To enter the U.S., you will need to obtain an F-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
After being admitted to the university, students are asked to provide the Immigration Form I-20 during their visa interview. Admissions will only issue Form I-20 for F-1 status once it confirms the following:
- The student has proficiency in the English language;
- The student demonstrates that he or she has funding to cover the cost of attending Cal Poly Humboldt; and
- All minimum academic qualifications have been verified to secure the admission offer.
Once an international student receives Form I-20 they may apply for an F-1 visa stamp. You may apply for a visa up to 120 days before the start date on your I-20.
To obtain an F-1 visa, you will need the following documents:
1. Immigration Form I-20 (F1)
2. Passport;
3. Receipt for SEVIS fee payment
Paying the F-1 SEVIS Fee: Prior to applying for your F-1 visa, you must pay a SEVIS fee. This fee is in addition to the visa application fee. You can pay the fee electronically online. Make sure that the payment is received at least 3 days before your visa interview, or for Canadian citizens, 3 days before you enter the U.S. For more information on this fee, please click here.
4. Admission letter from Cal Poly Humboldt
5. Evidence of financial support (Copy of Certificate of Finance form—supported by bank statement or scholarship letter)
6. Evidence of ties to your home country (e.g., family and property ties, your plan to apply your U.S. education to your career in your home country, etc.)
7. Visa application form
Visa Application Fee: You must pay the visa application fee to obtain a visa. Please check with your U.S. Consulate to see if they require any additional documents. You can visit the Department of State website to learn more about the visa process and to schedule an appointment.
All nonimmigrants require a valid visa stamp in their passports before coming to the U.S. to work or study. Exceptions to this general rule include citizens of Canada or contiguous islands that are considered visa exempt.
In general, a valid visa stamp is also required for nonimmigrants returning to the U.S. after travel abroad. An exception to this general rule exists when a student travels to only to Canada or Mexico (and certain contiguous territories) and complies with the automatic visa revalidation standards.
Visa stamps in passports are only for admission to the U.S. in a specific status, or visa "type". After admission, visa stamps do not have any substantive impact on one's status in the U.S. Therefore it is not necessary for nonimmigrants maintaining status in the U.S. to possess a valid visa stamp in their passport. An expired visa may only need to be renewed for re-entry into the U.S.
Visit usembassy.state.gov for a list of embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions. Each Web site will have specific visa application procedures for your area. Also visit the Department of State for information about visa wait times in your area. Note that visa wait time information is not always accurate. Visa application procedures, appointment times and visa issuance times are subject to change without notice.
Visa application appointments must be scheduled in advance. You should plan to schedule your visa application appointment at least one month in advance. In some instances, applications must be scheduled many months in advance. Please note that you should ensure that you schedule your visa application appointment for a date when you will have all required materials. Visa applications will often require a document from the U.S. such as an I-20, DS-2019 or I-797. You should ensure that you will have this document at the time of your application.
F-1 applicants must demonstrate to the U.S. consulate that they do not plan to reside in the U.S. permanently. These applicants should be prepared to provide the consulate with ample documentation that they plan to return to their home country. F-1 and J-1 applicants must also pay the SEVIS fee (SEVIS is the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) prior to their applications.
Complete instructions and information for new students who wish to obtain admission and visa documents are available on our How To Apply page.
