F-1 / F-2 / F-3 · Timeline

From admission to arrival

1. 1

   1. School and Form I-20

   Only an SEVP-certified school can issue a Form I-20, and only to students it has accepted. The school's designated school official (DSO) signs it, certifying among other things that your application was reviewed and approved and that you can pay for the program. The electronic SEVIS record, not the paper form, is the definitive record of your status.^[1]

2. 2

   2. SEVIS fee and visa interview

   Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee at FMJFee.com before your visa interview, then apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate with your signed Form I-20. The State Department tells officers to issue F-1 visas only when your SEVIS record shows "initial" or "active" status. Your first F-1 visa is annotated with your SEVIS ID and the school you will first attend.^[1]

3. 3

   3. Arrival

   To arrive more than 30 days before the program start date on your I-20, you need a visa in a different classification. At the port of entry you must present the entire Form I-20, signed by you and the DSO. On a first entry, the officer can refuse admission if your I-20 is from a school other than the one named on your visa, or if you say you plan to attend a different school.^[1]