Student Visa Information

Now that you’ve been accepted to Boise State, the next step is to create your I-20 form. Your I-20 is the form that you will use to apply for your F-1 student visa. To receive an I-20 from Boise State, you must show that you have the financial resources to pay for one full year of study. Your I-20 form contains important information—please read it carefully after receiving it, particularly the instructions to students on Page 2. Please also verify that all information is listed correctly and notify us immediately if there is an error.

How we create your I-20 depends on whether you are already in the U.S. on a student visa or outside of the U.S. applying for a student visa. If your spouse or children are coming with you to the United States, they will also need I-20 forms to apply for their F-2 visas.

There are two steps to providing us the information necessary to issue you an I-20:

1. Complete and submit your Financial Documentation Form.
2. Submit financial support documents that are less than six months old. All documents must be issued in English or have an official English translation. Documents should be on the official agency’s letterhead, or with the official agency’s signature or official seal.

Once Boise State has received all necessary documentation, we will review your submission, issue your I-20, and provide instructions for setting up the mailing of your document.

If you are currently in the U.S. on an F-1 visa studying at a secondary school, university, or English language school, we can only issue you an I-20 after the SEVIS transfer date specified by your current school. In most cases, the SEVIS transfer is made after you have finished your classes at your current school. Only your current school has access to your SEVIS record, so please talk to the immigration advisor at your current school about your plans to transfer.

If you choose to leave the United States between schools, you MUST re-enter the country using your Boise State I-20 and you must re-enter before the start date of orientation. It is important that you plan your travel accordingly.

If it will be more than five months between your last class at your current school and the orientation date at Boise State University, you cannot transfer your SEVIS record. Instead, you will need to leave the U.S. and we will issue you a new initial I-20. You will need to pay the SEVIS fee again and you will need to reapply for your visa—even if your current visa has not yet expired, it will become invalid. Please talk with the immigration advisor at your current school and contact your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate for more information.

Students transferring their SEVIS records to Boise State should reach out their current school’s DSO in order to request that their SEVIS record be transferring to Boise State.

The easiest place to apply for your visa is at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country or in the country in which you are living. Boise State recommends applying for your visa as early as possible, and you can be issued a visa as early as four months before the semester begins. Approximate visa application wait times are published on the U.S. Department of State’s website, though delays can happen.

After you have received your I-20 from Boise State University, you’ll need to take the following steps to apply for your visa:

1. Pay the SEVIS fee on the SEVIS fee payment website. The SEVIS fee is charged by the U.S. government and is different from your visa application fee. Your SEVIS ID number is listed on your I-20. You will use your SEVIS ID number to pay the fee. Print out and keep your SEVIS fee receipt.
2. Complete the online visa application (DS-160 form) and pay the visa application fee. You will need to upload an approved photo as part of the application. Print out and keep the DS-160 confirmation page. You do not need to print the completed application.
3. Schedule your visa appointment at your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Overview and Preparation

Applicants are often very nervous for their visa interviews. The process can be straightforward, however, if you remain calm, answer questions honestly, and bring with you all required documents. Visa interviews are typically conducted in English and are shorter than you might expect. It is not recommended to have anyone else speak on your behalf in your visa interview.

U.S. consular officials make the final decision of whether or not to grant you a student visa. Although Boise State has already certified your English proficiency and financial support, you should be prepared to present proof that you are a genuine student. You must also be ready to show evidence of your ties to your home country to demonstrate that you plan to return home after studying in the United States.

What to Bring to Your Interview

When you go to the embassy or consulate for your visa interview, we recommend bringing the following items:

• • Visa application (DS-160) confirmation page
  • Visa application fee receipt, if required to pay this in advance
  • SEVIS fee receipt
  • Passport valid for at least six months
  • Boise State University admission letter
  • Approved photos. You will upload your photo while completing form DS-160. You must bring one approved photo if the photo upload fails.
  • I-20 form. Remember to sign your I-20 under Item 11.
  • Financial support documents
  • Evidence that proves you will return to your home country after finishing your studies at Boise State. This may include proof of property, family, or other ties to your community. There are no exact documents to fulfill this requirement since every applicant’s situation is unique. Please refer to your local embassy or consulate website to review their specific guidelines.
  • Any other documents required by the U.S. embassy or consulate

If you are denied a visa, you may ask the consular officer for some basic information about why you were denied. It is recommended that you ask for a list of items that they recommend you bring to future visa interviews. It is possible that you will be successful in future applications if you follow the officer’s suggestions. If you are denied a visa, please let us know as soon as possible.

For more information on visa denials, please review the U.S. Department of State’s information on visa denials. If the visa application process is taking longer than anticipated and you think you may be late for the start of the semester, please email International Admissions.

Your legal spouse or unmarried children (under the age of 21) may come with you to the U.S. while you study at Boise State University. These family members, called “dependents,” must apply for F-2 visas to legally enter the U.S. Other family members joining you in the U.S. must apply for tourist visas. In order for your dependents to obtain F-2 visas, they must have their own I-20 forms and your I-20 must indicate that you are supporting a dependent. To obtain appropriate I-20 paperwork, please complete the Financial Documentation Form. In the “Dependents” section, please write the names and details of your spouse and children, and include a copy of their passports.

U.S. Immigration requires that you demonstrate the financial resources to cover your study and living expenses, as well as the living expenses for any dependents joining you in the U.S. You must show that you have an additional $5,400 of financial resources available for each dependent.

Dependents of F-1 visa holders will apply for an F-2 visa at their local U.S. Embassy or Consulate. In addition to the visa application, your dependent must show evidence that he or she is your spouse or child. Dependents must also demonstrate their intent to leave the U.S. when you have completed your studies.

Spouses in the United States on F-2 visas may not engage in full-time study. Children may engage in full-time study only at an elementary or secondary school. F-2 dependents may not work while in the United States.