A Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” is issued when you are admitted to one of The Tseng College’s programs.

See “Getting to the United States” at the Study in the States website, information about the whole process. Study in the States also offers a “Guide to Studying in the States”.

Upon admission to a Tseng College program, you will receive an initial Form I-20. Check your Form I-20 for accuracy but pay special attention to biographic information (name and date of birth) as these should be exactly the same as on the machine readable section of your passport. Your I-20 will contain a SEVIS ID number which will be necessary to pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee (government fee paid directly to US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) and your DS-160 visa application.

Review Frequently Asked Questions about the visa application process and learn about the student visa category before submitting your visa application.  

You are allowed to enter the U.S. a maximum of 30 days before the program start date on your I-20.

You are required to check-in once you arrive in the U.S. During your program’s orientation session, you will be asked to complete a SEVIS Check-in form. This is mandatory of all new international students regardless of whether you have an INITIAL or TRANSFER I-20.

The following information will be necessary to complete the check-in process:

  • Local address and contact information
  • Form I-94

If you notice an error on your I-94, submit a correction request through Deferred Inspection.

In the U.S., F-1 status is required when pursuing full-time studies in a university, college, or language program. Students from a country with a Visa Waiver Program must still obtain an F-1 visa in order to study full-time.

Exceptions:

  • Canadian citizens are not required apply for an F-1 visa in order to study in the U.S. but you must have the following in order to come into the U.S. to begin your studies. Canadian passport, original Form I-20, proof that the SEVIS I-901 fee has been paid, proof of ability to pay school fees and living expenses in the U.S., and proof of ties to Canada (proof that you plan to return to Canada). 

A dependent of an F-1 visa holder may request dependent F-2 status. Only the spouse and/or minor children (unmarried, under 21 years of age) of a student on an F-1 visa are eligible to apply for an F-2 Visa. Parents or any relatives who want to accompany an F-1 student are not eligible for dependent status but must enter the U.S. in a different visa category.

Dependents Status Information

  • Children on F-2 visas are allowed to attend Kindergarten through 12th grade only. After the age of 21 or after marriage, children are no longer considered dependents. After high school, a dependent child must obtain an F-1 visa in order to attend school full-time.
  • Spouses may not engage in any type of employment and cannot attend school full-time while in F-2 status. Part-time attendance is allowed.
  • Should F-2 dependents decide they want to attend school full-time while in the U.S., they must apply for admission to a school of their choice, and upon receiving an I-20, must change visa status from F-2 to F-1. F-2 dependents CANNOT attend school full-time until the change of status is approved.
  • You may apply for your dependent F-2 visas at the same time as the F-1 or at a later date. Students and family members can receive their I-20s at the same time and apply for visa appointments at the same time as well.
  • Like F-1 students, F-2 dependents are required to keep their passports valid.