Planning to Attend in F-1 Student Status: Process to Obtain Visa and Enter the U.S.

Your first step is to pay your tuition deposit following the instructions provided by Admissions. Then, you will apply for the Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility) by submitting the required documents listed below. Some documents are submitted by email (see below) and others through the Admissions Portal (Slate). Undergraduates, click here for the Admissions Portal login page. Graduate and certificate students, click here for the Admissions Portal login page.

CHECKLIST OF REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

• Status Verification Form
• Submit Passport copy: email admissionsops@massart.edu
• Declaration of Finance
• Verification of Finance: email admissionsops@massart.edu

Students currently attending another US institution (or if you have attended one within the past 60 days) OR students who are currently in the US on Optional Practical Training must submit all of the above and also: 

• Complete the F-1 Transfer In Form in the Admissions Portal
• I-94 Travel Record for US Visitors (navigate to “get most recent): email: admissionsops@massart.edu
• Copy of EAD Card (only if on current OPT): admissionsops@massart.edu
• Copies of all previous I-20s admissionsops@massart.edu
• Copy of current I-20: admissionsops@massart.edu
• Copy of Current US VISA Stamp if applicable: email admissionsops@massart.edu

*Please Note: It is your responsibility to send us the required documentation in a timely manner to avoid any delays in visa processing.  We work in order of the date you submit all of the required documents to issue and send your I-20. All I-20s are uploaded to your Admissions Portal. 

*Normally you will receive your I-20 document within 3-4 weeks of the date that you have submitted all required documents and paid your deposit.

After you have been notified via email that your I-20 is ready (typically within 3-4 weeks of the date that you submitted all required documents and paid your deposit), you will need to download and print your Form I-20 and your enrollment letter. 

Log into the Admissions portal, click on the Decision tab and then click on the link to each document to print both the Form I-20 and the enrollment letter. After printing your I-20, sign your name and date the bottom of the first page. For students 18 and older, the line below your signature should not be filled out.

Pay the SEVIS (I-901) fee online. BE SURE TO PRINT YOUR RECEIPT! YOU WILL NEED IT AT YOUR VISA APPOINTMENT.

Complete Form DS-160 at least two business days (48 hours) before your scheduled interview. To do this, you will need a photo meeting the requirements described here. Schedule your appointment at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country to apply for an F-1 Student visa.

When to apply: Consulates and embassies are permitted to issue student visas a maximum of 365 dates in advance of the program start date on a student's Form I-20. However, securing a visa appointment can often be challenging. Check the Department of State's Global Visa Wait Times page, which is updated regularly, for visa appointment wait times.

Keep in mind that new students are not permitted to enter the U.S. with their student visa more than 30 days prior to the program start date.

The visa application process can be complicated and time-sensitive and every consulate/embassy has its own rules that can vary. You should carefully review all information here, and then check with the U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country for country-specific guidelines for obtaining an F-1 student visa. An F-1 Student visa is a non-immigrant visa, meaning the applicant's intent must not be to remain in the U.S. once the purpose of the visa is complete. In addition to the information provided here, there is also a website called Study in the States with detailed information that you may find helpful. 

NOTE: If you do not have a passport, you must obtain one from your government. Your passport must always be valid at least six months into the future. It is your responsibility to be aware of the expiration date and to renew it when appropriate.

Preparing for Your Visa Interview

1. Your visa interview will be conducted in English and will be short. You must present all required documents, but your conversation with the officer will also play a large part in their decision. Be prepared to answer questions about why you chose MassArt, what program you have chosen and why, and what your longer term plans are after you graduate.
2. Be prepared to present transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended and TOEFL scores, etc. If you have been awarded a scholarship from MassArt or another organization, mention this in your interview and bring documentation to show it.
3. It is your job to prove to the interviewing officer that you DO NOT plan to stay permanently in the U.S. This is accomplished by demonstrating strong ties to your home country and non-immigrant intent. You may be denied a visa if the Consular Officer believes you intend to stay in the U.S. after your studies.
4. Be prepared to present an original set of bank documentation and/or sponsorship documentation to the embassy or consulate. These documents MUST have a current date on them. While you are only required to certify funding for one year to receive a MassArt I-20, it may be helpful for you to provide bank statements in greater amounts when possible, depending on your country and your personal financial situation. If possible, demonstrate you have sufficient funds to cover expenses for the duration of your stay in the U.S. including additional proof that the funds will be available throughout your studies (through salary statements and employer letters, etc.).
5. Contact your local consulate and embassy directly for specific guidance on what documentation you are required to bring with you to the interview.

Note: In June 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) updated its procedures for vetting visa applicants, including applicants for an F-1 Student visa. As a result, you will be required to make all of your social media accounts available to DOS for review as part of the application process. The announcement reads, in part:

“...we will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications. To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to ‘public’.”

Please click here to see the full announcement.

30 Days or Less: You are allowed to enter the U.S. in F-1 Student visa status a maximum of 30 days prior to the Program Start Date on your Form I-20. If you plan to enter more than 30 days prior to your start date, you must enter the US as a visitor and then leave and return as an F-1 student once you are within 30 days. The MassArt International Education Center will help you with all immigration- related matters during your studies at MassArt, but it is your responsibility to maintain your F-1 visa status by following all F-1 regulations. Study in the States has further information about getting and maintaining F-1 International Student Status.

Arrival: When you enter the U.S., you must show:

• Passport with F-1 Student visa
• Form I-20
• SEVIS fee payment receipt
• Financial documentation

Carry these papers with you and NOT in checked luggage. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers will look at your papers, and may ask questions, much like the Consular Officer did. The CBP Officer will stamp your passport to show your date of admission, class of admission (F-1), and the date that you are admitted until (DS). DS means you are admitted for Duration of Stay and are authorized to be here for as long as you are attending classes at MassArt and abiding by all F-1 rules and regulations.

If you have any issues entering the United States, please advise Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officials to call this number: 1- 617-879-7800. A member of MassArt's Public Safety team will be available to assist CBP in verification of your student status at MassArt.

ORIENTATION IS REQUIRED! PLEASE MAKE YOUR TRAVEL PLANS ACCORDINGLY!

Please read your MassArt emails daily and pay special attention to emails about MassArt Orientation. The events of orientation are designed to welcome you to and prepare you for your first few weeks at MassArt. 

MassArt offices will send an email to your MassArt email address regarding orientation programs. However, this email is often sent after students need to book their flights to the US.  It is your responsibility to check MassArt’s Orientation for New Students BEFORE booking your flight to ensure your attendance at the full orientation program. Graduate students should contact: gradprogram@massart.edu to learn about the Graduate Programs orientation schedule. You are responsible for all information provided through MassArt Orientation Programs/Graduate Programs Orientation; information missed due to travel and/or family obligations cannot be made up. Students beginning their program during the summer must contact gradprogram@massart.edu for details about their orientation.