Apply for Your Visa

Students who will be pursuing a degree at High Point University will need to obtain F-1 nonimmigrant status. The steps to apply for F-1 status are below, but you may also want to review the U.S. Department of State’s Student Visa and DS-160: Frequently Asked Questions pages.

STEP 1: Gain Admission to HPU

Your admission letter will come via email and can be found in your HPU Admissions portal, known as your “Panther Page.” Be sure to review the portal often for any further steps that you’ll need to complete or information you’ll need to know before coming to HPU.

STEP 2: Print and Sign Your Form I-20: Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status

SEVIS, or Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, is the database used to maintain your information regarding your nonimmigrant status. A Designated School Official (DSO) created your SEVIS record, or received and updated your SEIVS record if you transferred from another school, and then issued you a Form I-20: Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, which is a printout of your SEVIS record. Their name and signature can be found on Page 1 of this 3-page document.

Your Form I-20 was included with your letter of acceptance and can be downloaded from your HPU Panther Page; although, if your information needed to be updated in SEVIS, you may also have received a more up-to-date Form I-20 via email from a DSO.

Print your Form I-20 (all three pages) and sign on Page 1. Sign using ink only–do not sign in pencil. If you’re under the age of 18, your parent or legal guardian must also sign on Page 1.

This is a good time to read all of the information on all three pages, including important federal regulations about the F-1 visa category found on Page 3.

STEP 3: Pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee

Federal regulations require all F, M, and J students to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee before applying for their U.S. student visa. You can pay your SEVIS I-901 fee online at www.FMJfee.com.

IMPORTANT: Verify that your SEVIS ID number on your SEVIS I-901 fee receipt matches your SEVIS ID number on your Form I-20. If it does not, or you encounter other issues paying your fee, please contact SEVP.

You must present the receipt as proof of payment when you apply for your visa.

STEP 4: Complete the Online Visa Application (DS-160)

You’ll apply for your F-1 visa online using the Form DS-160: Nonimmigrant Visa Application. Canadian & Bermudan citizens should see note above.

When completing the DS-160, keep the following best practices in mind:

• Honesty is key.
• List any social media account that would come up if you searched for your name on an Internet search engine (even closed accounts).
• If you do not have any social media accounts, be prepared to respond to additional questions.
• When uploading your photograph, ensure it meets the U.S. Department of State’s Photograph Requirements.
• If you need to list a U.S. address in your application, you can list the address of your sponsoring department or of High Point University (1 University Parkway, High Point, NC 27268).

When you finish your application, print and keep the DS-160 barcode (confirmation) page to bring to your interview. You will not need to print the full application.

Learn more about completing the online DS-160.

STEP 5: Schedule a Consular Visa Interview

In order to make an appointment at your U.S. Embassy or Consulate, you will need to provide your SEVIS ID number.

You should schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at another U.S. Embassy or Consulate (referred to as applying as a third-country national), but be aware that it may be more difficult to qualify for a visa outside of the country where you live. See the note regarding Estimated Visa Application Time Frames & Delays above for more information.

Notes:

• F-1 student visas for new students can be issued up to 365 days in advance of the start date for a course of study. However, you will not be allowed to enter the United States on your student visa more than 30 days before the start date.
• F-1 student visas for continuing students may be issued at any time, as long as the student is currently enrolled at a SEVP-approved school or institution and in SEVIS. Continuing students may enter the United States at any time before classes start.

STEP 6: Pay the Visa Application Fee

Pay the non-refundable visa application fee before your interview. Review Fees for Visa Services for information about the application fee. Country-specific instructions can be found on the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website.

STEP 7: Gather Your Documentation

STEP 8: Attend Your In-Person Interview

To receive a visa, you will have to participate in an in-person interview. During your visa interview, you will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive an F-1 student visa. Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans may be taken as part of the application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location.

Since you are applying for a nonimmigrant visa, you will need to prove to the consular officer that you do not intend to immigrate to the United States. In other words, you need to show him or her that you have definite plans to return home after college. Review NAFSA’s Ten Points to Remember When Applying for a Student Visa for tips on preparing for the interview.

STEP 9: Check Your Email Regularly

After your visa interview, the consular officer may determine that your application requires further security checks, often referred to as administrative processing, and will inform you if this is required.

STEP 10: Await Your F-1 Visa

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. See note about Estimated Visa Application Time Frames & Delays above to learn more.

If you F-1 visa stamp is expiring or has expired, you may not need to renew it!

Unlike some visa categories, the F-1 visa stamp is unique in that the expiration date is not used to determine how long you can lawfully stay in the United States. There is a distinction between your F-1 visa stamp and your F-1 visa status. Your F-1 visa stamp (the sticker affixed to your passport, officially known as a visa foil but commonly called visa stamp) is used for admission to the United States and your F-1 visa status determines the duration that you may stay in the United States. If you check your I-94 Admission Record, the “admit until” date should read “D/S” (meaning duration of status) instead of a date. As long as you are in the United States, you have a valid Form I-20 or are in the grace period following your program of study, and have maintained F-1 status, you are considered “in status” and can continue your studies.

If you plan to travel outside of the U.S. and your visa has expired, however, you will need to renew your visa to reenter the U.S. in F-1 status. You cannot renew a visa stamp while in the U.S., so you’ll need to plan your time outside the U.S. to renew the visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country.

To renew your F-1 visa, you’ll need to follow the steps below. You may also want to review the U.S. Department of State’s Student Visa and DS-160: Frequently Asked Questions pages.

STEP 1: Complete the Online Visa Application (DS-160)

You’ll renew your F-1 visa online using the Form DS-160: Nonimmigrant Visa Application. Log in using the same account used when you applied for your first F-1 visa. Canadian & Bermudan citizens should see note above.

When completing the DS-160, keep the following best practices in mind:

• Honesty is key.
• List any social media account that would come up if you searched for your name on an Internet search engine (even closed accounts).
• If you do not have any social media accounts, be prepared to respond to additional questions.
• When uploading your photograph, ensure it meets the U.S. Department of State’s Photograph Requirements.
• If you need to list a U.S. address in your application, you can list the address of your sponsoring department or of High Point University (1 University Parkway, High Point, NC 27268).

After completing the DS-160, you will be instructed to either make an appointment for an interview, or submit your documents to the Embassy under the interview waiver. Print and keep the DS-160 barcode (confirmation) page to bring. You will not need to print the full application.

Learn more about completing the online DS-160.

STEP 2: Schedule a Consular Visa Interview

Many U.S. Embassies and Consulates are waiving the interview requirement for a visa renewal if you meet certain criteria. You’ll be notified about whether you need to schedule an interview or if you qualify for an interview waiver after completing the DS-160.

To schedule an appointment for a visa interview, you’ll do so with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at another U.S. Embassy or Consulate (referred to as applying as a third-country national), but be aware that it may be more difficult to qualify for a visa outside of the country where you live and visa appointment wait times can be longer for third-country nationals. See the note regarding Estimated Visa Application Time Frames & Delays above for more information.

F-1 student visas for continuing students may be issued at any time, as long as the student is currently enrolled at a SEVP-approved school or institution and in SEVIS. Continuing students may enter the United States at any time before classes start.

STEP 3: Pay the Visa Application Fee

Pay the non-refundable visa application fee before your interview. Review Fees for Visa Services for information about the application fee. Country-specific instructions can be found on the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website.

STEP 4: Gather Your Documentation

STEP 5: Submit Your Materials and Attend Your In-Person Interview, if required

Unless you’ve been issued a waiver, you will have to participate in an in-person interview. If you are waived from the interview requirement, you still must be present in the same country as the U.S. Embassy or Consulate to submit your visa application. You cannot mail your application from the U.S.

You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive an F-1 student visa. Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans may be taken as part of the application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location.

Since you are applying for a nonimmigrant visa, you will need to prove to the consular officer that you do not intend to immigrate to the United States. In other words, you need to show him or her that you have definite plans to return home after college. Review NAFSA’s Ten Points to Remember When Applying for a Student Visa for tips on preparing for the interview.

STEP 6: Check Your Email Regularly

After your visa interview, the consular officer may determine that your application requires further security checks, often referred to as administrative processing, and will inform you if this is required.

STEP 7: Await Your F-1 Visa

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. See note about Estimated Visa Application Time Frames & Delays above to learn more.

If you’ll be studying at High Point University through a bilateral exchange partnership with your home university or will be a visiting short-term scholar, research scholar, or professor, you’ll need to apply for a J-1 exchange visitor visa. The steps to apply are below, but you may also want to review the U.S. Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Visa and DS-160: Frequently Asked Questions pages.

STEP 1: Gain Admission to Your Exchange Program

Exchange students will receive their admission letter via email and can also download a copy in their HPU Admissions portal (known as your Panther Page). Be sure to review the portal often for any further steps that you’ll need to complete or information you’ll need to know before coming to HPU.

Short-term scholars, research scholars, and professors will receive their letter of offer via email from their hosting department and, if hired as an employee of HPU, will be able to download a copy in the Workday portal. Be sure to review Workday and check your email often for any further steps that you may need to complete or information you’ll need to know before your program begins.

STEP 2: Print and Sign Your Form DS-2019: Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status 

SEVIS, or Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, is the database used to maintain your information regarding your nonimmigrant status. A Responsible Officer (A/RO) created your SEVIS record, or received and updated your SEIVS record if you transferred from another U.S. designated sponsor, and then issued you a Form DS-2019: Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status (J-Nonimmigrant), which is a printout of your SEVIS record. Their name and signature can be found on Page 1 of this 2-page document.

Your Form DS-2019 was sent via email from an A/RO. Print your Form DS-2019 (both pages) and sign on Page 1. Sign using ink only–do not sign in pencil. If you’re under the age of 18, your parent or legal guardian must also sign on Page 1.

This is a good time to read all of the information on both pages, including important federal regulations about the J-1 visa category found on Page 2.

STEP 3: Pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee

Federal regulations require all F, M, and J students to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee before applying for their U.S. student visa. You can pay your SEVIS I-901 fee online at www.FMJfee.com.

IMPORTANT: Verify that your SEVIS ID number on your SEVIS I-901 fee receipt matches your SEVIS ID number on your DS-2019. If it does not, or you encounter other issues paying your fee, please contact SEVP.

You must present the receipt as proof of payment when you apply for your visa.

STEP 4: Complete the Online Visa Application (DS-160)

You’ll apply for your J-1 visa online using the Form DS-160: Nonimmigrant Visa Application. Canadian & Bermudan citizens should see note above.

When completing the DS-160, keep the following best practices in mind:

• Honesty is key.
• List any social media account that would come up if you searched for your name on an Internet search engine (even closed accounts).
• If you do not have any social media accounts, be prepared to respond to additional questions.
• When uploading your photograph, ensure it meets the U.S. Department of State’s Photograph Requirements.
• If you need to list a U.S. address in your application, you can list the address of your sponsoring department or of High Point University (1 University Parkway, High Point, NC 27268).

When you finish your application, print and keep the DS-160 barcode (confirmation) page to bring to your interview. You will not need to print the full application.

Learn more about completing the online DS-160.

STEP 5: Schedule a Consular Visa Interview

In order to make an appointment at your U.S. Embassy or Consulate, you will need to provide your SEVIS ID number.

You should schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at another U.S. Embassy or Consulate (referred to as applying as a third-country national), but be aware that it may be more difficult to qualify for a visa outside of the country where you live. See the note regarding Estimated Visa Application Time Frames & Delays above for more information.

STEP 6: Pay the Visa Application Fee

Pay the non-refundable visa application fee before your interview. Review Fees for Visa Services for information about the application fee. Country-specific instructions can be found on the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website.

STEP 7: Gather Your Documentation

STEP 8: Attend Your In-Person Interview

To receive a visa, you will have to participate in an in-person interview. During your visa interview, you will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive a J-1 visa. Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans may be taken as part of the application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location.

Since you are applying for a nonimmigrant visa, you will need to prove to the consular officer that you do not intend to immigrate to the United States. In other words, you need to show him or her that you have definite plans to return home after college. Review NAFSA’s Ten Points to Remember When Applying for a Student Visa for tips on preparing for the interview.

STEP 9: Check Your Email Regularly

After your visa interview, the consular officer may determine that your application requires further security checks, often referred to as administrative processing, and will inform you if this is required.

STEP 10: Await Your J-1 Visa

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. See note about Estimated Visa Application Time Frames & Delays above to learn more.