| Frequently Asked Questions for international
students |
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I have submitted the online application.
What's next?
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1. Pay the $35 application
fee
2. Send copy of your ID page in your passport
3. Send certified financial support statement showing evidence
of sufficient funds
4. Send official transcripts (with English translation) of all
post-secondary school work including proof of High School graduation
5. Send proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB, Michigan,
Kaplan) OR complete English as a Second Langauge (ESL) agreement
to attend FHSU's English Language Program
6. A transfer form if you are transferring from another U.S.
insitution |
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What is an I-20?
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An I-20 is an official government
document that certifies the student is eligible to be an F-1
non-immigrant at FHSU. We create an I-20 when a student pays
the application fees and submits all the necessary documents.
We then send it to you so that you can apply for an F-1 visa
in your own country. You will need to sign the bottom. You can
ONLY use the I-20 issued by FHSU to enter the United States
if you intend to study with us. |
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| How long does it take to get an
I-20? |
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Once we receive all of your application documents,
application fee, and all necessary documents have been verified,
the I-20 will be issued in 3-4 days. Regular mail may take 15
days. |
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| Do I need an F-1 visa to student
at FHSU? |
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Not necessarily. If you are already in the United
States on another visa, you may not need an F-1 visa. Please
contact our office to check. |
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| How do I get an F-1 visa? |
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1. apply to FHSU and provide all necessary documents
and fees. We will then issue your
I-20 and mail it to you.
2. For the visa process, you will first need to pay the $100
SEVIS fee. You will need a receipt from this for your visa interview.
You will then need to make an appointment at the US embassy/consulate
in your country. |
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| What do I need for
the visa interview? |
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Please refer to the visa
information page. |
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| I am studying in the
US at another school. How do I transfer to FHSU? |
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1. Submit FHSU's online application.
Indicate that you have an I-20 and put the SEVIS ID number on
it
2. Pay the $35 application fee
3. Submit all documents - copy of your ID page in your passport,
certified financial support statement showing evidence of sufficient
funds, official transcripts (with English translation) of all
post-secondary school work including proof of High School graduation
4. Complete the transfer form and mail or fax to us
5. We will then issue you a new I-20 |
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| I do not have the minimum
funds required for one year. Can I use a sponsor? |
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Yes. Your sponsor, or the person financially
responsible, needs to fill out and sign the financial support
form and submit with proof of funds. The proof of funds must
be in English and should not be older than six (6) months from
the start of school. |
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| Do I have to provide
proof of funds for one year even though I will stay in the US
less than one year? |
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Yes. The US Homeland Security requires
schools to collect proof of funds for the first year even if
the student is not planning to study for a full year. You must
take the proof of funds to the US Embassy where you will apply
for an F-1 visa. |
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| Where can I apply for
an F-1 visa? |
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The recent US government new law requires
all F-1 students and their dependent to apply strictly for an
F-1 visa in their own country of citizenship OR the country
of permanent residency. |
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| When can I apply for
an F-1 visa and when can I enter the US? |
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The recent US Immigration law authorizes
and F-1 visa student and their F-2 dependents to apply for an
F-1 visa only 90 days prior to the start date of school and
not earlier. Also, the same law permits F-1 students and their
dependents to enter the US NOT EARLIER than 30 days prior to
the start date of school. |
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| What do I do when I
receive my I-20? |
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You must make an appointment with
the US Embassy in your place of residence and take your I-20,
proof of financial support, and receipt of SEVIS fee to apply
for and F-1 visa. December, January, July, and August are very
busy months for the US Embassies worldwide. Please make your
appointment in advance. It is important to note that schools
in the US cannot guarantee that the US Embassy will issue an
F-1 visa for the purpose of study in the US. |
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| SEVIS fee $100 (non-refundable) |
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The US Embassy recent poliy requires
all F-1 applicants to pay $100 SEVIS fee. You must ask the US
Embassy how to pay this fee to them. Our office is unable to
pay this fee on behalf of the students. You will need a SEVIS
ID number in order to pay this fee. Once we issue the I-20,
your SEVIS ID number will automatically appear in the Admission
Tracking Site. |
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| What if my visa gets
rejected? |
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If your visa gets rejected, please
contact us as soon as possible and tell us. We will try to help
out by providing additional documentation. Also, please see
visa information page. |
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| What is an I-94 card? |
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An I-94 is the form that you complete
when you arrive in the US. It shows your port of entry, the
date of arrival, your name and country. It also has an I-94
number: this is your tracking number with US Immigration. This
form is usually stapled into your passport; it is VERY important
that you do not lose it as you will need it when you leave the
US. We will photocopy it for your file when you arrive in our
office. |
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| I want my spouse/child
to come with me. Is it possible? |
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You must provide out office with the
following information:
1. Students first and last name
2. First and last name of the dependents
3. Date of birth for the dependents (MM/DD/YYYY)
4. Gender of each dependent
5. Relation to the student (child or spouse). Give information
of children under the age of 21 who are planning to obtain a
dependent visa (F-2).
6. Country of birth of each dependent
7. Country of citizenship of each dependent
Additional proof of funds for each dependent must also be provided. |
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