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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.

    Find an embassy or consulate

    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.

    Visa Appointment Wait Times

    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 Process

    The 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"
    2. Pay the nonrefundable Visa Application (MRV) fee
    3. Pay the SEVIS Fee, if applicable

    Stony Brook University or VIS cannot provide any letter or documentation to expedite a visa appointment. If you cannot secure an appointment before classes start, the recommended course of action is to schedule an appointment and then proceed with the process of requesting an expedited appointment. This process varies by location, so consult the embassy or consulate's visa section on their website for instructions.

    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 Questions

    For additional visa requirements, please contact the U.S. Consulate or Embassy where you will apply for your visa.

  • Visa Delays


    Visa Delays

    Stony 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 Questions

    Do I need to complete and submit a new DS-160 if I am renewing a visa?
    How do I find Stony Brook University's School Code (for F-1) or Program Number (for J-1)?
    Who should I put as the U.S. point of contact on the DS-160?
    What is the address and phone number of the University?
    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?
    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)?
    I don’t have an apartment yet. What should I put for my U.S. address?
    I have heard that I am required to provide social media usernames on my visa application. Is this true?
    Can I apply for a visa in a country that is not my country of citizenship or permanent residence?
    My visa has expired but I'm traveling to Canada/Mexico. What are my options?
  • Resources


    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.