Carefully read and follow these procedures.

Step 1: Fill out an downloadable form: Application for Certificate of Eligibility
and submit it to Dawn Dondero (Immigration Specialist). This form will provide all the necessary information required for us to complete the I-20 form.

Step 2: Make an appointment at a U.S. Consulate to apply for an F-1 Student entry visa. You will require the I-20 form from MB Biblical Seminary at the time of your appointment. DO NOT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT UNTIL you have received the I-20 or are sure that you will have the I-20 in time for the appointment. The ISSO issues I-20’s in the order that complete applications are received, and is unable to rush yours because you made an appointment too early. Check the following websites for more information on visa appointments. Visit this link for information about current wait times for the appointment and for visa issuance.
NOTE that the processing wait times do not include extra time that may be required for security clearances.

Refer to Potential Delays in Visa Issuance and at Ports of Entry for more information regarding security clearances. Visit this link to locate the nearest U.S. Consulate and its instructions for applying for a visa (including links to required forms). Make a list of documentation required for the interview. Note procedures for paying the visa application fee and any visa issuance fees, if applicable.

Step 3: Check your form I-20 for completeness and correctness!
Your I-20 indicates that we have created a record for you in SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System), a national database for international students and scholars. Your unique assigned SEVIS ID number is in the upper right corner of page 1. Check to see that all information is correct and that your expected completion date is in the future.

If you have informed us that your dependents (husband, wife, or children under the age of 21) will come with you to the U.S., each of them will receive their own “dependent” I-20 needed for applying for their F-2 visas and entering the U.S. in F-2 status. If your family name is different from your dependents, be prepared to show documents that prove your relationship.

Step 3a: After you receive your original I-20 you must go online and pay the I-901 SEVIS fee. You will need the receipt when you have your interview or when you cross the border. See below for more information.

Step 4: Make sure your passport is valid. When you apply for a visa or enter the U.S., your passport must be valid for at least 6 months into the future. Some countries are exempt from this requirement and have their passports automatically extended for 6 months which means that you can use your passport up until the written expiration date. This rule applies to subsequent entries to the U.S. while traveling as a student. The list of countries exempt from this rule can be found at the following link.

Step 5: Complete all required Department of State application forms
DS-156 Everyone applying for a non-immigrant visa must complete this form. COMPLETE THIS ELECTRONIC FORM ON-LINE and take a printed copy with you to the interview.

DS-158 Contact Information and Work History. For all F and J applicants.

DS-157 Supplemental Non-Immigrant Visa Application Form. Required for male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45.

Step 6: Refer to step one and follow instructions for paying any visa fees required in advance of your appointment. Procedures may vary from country to country, and even post to post within the same country. Note that application and issuance fees are based on reciprocity and generally reflect your country’s policies in granting visa privileges to visiting U.S. students.

Step 7: Bring a passport-size photo less than six months old.
Check Nonimmigrant Visa Photograph Requirements for details.

Step 8: READ! Prepare for your interview appointment by learning what to expect. You will be applying for an F-1 student visa, a non-immigrant classification. According to U.S. immigration law, “Every alien shall be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for admission, that he is entitled to a non-immigrant status.” This means you need to establish that you have no intention of staying in the U.S. permanently, but are coming here for a temporary purpose, i.e. to pursue your educational objective. While the consular officers are aware that it may be difficult for students to demonstrate strong professional and economic ties to their home countries, you should still bear this in mind as you prepare for your interview.

In advance of your interview, please read the following:

Obtaining a U.S. Visa Published by Department of State

Applying for a Student or Exchange Visitor Visa Published by Education USA, a division of DOS

See You in the USA An eJournal published by DOS. Note article "On the Other Side of the Visa Window", by U.S. visa officer in Cairo

Ten Points to Remember When Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa
Published by NAFSA Association of International Educators, in consultation with the U.S. State Department. Although published in 1997, these general points provide good guidance and still are relevant today.

Step 9: Checklist of what to take with you to your visa interview:

__ A passport valid for at least six months

__ Form I-20 (sign the form under Item 11)

__ School admission letter

__ Completed visa applications (DS-156, DS-158, and, if applicable, DS-157) Remember to complete the DS-156 electronically and take a printed copy with you. Consulates have advised that the electronic version will speed up the process.

__ A photograph in the prescribed format (see Step 7)

__A receipt for the visa application fee

__ A receipt for the SEVIS fee (I-901). If you have not received an official receipt in the mail showing payment and you paid the fee electronically, the consulate will accept the temporary receipt you printed from your computer. If you do not have a receipt, the consulate may be able to see your payment electronically if your fee payment was processed at least 3 business days before your interview.

__ Financial evidence that shows you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period you intend to study.

__ Any information that demonstrates your intention to return to your home country after finishing your studies in the U.S. This may include proof of property, family, or other ties to your community.

Step 10. After the visa is processed, make sure you got what you requested! Check your passport to be sure you obtained an F-1 visa, and that any dependents obtained an F-2 visa. Also, be certain that the I-20 was returned to you, as you must have the original with you when you arrive in the United States. Sometimes, the document is returned to you in a sealed envelope, which must be presented to the immigration inspector when you arrive.