Welcome to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley!
International Students who will be attending UTRGV, and need to apply for an F-1 visa for the first time will need to submit the following documentation in order for IASS to process an I-20:
Applying for an I-20 for the first time
The I-20 is only a "certificate of eligibility" for F-1 status. Issuing the form alone does not grant F-1 status itself. After an I-20 is issued, you must use it to acquire F-1 status in one of two ways:
F-1 visa processing at a U.S. consular office
Unless visa exempt, you must have a valid F-1 visa in order to be admitted to the United States in F-1 nonimmigrant status.
Checklist: Application for an F-1 visa
Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview:
Additional Documentation May Be Required
Review the instructions for how to apply for a visa on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply. Additional documents may be requested to establish that you are qualified. For example, additional requested documents may include evidence of:
Where to apply for an F-1 visa
Any nonimmigrant visa applicant, including applicants for F-1 visas, should normally apply for the visa "at a consular office having jurisdiction over the alien's place of residence."
See the usembassy.state.gov website for links to U.S. embassies and consular posts worldwide.
The regulations also permit for you to apply for a visa at any other consular jurisdiction in which you are currently present, but only if that consular office has agreed to process visa applications from "third country nationals" (TCNs).
When to apply for an F-1 visa
An F-1 visa can be issued no more than 120 days before the reporting date listed on Form I-20, but you can enter the U.S. no earlier than 30 days before I-20 program start date.
You can apply for an F-1 visa earlier than 120 days before the start date, to allow for visa processing and security clearance delays but even if you apply earlier than 120 days, the consulate still cannot actually issue the visa until 120 days before the program start date.’’
Change of Status to F-1 within the United States
If you are in the United States in a valid immigration status, you may be eligible to change your status to F-1. There are two ways to change your status: by application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or by visiting a U.S. Consulate outside the U.S. In either case, you must be a continuing student or a newly admitted student for the upcoming semester for IASS to assist you with this process.
On February 6, 2018, USCIS revised their special instructions on filing "bridge applications" for prospective students applying for a change of status to F-1. A change of status applicant must maintain a nonimmigrant status while their change of status is pending, even in cases where the SEVIS start date has been deferred to a date beyond 30 days from the expiration of their current visa status.
Please visit the following link for more information: Changing to a Nonimmigrant F or M Student Status
Important points to know:
Helpful Links:
Tips on how to apply for a visa.
Consulate Videos