If your plans change and you do not plan to attend the University of Oregon, please send an email to International Student & Scholar Services at intl@uoregon.edu.
I-20 "Certificate of Eligibility"
An I-20 is issued by International Student & Scholar Services based on your admission to the University of Oregon and submitted evidence of financial support. The I-20 is required to apply for an F-1 student visa and for entry to the U.S.
You will receive your I-20 as a PDF attachment via email. You must print, sign and date the I-20 copy and keep it with your passport for your visa interview and carry it with you for admission to the U.S.
- Review your I-20 for accuracy. Your name and birthdate should match your passport. If corrections are necessary, email a copy of your passport to International Student & Scholar Services at intl@uoregon.edu.
- The I-20 Program State Date coincides with the start of classes. You must enter the U.S. before the I-20 program start date but not earlier than 30 days before the program state date. If your arrival is delayed, please contact International Student & Scholar Services at intl@uoregon.edu.
- The I-20 Program End Date is an estimate and may not reflect the actual completion date of your degree program. We can adjust your program end date at any time during your program.
- The I-20 Estimated Average Costs are based on non-resident tuition and fees, and estimated living and school expenses. Actual costs may be higher or lower depending on specific program costs and individual needs.
I-901 SEVIS Fee
You must pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee ($350) to the U.S. government based on your I-20 SEVIS ID number (N00XXXXXXXX). You are required to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee before you apply for your F-1 visa.
Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee at FMJfee.com. Print payment confirmation and keep it with your I-20.
Graduate Employees (GE) may request reimbursement of the I-901 SEVIS fee from the Division of Graduate Studies. For reimbursement instructions, go to SEVIS Fee Reimbursement for International GEs.
F-1 Visa
Canadian Citizens: You do not have to apply for an F-1 visa in advance of your arrival to the U.S., but you are required to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee (see above). You can enter the U.S., within 30 days of the I-20 program start date, with your valid passport, and printed, signed and dated I-20 copy. U.S. immigration will admit you to the U.S. in F-1 status at the border.
All Other Countries: It is important that you understand the student visa procedures in order to get your visa on time and arrive safely to the United States. This process includes getting a Form I-20 from the University of Oregon, scheduling a visa interview, as completing the online visa application. Allow extra time in your planning. Visa issuance may take several weeks but some take even longer. While individual experiences differ, these are the basic steps you should follow and what you can expect throughout the process:
- Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). Regulation requires all prospective F students to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee, before the U.S. Department of State issues you a visa. I-901 SEVIS Fee is associated with your I-20 SEVIS number (N00XXXXXXXXX) and is a separate fee from the visa application fee.
- Identify the U.S. Embassy or Consulate that is most convenient for you to visit.
- Visit the website of the embassy or consulate you will visit, and follow the instructions on the site to:
- Complete your online DS-160 visa application,
- Pay your visa fee,
- Get a list of all required documents you must bring, and
- Schedule your visa interview appointment.
Make an Appointment
After you receive the I-20 and pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee, you will need to schedule a visa interview at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as possible. You will use the I-20 SEVIS ID number (N00XXXXXXXXX) to schedule the interview but you must present the printed, signed & dated copy of the I-20 you received via email to the consular officer when you attend your visa interview. You can apply for an F1 visa up to 365 days before the I-20 program start date.
To schedule a visa appointment, in most countries, F-1 visa applicant will be asked for 1). Passport number; 2) Receipt number from your Visa Fee receipt; 3) Ten (10) digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page. Visa application procedures vary somewhat among embassies and consulates, depending on local needs. In most countries, you will need to make an appointment. This can be done by phone, mail, online, or in person, depending on the circumstances of your country. Wait times for appointments may be long. Schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
Learn how to schedule your visa interview and apply for your visa at student visas page on travel.state.gov as well as the instructions at the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply for a visa. After you receive your visa, check to see that you received the right type of visa and that your name and date of birth are correct and match the information in your passport.
Helpful Tips for Visa Application
Click on the links below for information from official resources:
10 Points to Remember when Applying for a Student Visa
Five Ways to Prepare for your Visa Interview
Visa Approval
If your visa is approved, the visa will be sent to your designated location selected when you scheduled your appointment.
Visa Denial
Although many F-1 students are approved with F-1 visas, a visa denial is not uncommon. In some cases, the visa applicant is notified of the reason for denial under the section of law which applies; often the reason for denial is not clear. Denials are most often associated with immigrant intent and lack of ties to home country, national security, fraud or other reason. The applicant may re-apply again. If an applicant’s visa is denied due to insufficient evidence or administrative processing, the applicant would be given a letter listing what documents the applicant may need or next-steps after administrative processing is complete. For more information regarding visa denial, please refer to Visa Denial webpage under Department of State.
After you receive the I-20 and pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee, you will need to schedule a visa interview at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as possible. You will use the SEVIS ID to schedule the interview but you must present the printed, signed & dated copy of the I-20 you received via email to the consular officer when you attend your visa interview. You can apply for an F1 visa up to 365 days before the I-20 program start date.
Emergency Visa Appointments
If the only available visa appointments are after the start of your first term at the UO, you may be able to request an emergency visa appointment within 60 days of the I-20 program start date. If you need to request an emergency visa appointment, log into your account at the official U.S. Department of State Visa Appointment Service site (https://ais.usvisa-info.com) and schedule the first available appointment. Then select “Request Expedite” under “Group Actions” and detail the emergency (e.g. medical crisis or similar humanitarian circumstance compelling urgent and unexpected travel, or the start of your academic program at the UO.)
Entering the U.S.
Students can only enter the United States 30 days before the program start date listed on their Form I-20. Students who attempt to enter the United States more than 30 days before their program start date may be found inadmissible by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
To help ensure smooth entry into the United States, students and school officials should confirm the following prior to arrival at a U.S. port of entry:
- Students have an active I-901 SEVIS Fee payment on the Form I-20 that they are traveling under.
- The name of the school on the Form I-20 matches the name of the school on the visa.
- Student financial information remains up to date in SEVIS.
- Students do not attempt to enter the United States more than 30 days in advance of their Program Start Date.
Read and follow the U.S. federal immigration requirements for F-1 students.
Departing the U.S.
You have a 60-day grace period, after the completion of your program, to remain legally in the U.S. You cannot work or study during the 60-day grace period, but you can use this time to wrap up your affairs, travel in the U.S., or transfer to another program. You should meet with an international student advisor in International Student & Scholar Services with any questions you may have prior to completion of your program.
Questions?
Email ISSS at intl@uoregon.edu