F-1 Visa Procedures
Obtaining an F-1 Student Visa
This web page gives information about the F-1 visa: timeline, necessary documents, SEVIS fees, the visa interview, and important points to remember before you leave your country.
This web page is based on information compiled by the University of New Orleans and is being used with permission.
Why Do I Need an F-1 Visa?
You cannot enroll in any program, including the 5-week summer ESL Program, at North Park on a B-1 (tourist) visa. Most international students come to North Park on the F-1 (student) visa and are required to enroll full-time (in most cases, 12 semester-hours) during the fall and spring semesters. North Park's ESL Program is a full-time program. Note: Please contact us for more information if you already have an F-1 visa from another school, if you have another kind of visa, or if you are a legal U.S. resident.
Apply Early
Make sure you give yourself plenty of time! It takes North Park two to three weeks to process an application. When the application has been approved, you will receive an I-20 form so you can request an F-1 student visa at the U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country. These are the deadlines for sending in application materials to North Park:
- Fall Semester: June 1st
- Spring Semester: October 1st
- 5-week Summer Program: May 15th
We cannot process applications sent in after these dates; the materials we receive will be processed for the next available semester.
Pay the SEVIS Fee
There is a $200 I-901 fee charged by SEVIS (Student & Exchange Visitor Information Service). You can pay or get more information online.
Bring These Documents
- The I-20 form you received from North Park University
- The letter of acceptance you received from North Park
- The SEVIS fee payment receipt
- Your financial documents (financial declaration form, bank statements, etc.)
When you arrive at the U.S. Consulate/Embassy, you need to complete these forms:
- DS-156 form. Fill it out neatly and completely. Remember to spell your name exactly as it appears in your passport!
- DS-157 form (for all males aged 16 to 45)
- DS-158 form (check to see if this is required at the embassy in your country)
At the Interview
Consider the interview a formal event. Business clothes are appropriate.
The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa. It is issued only to applicants who plan to return to their home country. You will need to prove to the visa officer that you plan to return to your home country. Here are some suggestions:
- Be clear and specific, BUT do not memorize a speech. The officers like honesty!
- Show evidence that you plan to return home after your studies in the U.S.
- You should be ready to discuss your plans for the future. It can be academic or professional. You should be prepared to answer these two questions: "Why do you need to go to the United States to study English?"and "Why did you choose to go to school in Chicago?"
Entering the United States
After you have your student visa -- but before you leave for the United States -- check the visa to verify all the information is correct (for example, the spelling of your name and your date of birth). Also verify that you have received the correct visa classification (F-1).
When you travel, you should carry your immigration documents on your person - do not put them in your luggage! You will need to show the documents to the immigration officer. Here are the documents you should carry with you:
- Your passport
- Your I-20 form
- Your evidence of financial resources
If you are traveling by air, the flight attendant will give you a Customs Declaration Form and an I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Form. You must fill out this form to give it to the immigration officer when you arrive. If you do not understand the form, ask the flight attendant for assistance. Upon arrival, proceed to the area for entry inspection by the Department of Homeland Security (immigration). Have ready your passport, I-20 form, I-94 form, and Customs Declaration form (CF-6059). You will be asked to state the reason you are entering the U.S. It is important that you tell the officer that you will be a student. All visitors holding non-immigrant visas will be photographed digitally and have an index finger scan.
Contacts at North Park University
If the Homeland Security officer wants to verify your admission at North Park, he or she can call the following people at the university and ask to speak to one of them:
- Ann-Helen Anderson, International Student Advisor: (773) 244-5571
- Dennis Bricault, Director of ESL Programs: (773) 244-4942
- Jennifer Pope, Director of the International Office (773) 244-5553
- Aaron Schoof, Director of Student Services: (773) 244-5564