Applying for an F-1 Visa
To enter the U.S. on an F-1 visa, the student will need to make an appointment with a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Students may apply for a visa up to 120 days before the start date on their I-20. Citizens of Canada do not require an F-1 visa to enter the U.S. as an F-1 student.
How to get an I-20 to begin study at Meharry
- Once being admitted to Meharry and paying the deposit, a confirmation email will be sent out to the new student from the International Office.
- With the assistance of the International Office, the new student will complete the necessary forms and submit passport identity page copies (if applicable) and financial documentation (i.e., proof of funding).
- The International Office will issue the I-20, send it out, and the new student will be notified.
Once the student acquires their I-20, they should follow the steps below:
Step 1: Pay the SEVIS Fee
Before applying for an F-1 visa, the student must pay a SEVIS fee of $350. For more information on the SEVIS fee, read ICE I-901 FAQ.
If the student has previously paid the SEVIS fee, and their F-1 record has stayed active, they do not need to pay it again.
Step 2: Schedule a visa interview appointment
Instructions will be on the website of the embassy or consulate at which the student applies. This is typically handled by a call center or service that contracts with the embassy. U.S. State Department policy requires that embassies and consulates give students priority in visa appointments.
As a part of the process, the student will pay a visa application fee and sometimes a visa reciprocity fee, which varies by country, and is rarely applicable.
Bermudan or Canadian Citizens
Bermudan or Canadian citizens do not need to apply for a student (F-1 or J-1) or dependent (F-2 or J-2) visa; they may simply enter with the I-20, proof of citizenship (i.e. passport or driver’s license and birth certificate), admission letter, SEVIS Fee payment receipt, and evidence of financial support. They will however, have to pay the SEVIS fee at least 3 days before entering the U.S. The SEVIS fee cannot be paid at the border.
Step 3: Apply for the Visa
At the visa application appointment, the officer will conduct a brief interview of the student and review their documents. Sometimes they will thoroughly examine the provided documents. Other times they will not look at everything. It’s still best to bring all documents in order to be prepared.
To obtain the F-1 visa, the student will need the following documents:
- an I-20
- a valid passport
- evidence of financial support (Certification of Financial Support, bank statement, assistantship or scholarship letter)
- evidence of ties to the student’s home country (employment offer, concrete plans on how their education in the U.S. will help their career in their home country, family and property ties, etc.)
- visa application form DS-160. If the student needs to list a U.S. address in their application, they can list the address of their department, or the physical address of the Office of General Counsel (1005 Dr. D. B. Todd, Jr., Blvd, Nashville, Tennessee 37208).
- refer to the list below for additional items the student will need.
In some cases the consulate may keep the student’s I-20. If they do not receive their I-20 after their appointment, they should contact the International Office for a replacement, as they will need this when traveling to the U.S.
Additional Documents
New Students will need:
- documents listed above
- receipt of the SEVIS fee payment
- admission letter from Meharry
Continuing Students will need:
- documents listed above
- valid travel signature on form I-20 (signatures valid for 1 year from date of signing)
- Meharry transcript (official recommended)
- letter from department/program (optional)
Students on OPT will need:
- documents listed above
- valid travel signature on form I-20 (while on OPT, signatures valid for 6 months from date of signing)
- EAD card (OPT card)
- letter from employer, verifying employment, recognizing travel (recommended)
The student must check with their U.S. Consulate to see if they require any additional documents.
Security Checks
Some students may be subject to a security check as part of their visa application, which may delay getting their visa. This is often referred to as “administrative processing.” While most security checks are completed within 2 weeks, (the U.S. State Department works with the other federal agencies involved to expedite them), in rare cases they can take several months. Various factors may make a student more likely to have a security check, such as their country of citizenship, their gender, and the field they are studying.
Authorization of the student’s F-1 Visa
If the consular officer grants the student the visa, he or she will instruct them on when and where they can pick it up. The visa will have an expiration date; however, the expiration date on the visa is not the date by which the student must leave the U.S. As long as the student maintains F-1 status, they may stay in the U.S. until the completion of their program plus 60 days (After completion of their program, the student has a 60 day grace period in which they may travel in the U.S., prepare for their return home, etc; however, they cannot work during that period – even on-campus).
Entry to the US
On the student’s first entry to the US with their I-20, they cannot enter any earlier than 30 days before the start date on their I-20. For travel after that, (e.g., summer break), there is no restriction.