To enter the U.S. as an F-1 student, you will need to obtain an F-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Once you are in the U.S., the expiration of your F-1 visa has no bearing on your eligibility to stay. You may remain in the U.S. as long as you have a valid and unexpired I-20, an
I-94 record marked Class of Admission “F-1” and Admit Until Date “D/S”, are making full-time progress toward the degree objective indicated on your I-20, and are complying with all the rules for maintaining your F-1 status. 

If your visa is expired or will expire while you are abroad, you will need to renew it while you are abroad, before you may re-enter the U.S.

*U.S. visas cannot be obtained or renewed inside the U.S.

What is the Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status?

For international students who want to study in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa, the form I-20 is a required document. Issued by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to certified colleges and universities in the U.S., the I-20 proves that you are a legitimate student who is enrolled in an accredited college or university.

With your form I-20, you can pay your I-901 SEVIS fee, apply for your nonimmigrant visa in your U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and travel to the U.S. 

Eligible students for F-1 status receive a form I-20 from the Bates College Designated School Official (DSO) before they apply for an F-1 entry visa at a U.S. Consulate abroad, or a change of status if you are already in the United States. 

Canadian nationals must apply for a form I-20 and pay the SEVIS fee before appearing at immigration inspection at a port of entry.

Who needs an I-20?

• Non-U.S. citizens who have never studied in the United States;

• Non-U.S. citizens who are transferring from a secondary school, college or university in the United States;
• Non-U.S. citizens who are switching their current visa status to the F-1 visa; and,
• Non-U.S. citizens who are returning from a leave of absence from the United States that is greater than 5 months.

When can I expect to receive my I-20?

Late February or March would be the earliest you would receive your
I-20, even if you are an early admit. 

For students requesting an Initial Attendance I-20, what is the process?

• Once you have been admitted to Bates College and paid your deposit, you will receive an email from the Bates Center for Global Education, instructing you to complete and submit the I-20 Request form. You will upload to the request form a scanned copy of your passport identification page, in pdf or jpg format.
• Your  F-1 record will be created in the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and and the I-20 issued.
• The I-20 will be sent to the email address you provided on your I-20 Request Form.
• You must print the I-20, then sign and date it, in ink, under the “student attestation” section.

How is my SEVIS record transferred to Bates from my current school?

Students already attending a school in the U.S. on an F-1 visa may need to have their SEVIS record transferred to us. When we receive notification of acceptance from the Admission Office, we will  contact the student to arrange transfer of the SEVIS record via the I-20 Request for F-1 Transfer-In Students.

Bermudan or Canadian Citizens

Bermudan or Canadian citizens do not need to apply for a student F-1 visa; they may simply enter with the I-20, valid passport, 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.

What are the next steps in the visa application process?

• Check the consistency of name spelling. The spelling of your name must match exactly on your passport and your I-20 from Bates College. Remember to carefully review your personal information on your new Bates College I-20. If there is a personal information discrepancy, please reply to the email that contained your attached I-20.
• Apply for the F-1 visa at your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  Please note that each Consulate has its own application requirements and processes. U.S. Embassy and Consulate websites are available at: http://www.usembassy.gov/.
• Pay the required I-901 SEVIS Fee. You can pay this electronically or by mail, but payment must be received at least 3 days before the visa interview, or for Bermudan or Canadian citizens, 3 days before you enter the U.S. For more information on the SEVIS fee, read ICE I-901 FAQ.
• If you previously paid the SEVIS fee, and your F-1 record has stayed active, you do not need to pay it again.
• If you are transferring your immigration record from another school, you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee.
• Submit the online Form DS-160 (Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application). Follow the instructions for completing the online application form closely. Print and save the page with the barcode and bring it to your F-1 visa appointment.
• The DS-160 online visa application form requires your address in the United States. Use the address of the Center for Global Education in Box 2 of your I-20 form: 

9 Andrews Rd
124 Roger Williams Hall
Lewiston, ME 04240 USA

What documents do I need when I go to my visa interview?

At the visa application appointment, the officer will conduct a brief interview of you and review your documents.

To obtain the F-1 visa, you will need the following documents:

• New Initial status  I-20
• Valid passport
• Evidence of financial support (Certification of Financial Support, bank statement, assistantship or scholarship letter)
• Evidence of ties to your home country (employment offer, concrete plans on how your education in the U.S. will help your career in your home country, family and property ties, etc.)
• Visa application form DS-160
• Receipt of the SEVIS fee payment
• Admission letter from Bates College
• Check with your U.S. Embassy or Consulate to see if they require any additional documents.

10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Student Visa

Arriving in the U.S.: Immigration Inspection

It’s important to know, on your first entry to the U.S. with your I-20, you cannot enter earlier than 30 days before the start date on your I-20. See the “Earliest Admission Date” on your I-20. For travel after that, (e.g., summer break), there is no restriction.

Upon arrival, you will go through immigration inspection, where your electronic I-94 entry record will be created. Be sure to have your passport, immigration document, and the rest of the recommended items below with you.

Note: Do not pack the documents in your checked luggage!

We want you to have all the documents that you may need in entering the U.S. When you arrive at the U.S. port of entry or preclearance, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will mainly ask to see the first three documents below, but they may ask to see other documents on this list. The officer may also ask you to answer additional questions about what you intend to do at Bates or your purpose of travel to the U.S.

1. Valid Passport*: must be valid at least 6 months into the future at the time of admission.
2. Valid U.S. Visa **: except for Canadian/Bermudan citizens, all international travelers also need to have a valid visa in their passport issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate.
3. Immigration Document: Properly endorsed Initial I-20.
4. Receipt from paying the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee.
5. Proof of funds: while you may not be asked for it, it is advisable for new students to carry these documents as well. Proof of funds can include the same documents you submitted during the Bates admission process, such as bank statements.

* All international students planning to depart from the U.S. and return after a temporary absence must have a valid passport in order to exit the U.S. The passport must also be valid for a minimum of six months into the future at the time of re-entry to the U.S. Some countries have an agreement with the U.S. which exempts their nationals from the six-month rule for U.S. entry purposes only.

**U.S. visas cannot be obtained or renewed inside the U.S.

What to Expect at the U.S. Port of Entry
Your visa and other immigration documents are evidence of your eligibility to apply for admission in a particular visa status at a U.S. Port of Entry.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is the government agency that controls admission to the United States. The CBP officer makes the final decision on your admission to the U.S. in a particular status and determines how long you may stay based on your documents.

Meet the CBP Officer
The officer will review your documents, inspect your bag, and ask you a few questions about the purpose of your travel to the U.S. If all is in order, the officer will admit you to the U.S.
If the officer has additional questions, please see Secondary Inspection below for more information.
Review your I-94 (after arrival)
CBP announced the elimination of issuing entry stamps for visitors arriving in the U.S. Instead, each time you enter the U.S. an electronic entry record, called an I-94 record, is created. After your entry to the U.S. please look up your I-94 record as soon as possible to make sure it is accurate. You should be admitted in the correct immigration status ( F-1) for the correct period of stay (D/S – “Duration of Status”). Print or save a copy on your device. If the information on your I-94 record is incorrect, please contact your designated school official (DSO) for assistance in getting this information corrected.

Secondary Inspection

Most Bates students will clear U.S. immigration after your documents are reviewed by a CBP officer. However, a few may be referred to another officer to verify your student status or for additional questioning. This is referred to as “secondary inspection”. Although a referral to secondary inspection can be intimidating and make you feel anxious, there is usually little cause for alarm. Be aware that it can take an hour or two to complete this inspection process.

Security Checks

Some visa applicants may be subject to a security check as part of their visa application, which may delay getting the visa. This is 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 some cases they can take several months. Various factors may make you more likely to have a security check, such as your country of citizenship and the field you are studying.

Applying as a “Third Country” National

Most students will apply for their F-1 visas in their country of citizenship but an applicant may apply for their F-1 visa at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate around the world. This is called a “third country” national application and does carry some risks. Please consider the following before deciding to pursue such an application:

• You might need to obtain a visa to enter the third country.
• You will need to stay in the third country until you receive your F-1 visa and thus will need to factor in the cost and time needed to receive your visa.
• If your F-1 visa application is denied, you will not be able to re-enter the U.S. as an F-1 student and might need to return to your country of citizenship to apply for your F-1 visa.

Authorization of your F-1 Visa

If the consular officer grants you the visa, the officer will instruct you on when and where you can pick it up. The visa will have an expiration date; however, the expiration date on the visa is not the date by which you must leave the U.S. You may stay in the U.S. on an expired F-1 visa as long as you maintain your immigration status by being in possession of a valid I-20 and follow all immigration rules. If you have left the U.S. and your F-1 visa has expired, you will need to apply for a new one to re-enter the U.S.

Bermudan and Canadian citizens do not need a F-1 visa to enter the U.S., but they do need an I-20.

You may stay in the U.S. until the completion of your program (see program end date on I-20) plus 60 days (e.g., grace period). During the 60 days grace period, you may travel in the U.S., prepare for your return home, etc.; however, you cannot work during that period – even on-campus.