Applying for a Visa
- Overview
A nonimmigrant U.S. visa is an entry document for individuals coming to the U.S. temporarily for specific purposes such as study or work. It is issued by the U.S. Department of State and is attached to your passport. It allows you to request permission to enter the U.S. at any U.S. port of entry. For general information on F and J visas, visit the U.S. Department of State website.
A visa alone does not guarantee entry into the U.S. You must also carry your other documents, including a valid passport and a valid I-20, DS-2019 or I-797 Approval Notice.
Note: You don't need an entry visa if you are a citizen of Bermuda or Canada. However, you are still required to pay the SEVIS fee and present your I-20 or DS-2019 at the U.S. port of entry.What if the information on my visa is for a previous SEVIS ID?
If you have a valid visa in your passport, you may be able to use it to reenter the United States. You are encouraged to contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country to inquire as to whether or not you may use a visa associated with your previous SEVIS record with a new document to enter the United States. Please note that Customs and Border Protection makes the final decision on your eligibility to enter the U.S. and can deny entry.Where to Get a Visa
You must obtain a U.S. visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate outside of the U.S.
It is advisable to apply for your visa at a U.S. Embassy in your home country, unless circumstances or travel plans make this impossible. Applying for a visa at an embassy in a country other than your home country is called a “third country national (TCN)” application. Not all embassies accept TCN applications, and some allow TCN applications for limited situations. Be sure to check with individual embassies, including those in Canada and Mexico, for TCN application policies.
It can be risky to apply in a country other than your home country. For instance, if you apply for a new visa in Canada and encounter delays, you must remain in Canada for the length of the processing. You will not be able to reenter the U.S. until the new visa is approved.
When to Apply for a Visa
U.S. Embassies require in-person interviews for most first-time visa applicants. An interview may be waived if you are applying to renew your visa. You are encouraged to schedule the visa interview appointment as early as possible. The U.S. Department of State maintains an excellent website on the visa application process, and you should study it carefully. You can also find information about how long it will take to get your visa. Students applying for initial-entry F-1 and F-2 visas may be issued up to 365 days before the academic program start date as noted on the I-20. J-1 and J-2 exchange visitors may be issued visas at any time before the beginning of their programs.
Due to background checks, mandatory visa interviews and increased scrutiny of individuals studying or doing research in “sensitive fields,” you should be prepared for delays in the processing of your visa application. If your field of study or research is in a sensitive field, you should obtain a letter from your professor explaining the nature of your studies or research. This letter should be written in simple language so it can be easily understood by non-specialists.
Also, if you violated your previous immigration status, have applied for Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S. or have a criminal record, your application for a new visa will be subject to additional scrutiny or denial.
- Application Process
Application ProcessThe U.S. Department of State website lists the forms, documents, etc. which are required for the U.S. visa application. It is important that you bring everything to your visa interview to avoid needless delays in the processing of your application.
Visit the Department of State website
1. Complete the "DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application"To schedule your appointment, first complete the "DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application" on the Department of State's website here. When you upload your photo, be sure it conforms to the Photograph Requirements. Print the application confirmation page for your interview.
You will be asked to provide a point of contact in the U.S. and an address where you will be staying. If you don’t have a U.S.-based contact, please use the name of the DSO or ARO who issued your I-20 or DS-2019. If you don’t know your U.S. address yet, you can use VIS' office address (E-5310 Frank J. Melville Jr. Memorial Library, Stony Brook, NY 11794).
For additional assistance on completing the form, please refer to DS-160 Frequently Asked Questions.
2. Pay the nonrefundable Visa Application (MRV) feeAs part of your application, you will be asked to pay the nonrefundable Visa Application (MRV) fee.
Pay Visa Application (MRV) Fee
Please note, when your visa is issued, you may also be required to pay the Reciprocal Visa Issuance Fee. Check the Visa Reciprocity Table to see if you are required to pay this fee.
3. Pay the SEVIS Fee, if applicableIf you already paid the SEVIS Fee and don't know if you need to pay it again, please review the SEVIS I-901 Fee Frequently Asked Questions.
Stony Brook University or VIS cannot provide any letter or documentation to expedite a visa appointment. If you are unable secure an appointment before classes begin, please follow the steps outlined here to request an expedited interview.
What Should I Bring to My Visa Interview?
- Valid passport. Passport should be valid at least 6 months beyond your planned arrival date to U.S.
- Form I-20, Form DS-2019 or I-797 Approval Notice.
- Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Form DS-160) confirmation page.
- One photograph which meets the Photograph Requirements.
- Receipt to show payment of the Visa Application (MRV) Fee.
- Visa Reciprocity Fee receipt (if required).
- Receipt confirming payment of the SEVIS fee (Form I-901), if applicable.
- Transcripts and diplomas from current and/or previous institutions.
- Original score reports of standardized tests (e.g. TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT).
- Financial evidence showing sufficient funds to cover educational and living expenses, dated within the last 6 months.
- Documents showing your “nonimmigrant intent” (ie. documents which help to prove your ties to your home country and verify that you have no intentions of immigrating to the U.S.).
- Other requirements as determined by your U.S. Embassy.
Renewing Your Visa
While you are allowed to stay in the U.S. with an expired visa, you will need a new visa to reenter the country after international travel.
You do not have to return to your home country to get a new F-1 or J-1 visa, but if you choose to do so in another country, be sure to confirm that the U.S. Embassy or Consulate will accommodate requests for third-country nationals (meaning that you're applying in a country outside the U.S., but you aren't a citizen of that country).
Please refer to the list of documents above for U.S. visa applications. In addition to these documents, you should bring your SBU transcripts. We also recommend that you print out an Enrollment Verification Certificate from SOLAR for additional verification of your full-time student status.
If you have been out of the U.S. for more than 5 months, you may need to pay the SEVIS fee again. Please review the SEVIS I-901 Fee and SEVIS I-901 Fee FAQ links below to determine whether or not you are required to pay the SEVIS fee.
SEVIS I-901 Fee Information
SEVIS I-901 Fee Frequently Asked QuestionsFor additional visa requirements, please contact the U.S. Consulate or Embassy where you will apply for your visa.
- Visa Delays
Visa DelaysStony Brook University’s Visa and Immigration Services recognizes that any delay in the processing of your visa is extremely frustrating. Unfortunately, recent federal immigration policy changes have resulted in many Stony Brook international students, faculty, and visiting scholars waiting much longer than in the past to receive visas.
Some visa applications are delayed for “administrative processing.” This is extra time allowed for U.S. government agencies to review potential security issues. Security clearances can add significant time to the visa application process, since multiple agencies may need to review your materials.
The Department of State aims to complete administrative processing within 30 days, but some cases take far longer. Once the U.S. Consulate has initiated the process, administrative processing can’t be stopped until it is completed in Washington, D.C. Stony Brook University Government Relations may help facilitate a connection with congressional liaisons after 180 days, but please understand that Stony Brook University is unable to expedite the clearance process.
- Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked QuestionsDo I need to complete and submit a new DS-160 if I am renewing a visa?Yes. You will need to complete a new DS-160 and pay a new visa application fee.
How do I find Stony Brook University's School Code (for F-1) or Program Number (for J-1)?For F-1 Students, the school code can be found under the School Information section on page 1 of the I-20. The section is titled “School Code and Approval Date.” The code begins with “NYC."
For J-1 Students, the program number can be found in section 2 on page 1 of the DS-2019. The program number is P-1-04840.
Who should I put as the U.S. point of contact on the DS-160?If you have a close family member or friend in the U.S., enter that person as your U.S. point of contact.
If you do not, enter the name of the person who signed your I-20 along with their VIS contact information and email address.
What is the address and phone number of the University?The VIS address and phone number can be found on our website. The address is also in the School Information box of your I-20.
What should I put as my intended field of study? The major as it is written on my I-20, or the major as it’s written in my decision letter?It is best to list your major as it is written on your I-20, as that is your official university and government document.
What should I put for my intended length of stay in the U.S.? The length of my program (e.g. 1 year) or the length of my I-20 (e.g. 3 years)?The information you enter on the DS-160 should match what is on your I-20.
I don’t have an apartment yet. What should I put for my U.S. address?If you have identified the place you would like to live, or have applied for housing, you may enter that address on the DS-160, even if the housing is not confirmed yet. If you have not started researching housing yet, you may enter the school address listed on your I-20.
I have heard that I am required to provide social media usernames on my visa application. Is this true?Yes, this represents a newer series of questions on the Form DS-160. Visa applicants must provide information regarding any social media platforms that they have used during the five years preceding their visa application. You are required to provide any usernames or handles used on those platforms including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Reddit, Twitter, Weibo, YouTube, and more. You can make selections from a pulldown menu.
Can I apply for a visa in a country that is not my country of citizenship or permanent residence?If you are having trouble finding a visa appointment in your home country, you may attend a visa appointment in another country (called a "third country"). More information can be found here.
My visa has expired but I'm traveling to Canada/Mexico. What are my options?If you are only traveling to Canada or Mexico for a period of less than 30 days, you may be eligible to reenter the U.S. under a process called “Automatic Visa Revalidation.”
More information can be found here.
- Resources
For the "Top 10 Things You Should Know about the F-1 Visa Interview," view the following presentation given by immigration attorney and former U.S. Consular Officer Mandy Feuerbacher.
Resources