Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview:

• Passport valid for travel to the United States – Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements). Each individual who needs a visa must submit a separate application, including any family members listed in your passport.
• Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page. 
• Application fee payment receipt, if you are required to pay before your interview.
• Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload fails, you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements.
• Form I-20 – Your school will send you a Form I-20 once they have entered your information in the SEVIS database. You and your school official must sign Form I-20.  All students must be registered in the Student and Exchange Visitor System (SEVIS). Your spouse and/or minor children, if they intend to live in the United States with you, will each receive an individual Form I-20.

A consular officer will interview you to determine your qualifications for a student visa. Sometimes, they may request additional documents, such as evidence of:

• Your academic preparation, such as:
  • Transcripts, diplomas, degrees, or certificates from schools you attended; and
  • Standardized test scores required by your U.S. school;
• Your intent to depart the United States upon completion of the course of study; and
• How you will pay for all educational, living, and travel costs.

Review the instructions for how to apply for a visa on the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will apply.

A consular officer will interview you to determine whether you are qualified to receive a student visa. You must establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive a visa.

Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans are taken as part of the application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location.

After your visa interview, the consular officer may determine that your application requires further administrative processing.  The consular officer will inform you if this is required.

After the visa is approved, you may need to pay a visa issuance fee (if applicable to your nationality), and make arrangements for the return of the passport and visa to you.  Review the visa processing times to learn more.

Once you have obtained your visa, you are ready to travel to the US  Visit the US Customs and Border Protection website for details regarding preparing to enter the US and what to bring

Bring all of your immigration documents that pertain to your status, and keep these documents with you at all times during your travel. Do not leave any of these documents in your luggage as you will need to present them for inspection at the US port of entry before you can pick up your luggage in the US

When you arrive, you will apply for official “admission” to the US in a particular immigration classification at a U.S. port of entry. A US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) officer will examine the following documents:

• Passport (valid for at least six months beyond your date of entry to the US)
• A valid visa that reflects your intended academic activities in the U.S.
• All immigration documents [Form I-20(s) for F-1 students, Form DS-2019(s) for J-1 students and scholars, I-797B for H-1Bs, etc.]

You may also need to present all or some of the documents required to apply for your visa:

• Letter of admission or appointment/employment from Boston University
• Proof of F or J SEVIS fee payment
• Original financial documents
• Documents as a continuing student or scholar demonstrating your valid immigration status and your continued academic activities in the U.S.

Each time you re-enter the U.S. from outside of North America, your passport will be stamped with your date of entry, class of admission (F-1, J-1, H-1, etc.), and expiration date. It’s important that you check the passport stamp carefully for errors at the port of entry. If there are errors, respectfully notify the official of the error and request a correction.

If a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer determines that your documentation is incomplete when entering the U.S., you may be issued a Form I-515A and a date-specific passport entry stamp. These documents will grant you temporary admission to the U.S. (generally for 30 days). If you receive a Form I-515A, you must contact the ISSO immediately as additional documentation from the ISSO is often required in order to respond to the I-515A by the deadline. Failure to submit the proper original documentation prior to the expiration date of your passport stamp will result in the termination of both your F-1 student status and your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record.