department will only start to issue visas 120 days prior to the first day of your academic program. International students will be able to enter the United States no more than 30 days prior to the beginning of the academic program.

In order to get an F-1 visa before traveling to the United States, you must:

1. Obtain the SEVIS I-20 form from Huntington University. You will receive this form by mail from Huntington University once you have satisfied all requirements for eligibility.
2. Pay the SEVIS fee prior to the visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in your country. Your I-20 form is required to complete Form I-901, after which you will receive a receipt or Form I-797C. Please note that the pament process requires the use of a credit card. For more information, visit the ICE I-901 page.
3. Prepare the following for your interview:
   1. All appropriate forms as required by your country
   2. A passport valid for at least the next six months
   3. Your I-20 form signed by Huntington University
   4. Your receipt of payment of the I-901 fee
   5. Your Huntington University acceptance letter
   6. Evidence of financial support
   7. A statement of intent to return to your home country after your studies
4. Provide current photographs for your F-1 visa
5. Pay the "Machine-Readable Visa" fee

For additional information regarding this topic, you can visit Education USA or travel.state.gov.

Ten Tips for a Successful Visa Interview

1. Prove ties to, and reasons to return to, your home country
2. Practice speaking English prior to the interview
3. Speak confidently for yourself
4. Plan ahead and be brief — you only have a short time to make a good impression
5. Familiarize yourself with Huntington University and know exactly why you want to attend Huntington University in particular
6. Prepare and organize your documents
7. Know your home country's visa regulations
8. Have a positive attitude
9. Answer questions about family and dependents
10. If you are denied, do not argue or ask what you should do differently next time

A student's F-1 visa status does not guarantee he or she will be allowed to enter the United States. Officers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the ports of entry have complete authority to deny your application. Upon your arrival at a U.S. airport, you will be taken to see a DHS officer to whom you must present the following documents: 

1. A valid passport
2. Your F-1 visa
3. Your SEVIS I-20 Form
4. Your I-94 Form

If you are allowed to enter the United States, a DHS officer will return all of your documents. In addition, the I-20 and I-94 forms will be stamped by the officer, and an expiration date will be noted as "D/S," or "Duration of Status."

US Immigration authorities established the Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM) which electronically photographs and fingerprints foreign travelers who arrive in the US with visas. Please visit the DHS website for more information.

Your spouse and children may come with you to the United States as your dependants with an F-2 status. Your family should accompany you to the U.S. embassy or consulate when you apply for your F-1 student visa, and they should be prepared to prove their relationship to you. The F-2 status of your family will be dependent on your status as an F-1 academic student, meaning that if you change your visa status, your family must also change their status. If you lose your status, your family will also lose their status. F-2 dependants are issued a SEVIS I-20 form stipulating their F-2 status. In addition, F-2s cannot attend colleges and universities unless they request and are granted a change of status to F-1.