Please carefully read the instructions and visit the web sites listed, or contact us if you need any assistance, at 001 213 381 6707, or email us at info@afint.com.

1. Form I-20. You must sign and date item 11 on page 1 of the Form I-20
2. Schedule the Visa Interview: Contact the U.S. Consulate or Embassy in your area and follow their instructions to schedule an interview for your F-1visa interview. A list of U.S. Consulates and Embassies can be found at http://usembassy.state.gov. It is important to apply for your student visa as far in advance as possible, but many consulates recommend that you make the appointment no more than 90 days before the planned date of your travel.
3. Complete the Visa Application Form; you can download the form here: DS-156 Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form
4. Pay the SEVIS Fee. SEVIS is a web-based Immigration system for maintaining information on international students. Your Form I-20 was issued in the SEVIS system and has a unique SEVIS ID number in the upper right corner of page 1.
   If your Form I-20 was issued on or after September 1, 2008, and is marked for initial attendance (see item 3 on your Form I-20), you will need to pay a $200 SEVIS fee. If you are transferring schools or have paid this fee and been denied a visa within the last twelve months, you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee again.
   1. To Pay Online
      a) go to http://fmjfee.com
      b) complete the Form I-901 online and provide the necessary credit card information to pay the $200 USD SEVIS fee. Important: write your name exactly as it appears on your Form I-20!
      c) print a copy of the online receipt Form I-797 Make copies of your receipt and keep it with your other important immigration documents. Important! The fee must be paid online at least three business days prior to the interview date to ensure that the payment can be deposited and recorded in SEVIS. The interviewing officer at the Consulate or Embassy will confirm that the fee has been paid by accessing the SEVIS system.
   2. To Pay By Mail
      a) complete the Form I-901. You can download it here: www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/I-901.pdf. Important: write your name exactly as it appears on your Form I-20!
      b) prepare a check or international money order (drawn on a U.S. bank only) in the amount of $200 USD. Many foreign banks can issue checks or money orders drawn on a U.S. bank. Ask your own bank or go to a foreign subsidiary of a U.S. bank. The check must be made payable to: “The Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement”.
      c) mail the completed Form I-901 and the check or money order to the address listed on Form I-901. We recommend that you send it by registered mail, with a return receipt requested. Please keep copies for your own records.
      d) a receipt (Form I-797) will be mailed to you within 3 business days of receipt of your payment.
5. Visa Interview
   Here is a checklist of all documents you need to prepare and bring to your visa interview:
   • your passport (must be valid for at least six months from your arrival date in the U.S.)
   • Form I-20 from A F International
   • Letter of Acceptance from A F International
   • Completed Visa Application Forms (- DS-156; - DS-157 (only for males between age 16 and 45); - DS-158
   • two 2x2-inch passport photographs in the correct format: http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_info_photo.html
   • a receipt for the visa application fee
   • a receipt for the SEVIS fee (Form I-797)
   • financial evidence (bank statement, etc.) that shows you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period you intend to study
   • any information that proves that you will return to your home country after finishing your studies in the U.S. This may include proof of property, family, or other ties to your community, letter from your employer or school, etc. During the interview, remain calm and answer all the visa officer’s questions openly and honestly.
6. When can you enter the United States? After you receive the F-1 visa, you can enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the starting date on your I-20, but no later than that date. Contact us immediately if you need to change the starting date. Our phone number is 001.213.381.6707.
7. What is the Form I-94? The Form I-94 (white!) is your proof of entry and it shows that you have been lawfully admitted to the U.S. This form is distributed on the airplane prior to landing in the U.S. Please complete it in English and in all CAPITAL letters. If you make a mistake, ask a flight attendant for a new form. When you arrive at the airport, an Immigration Officer will stamp the notation D/S (Duration of Status) on the card, indicating that you may stay in the U.S. until you have finished your studies.

Who should apply for an F-1 Student Visa ? All students who are planning to attend a full-time course should apply for a student visa.

Semi-intensive English Course = minimum 18 hours of instruction per week, qualifies for F-1 student visa
Intensive English Course (24 hours of instruction per week) = full-time course

How long may I stay on my F-1 student visa?
When you enter the United States on an F-1 student visa, you will usually be admitted for the duration of your student status (abbreviated in your passport and on your I-94 card as "D/S"). That means you may stay as long as you are a full time student. After completion of the course, student are allowed to remain in the U.S. for sixty (60) days before they leave the country.

What is Proof of Financial Support ?
The U.S. Immigration Service and the State Department want to make sure that you have sufficient financial resources to live and study in the United States. A F International is required to verify the financial documentation before we issue the Form I-20. Students usually submit a copy of their Bank Statement to show that they have sufficient finances. The Financial Certification can also be provided by your family or your employer. If your parents will provide the financial support, you should be ready to document how your family gets its income and how much that income is. Regardless of whose income it is, a letter from an employer with information about salary and employment history can be helpful.

All Documents must be in English
Please keep in mind that all documents, letters and bank statements for the visa application must be in English and show any account balance on the bank statement in U.S. Dollars. If any document you submit is not in English, please attach a certified and signed translation.

What is the Form I-20 (SEVIS I-20)?
The Form I-20 is proof of your eligibility to apply for an F-1 visa in your home country. This form can only be issued by an authorized school. A F International is authorized by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to accept non-immigrant foreign students. It is our responsibility to collect and review the above mentioned documents before we can issue the Form I-20. You must receive a Form I-20 from the school before you can apply.