F-1 Visa Application Process

Once you receive your SEVIS I-20 (F-1 students) from the admissions office (Graduate School, Undergraduate Admissions, or the Intensive English Program), you should check to make sure all of the information is correct and that it matches the passport that you will use to enter the country. Print your I-20 and sign page 1 in blue ink next to your printed name.

Next, you must pay the SEVIS fee for an initial I-20. This fee is paid online at this site and is required in order to schedule your visa appointment at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country. This SEVIS I-901 (FMJ) fee is different from visa fees and must be paid BEFORE you schedule your visa interview or entering the port of entry (Canadians or those who are visa exempt). You should pay your I-901 fee and apply for a visa as soon as you are admitted as it can be a lengthy process.Your I-20 and supporting documents (admission letter, scholarship information, financial documentation supporting your stay in the U.S.) should be presented to the U.S. visa officer when you attend your visa interview.

Process to Apply for an F-1 Visa in Your Home Country

Process to Apply for an F-1 Visa in a Country Other than Your Home Country (in a country where you DO NOT hold citizenship)

We advise that you refrain from purchasing airfare to the U.S. until after you have received your F-1 visa. Please note that you must enter the U.S. using the same I-20 that you used to apply for the student visa.

U.S. immigration regulations require that you report to the school listed on the visa stamp for your initial U.S. entry BEFORE the program start date listed on your I-20, even if you change your mind and decide to enroll at a different school. If the U.S. Embassy or Consulate has any questions regarding your studies at UL Lafayette, please contact the Office of International Affairs at oia@louisiana.edu